by Danielle Tobb ‘17

There are approximately four half-days during every school year. Throughout all four years of high school, that adds up to 16 half-days. Many of my peers view early release days as an excuse to ditch school to hang out with friends or sleep late. For some of my teachers, half-days present a chance to get a substitute to watch over the remaining 15 students that actually showed up to school.

I am a student who always attends school, regardless of its status as a half-day. In consistently six of my seven classes every year, we watch a Disney movie or simply have a “free period” on early release days. Although I do love a good showing of “Finding Nemo,” I do not enjoy coming to school to waste half a day doing nothing but unproductive activities. School is supposed to be about learning new material every day, and half-days completely reverse this principle of education. Early release days are built into the calendar due to the minimum instructional days needed during the school year, but given the lack of instruction to students, MCPS should instead replace them with full days.