DEAR is a work in progress
DEAR time is facing additional revisions to fit the student preference
The next DEAR time is scheduled for Jan. 18.
Pascack Valley had its second DEAR time last Wednesday and, according to PV Principal Tom DeMaio, there are still improvements to be made.
“[DEAR time] is not where I want it yet,” DeMaio said of the Drop Everything And Read program. “Some kids were a little bit more okay with it because it still gave them some options, but there’s still a lot of growth that needs to occur with it. There are a lot of kids who aren’t participating the way I’d like them to.”
According to DeMaio, the administration plans to talk to the student councils and ask about possible further improvements.
Chloe Witt, senior liaison on the Executive Class Council, said that “giving people a heads up” about DEAR time may alleviate some of the “negative” reactions that students have had to DEAR time.
There are a lot of kids who aren’t participating the way I’d like them to.
— PV Principal Tom DeMaio
“Every time we have DEAR time, it’s told the day of. It’s always last minute,” Witt said. “A lot of kids cherish Pascack Period.”
The two preceding DEAR times were cancelled in order to allow time for adjustments to be made. The adjustments allowed for students to see their teachers and do their homework rather than read.
“I would still love to see the entire building just do it,” DeMaio said, “but sometimes we have to pick and choose battles and then make compromises.”
According to DeMaio, the adjustments were made in response to attempt to create a system that balances the needs of “kids [who were] functioning well under Pascack Period and who [were] strong readers to begin with” and “kids who are not being productive with their time.”
“I think we should read for a period once a week during english classes instead of during Pascack Period,” Witt said. “Personally, I read every Friday during English.”
The next scheduled DEAR time is on Jan. 18.
“We’re not going to give up on [DEAR time]. We’re going to continue to work at it,” DeMaio said. “It’s not meant to be a punishment. It’s an opportunity to get some quiet time and to continue to introduce opportunities for students to read more.”
