Flex is a time for students to catch up on homework, socialize, attend tutorials and engage in club activities. The 40 minute period is necessary for overwhelmed students desperate for a break between classes. However, as of this school year, flex will no longer be available for students on Mondays and Fridays. Although this may seem like a good strategy to prevent students from leaving the building or getting into trouble, this new policy could be destructive for students and teachers. Instead of completely removing flex time on Mondays and Fridays, administration should increase their presence throughout the building to monitor behavior and presume tutorial sessions as usual. 

School is not just a place to learn academic skills, but also social skills. Flex time serves as a window for those students who have trouble making friends and engaging in social activities to meet new people and feel like they belong. A 2013 study by three Missouri State University professors found that social interaction is a crucial part of a student’s development. This is a key part of adolescence that is necessary to help kids become well-rounded adults. By taking this opportunity away from students, they will have a hard time later on, in college, or at work when collaborating with others. 

Flex also offers another opportunity for clubs to meet. Most club presidents know that students are more likely to attend a club meeting during flex rather than before or after school. With less flex time, fewer students will engage in club activities, which prevents them from learning about a career they might pursue or making friends with common interests. Most students will prioritize visiting tutorials instead of attending club meetings because of this new policy, further increasing this decline in club members. 

Limiting flex time reduces the opportunities students have to retest their assignments. Most students have commitments outside of school that prevent them from being able to stay late for tutorials, such as work or extracurricular activities. These commitments force students to retest during flex time. Now that flex is limited to three days a week, struggling students can only attend two flex time tutorials before retesting. 

Another aspect to consider about this new policy is how it will affect the classroom population. Since students no longer have an entire week to attend flex time tutorials, many teachers will have overpacked rooms, which could potentially ignite cheating and overwhelm teachers. This generation is already anxious enough as is, and with an overcrowded classroom, that anxiety is enhanced and could impact test scores. With this new policy, students absent from a class will have less time to catch up on work. These students may need one-on-one time with a teacher that they are now unable to receive because of the increase in flex tutorial demand. 

Overall, it is clear that students cannot thrive in a learning environment that does not maximize its opportunities for growth. Taking away flex time will not prevent any behavior issues. Just like with parenting, if parents are too strict with their children, they will rebel, but if they give them just the right amount of freedom, they will excel. Flex time offers students the freedom to become a successful student and person overall. Frisco High Schools administration should not sacrifice these critical skills.