After a week of reporting on how students spend F Block, a recent school-wide survey helped frame the way students and faculty actually feel about the period. Although there was an overwhelming majority who saw value in the F block, some findings showed various conclusions as to how the block should be used, how it can be improved, and even if there are times when it can be skipped completely.
More than 400 responses were collected from both students and faculty. While over nine out of ten respondents said they view F Block positively, opinions differed when participants were asked what makes the period most valuable. Study and work time stood out as the top choice, with many students selecting it over clubs, meetings, or assemblies. Other respondents also pointed to Mass and advisory check-ins as meaningful ways to use F Block.
As with most surveys, some of the results can be understood in different ways. For example, nearly three out of four respondents said that they personally take F Block seriously, but only a little over half felt that other students do the same.
Questions about the purpose of F Block also produced varied responses. While no single purpose clearly stood out, academic support and work completion were consistently rated as the most effective uses of the time. Many students also identified study and work time as the main reason F Block is valuable, even though the period is used in different ways.
The difference between purpose and actual use showed that student engagement during F Block was mixed. While many students agreed that F Block can be a good use of time, others reported feeling neutral or disengaged, especially when expectations are unclear. Several written responses mentioned that F Block works best when students know exactly what they are supposed to be doing and where they are supposed to be.
in what looks like an obvious result, the overwhelming number of respondents said seniors should be allowed to leave early on Day 2 M schedules when there are no special events during F Block. This idea also appeared frequently in written responses, along with suggestions for better organization and clearer communication about how F Block should be used.
Faculty was also asked in the survey, and the results were similar to those of students.. Most faculty members said they have the resources needed to run F Block effectively and identified structured activities, such as academic support, class meetings, and Mass, as the most successful uses of the time. At the same time, faculty also noted challenges, including inconsistent student participation and lack of focus on some days, which coincides with the findings from students that not all students take the period seriously.
Overall, the survey suggests that the idea behind F Block works. Many students use the time in productive ways, especially for academic support, though there are still areas that could be improved. Instead of getting rid of F Block, many respondents emphasized the need for clearer expectations and stronger structure to make it a more effective part of the school day.
Check Out the Survey Results Here
