---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The schools schedule is a series of units…"
description: "\"The schools schedule is a series of units of time; the clock is king.\" — Ted Sizer"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/ted-sizer-42828_classroom_the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-unit_3045916.png"
---

#  The schools schedule is a series of units of time; the…

![“The schools schedule is a series of units of time; the clock is king.” quote by Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/ted-sizer-42828_classroom_the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-unit_3045916.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/ted-sizer-42828_classroom_the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-unit_3045916.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/ted-sizer-42828_classroom_the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-unit_3045916.png)

> “The schools schedule is a series of units of time; the clock is king.”

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Time structure dominates school life, making schedules the controlling force.

**In simple terms:** School schedules are ruled by time.

Key Takeaway

Consider flexible timing.

Themes

education time management structure

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- classroom planning
- curriculum development
- policy making

Key Concepts

pedagogy school design

Questions to Reflect On

- Should schools adopt more fluid timetables?
- How does time pressure affect learning?

A Different Perspective

Rigid schedules can limit creativity and responsiveness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Classroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classroom/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Schedules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schedules/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-clock/)

## Related quotes

> [“His way of coping with the days was to think of activities as units of time, each unit consisting of about thirty minutes. Whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/his-way-of-coping-with-the-days-was-to-think-of-activities-as-units/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [Life is long. Just because you don't get your chance right when you want or expect it doesn't mean it won't come. Fate doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/life-is-long-just-because-you-don-t-get-your-chance-right-when-you-2/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Whenever you take a subject you're obsessed with or that haunts you, and make a movie about it, you're converting it into work units…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-maddin/whenever-you-take-a-subject-you-re-obsessed-with-or-that-haunts-you/)

[Guy Maddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-maddin/)

> [Organizing time is exactly like organizing space. Just as a closet is a limited amount of space into which you must fit a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-morgenstern/organizing-time-is-exactly-like-organizing-space-just-as-a-closet-is/)

[Julie Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-morgenstern/)

> [Jesus . . . wants us to see that the neighbor next door or the people sitting next to us on a plane or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-pippert/jesus-wants-us-to-see-that-the-neighbor-next-door-or-the-people/)

[Rebecca Pippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-pippert/)

> [“His time clock is announcing the second coming of His Son, not as a humble servant or sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wilbur/his-time-clock-is-announcing-the-second-coming-of-his-son-not-as-a/)

[Paul Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wilbur/)

> [“...I do not function too well on emotional motivations. I am wary of them. And I am wary of a lot of other things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/i-do-not-function-too-well-on-emotional-motivations-i-am-wary-of-them/)

[John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/)

> [Men do not have the same urgency that women intrinsically feel because women are on a biological time clock. Even if a woman has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-cooper/men-do-not-have-the-same-urgency-that-women-intrinsically-feel/)

[Brett Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-cooper/)

> [Only when the clock stops does time come to life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/only-when-the-clock-stops-does-time-come-to-life/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [Time is what the clock says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/time-is-what-the-clock-says/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Whenever you note the time on the clock, realize that it is now—right now—later than it has ever been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-franklin/whenever-you-note-the-time-on-the-clock-realize-that-it-is-now-right/)

Kenneth Franklin

> [“I used to have to punch a time clock at Columbia ... Every day of my life. That's what it was like. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/i-used-to-have-to-punch-a-time-clock-at-columbia-every-day-of-my-life/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [I want to feel like I'm doing something creative and trying different things, putting different hats on and playing. I don't know what's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-want-to-feel-like-i-m-doing-something-creative-and-trying-different/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [Average leaders inspire people to punch a time clock. Great leaders inspire industry and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/average-leaders-inspire-people-to-punch-a-time-clock-great-leaders/)

[Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/)

> [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/)

[Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/)

## More by Ted Sizer

> [Inspiration, hunger: these are the qualities that drive good schools. The best we educational planners can do is to create the most likely conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/inspiration-hunger-these-are-the-qualities-that-drive-good-schools/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [A good education teaches you how to ask a question. It’s knowing what you don’t know; the skills of critical thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/a-good-education-teaches-you-how-to-ask-a-question-it-s-knowing-what/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [Things remain the same because it is impossible to change very much without changing most of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/things-remain-the-same-because-it-is-impossible-to-change-very-much/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [... the kids do what no one expects them to do. That's progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/the-kids-do-what-no-one-expects-them-to-do-that-s-progress/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [The first object of any act of learning, over and beyond the pleasure it may give, is that it should serve us in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/the-first-object-of-any-act-of-learning-over-and-beyond-the-pleasure/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [Every student, without exception, should be able to succeed well at something consequential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/every-student-without-exception-should-be-able-to-succeed-well-at/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [I cannot teach a child I do not know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/i-cannot-teach-a-child-i-do-not-know/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [Writing is the litmus paper of thoughtthe very center of schooling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/writing-is-the-litmus-paper-of-thoughtthe-very-center-of-schooling/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

> [In the history of education, the most striking phenomenon is that schools of learning, which at one epoch are alive with a ferment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/in-the-history-of-education-the-most-striking-phenomenon-is-that/)

[Ted Sizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

[Explore all 10 Ted Sizer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/)

## More Classroom quotes

> [The first responsibility of the Muslim is as teacher. That is his job, to teach. His first school, his first classroom is within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/the-first-responsibility-of-the-muslim-is-as-teacher-that-is-his-job/)

[H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/)

> [Partisan politics has no place in the classroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-cole/partisan-politics-has-no-place-in-the-classroom/)

[Juan Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-cole/)

> [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/)

[Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/)

> [I spend time in the classroom. I think more of them aren't political science than are political science. I particularly like talking to journalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-edgar/i-spend-time-in-the-classroom-i-think-more-of-them-aren-t-political/)

[Jim Edgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-edgar/)

> [If the professor doesn't show up to class in the first 15 minutes, you get to leave. Somebody make that a law, please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-professor-doesn-t-show-up-to-class-in-the-first-15-minutes-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Emotions are classes in the Earth school. Some classes are about fear, and some are about love. The Universe is your tutor, and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/emotions-are-classes-in-the-earth-school-some-classes-are-about-fear/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-go-through-life-like-leaf-blown-from-here-to-there-believing/)

[Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/)

> [It is not the responsibility of the enlightened teacher to bring the student to enlightenment. That may be true in the classroom, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-not-the-responsibility-of-the-enlightened-teacher-to-bring-the/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I'm going to insist that we've got decent funding, enough teachers, and computers in the classroom, but unless you turn off the television set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-going-to-insist-that-we-ve-got-decent-funding-enough-teachers-and/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [In science, technology, engineering and mathematics, men far outnumber women in the classroom and the boardroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weili-dai/in-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-men-far-outnumber/)

[Weili Dai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weili-dai/)

> [Let students use technologies in the classroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weili-dai/let-students-use-technologies-in-the-classroom/)

[Weili Dai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weili-dai/)

> [Teacher:The test is very easy. Me:Sure it is bitch, you already know the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teacher-the-test-is-very-easy-me-sure-it-is-bitch-you-already-know/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [At school, I risk my phone's life to text you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-school-i-risk-my-phone-s-life-to-text-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Calvin: Today for show and tell, I've brought a tiny miracle of nature: a single snowflake! I think we might all learn a lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/calvin-today-for-show-and-tell-i-ve-brought-a-tiny-miracle-of-nature/)

[Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/)

> [Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/bringing-nature-into-the-classroom-can-kindle-a-fascination-and/)

[David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/)

[Browse all 834 Classroom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classroom/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The schools schedule is a series of units of time; the clock is king.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ted Sizer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-units-of-time-the-clock-is-king/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Classroom"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-units-of-time-the-clock-is-king/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/ted-sizer-42828_classroom_the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-unit_3045916.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/ted-sizer-42828_classroom_the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-unit_3045916.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/ted-sizer-42828_classroom_the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-unit_3045916.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The schools schedule is a series of units of time; the clock is king.” — Ted Sizer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ted Sizer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-sizer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The schools schedule is a series...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-units-of-time-the-clock-is-king/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-sizer/the-schools-schedule-is-a-series-of-units-of-time-the-clock-is-king/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
