For many students, especially in middle and high school, maintaining focus for 90-minutes of class time is a challenge. Research suggests that the typical attention span for high school students is between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on their age and interest. This means that in a 90-minute class, as much as an hour could become “tune-out time”.

I think that breaks should be longer, and break periods should be extended to allow students time to rest, reset, and return to class with more energy and focus. Shorter and more frequent breaks will likely improve students’ ability to retain information and participate actively throughout the day. For example, schools that follow block scheduling often build in longer breaks to prevent burnout during extended class periods.

Samul Santos (10) stated “Classes should be longer because if classes were shorter students wouldn’t be able to do as much work as they do in class.” Santos also stated ‘’Most students are just not feeling like they have no need to be in class for that long, so they start skipping.”

Another thing to consider is student attendance and motivation. When students know that they will have time to recharge between classes, they may skip class less. Shorter class periods or longer breaks can create a better balance.

In conclusion, while there are benefits to longer class periods, schools should also consider their students attention span, motivation, and engagement in learning. Adjusting schedules to include longer breaks or shorter classes could create a more effective and supportive learning environment for students.