The clock hangs above the door each and every classroom. The same black numbers on a white background are present on each clock. The hands of the clocks slowly move over each number from one to twelve over and over.

Each turn signifies one minute. Each rotation of the clock passes the time a teacher has to impart knowledge unto their students. Such a short time passes without acknowledgment and yet according to recent actions of the Springdale School District, nothing is more precious than those previously unnoticed turns on a clock.

During an average school day, I only spend about an hour and a half to three hours actually being instructed. With all the busy work and random activities we do in class, I rarely feel like time spent in class is amounting to something substantial.

Many times in the year I sit around in class watching movies or spending entire days on make-up work. Over the last few weeks and months a big deal has been made about the importance of having enough class time before end of course exams and similar tests such as the junior lit exam.

It has even come to the point of taking two of the days in spring break away from the students and continuing with school on those days. If an extra 100 minutes in a class are so important, then I don’t understand how spending days throughout the year watching movies and doing crosswords can be justified.

The school system is contradicting itself by saying that each and every minute counts before the exams while spending class time doing seemingly pointless work. If every single turn of the clock matters so much,  then from the first day of school on every moment should matter.

There shouldn’t be any wasted time in class. There should be no get-to-know-you activities. There should be no make-up work days. There should be no homecoming assemblies calling students from their studies. There should be no pep rallies.

If a student can’t pass his or her exams by the end of the year, then an extra few rotations on a clock will not make a difference.