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spare
DCHP-2 (Jul 2016)
1adj. — Education
characterizing a scheduled block of free time for either students or teachers, usually in a high school.
Type: 5. Frequency — The adjectival use of the term, most often in the phrase "spare period," precedes the noun use, as in "I have a spare after French class" (see meaning 2). This usage occurs most frequently in Canada (see Chart 1). In the US, as in some other locations, the more common term appears to be "free period", which is also used, albeit as a minority term, in Canada (see Chart 2). The term is a preservation from British English (see the 1942 quotation).
Quotations
1942
In the girls' P.T. department, Miss I. Beggs, instructress, the girls have made marked improvement in general P.T. work and folk dancing. Many practise high jumping at noon, and promising material has been discovered.
Speed skating, also under Miss Beggs, has begun in earnest at the Blackhawks rink at noon, and in some spare periods.
A St. Valentine's Day tea will be given by the staff and ladies of the district on Friday at 4 p.m. Clothes destined for Weston-Super Mare will be on display to show the work being done for this English town, "adopted" by the school.
1966
If he knew that he could earn an additional $150 for teaching Period 4 on Monday, when he would otherwise have a spare period, he might be inclined to ask for a class for that period.
1982
Secondary school teachers are also reputed to be the first to win prime salaries, spare periods for lesson planning and fancy cafeterias, Prof. Townsend said.
1996
There were more than 30 protesters, but some of the students had a spare period in their timetables and were allowed to be outside the school, the principal said.
2004
While other students are watching movies and sleeping during their spare periods from school, Waterbury delivers meals to shut-ins and seniors for Meals on Wheels. He does so with the support of his mother, Nancy.
2012
Morphy would often join him before morning practices for coffee at a diner near the school. Many others would spend their spare periods and lunchtimes in his music room in Tech's basement, beside the boiler room where Murdie and students would, independent of one another, sneak off to smoke cigarettes.
2n. — Education
a period of the school day in which a student or teacher has free time.
Type: 5. Frequency — It appears that spare as a noun was derived from the adjectival form (see meaning 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "spare"(3), which is marked "Cdn".
See also COD-2, s.v. "spare"(3), which is marked "Cdn".
Quotations
1971
If student has a spare or spares immediately, after the home-room period, either in the morning or afternoon, "he is excused from the home-room excercises for that half day."
1998
During the period when I did not teach, which people refer to as a "spare," I was busy marking tests or preparing material for the next day.
1998
Last year, the teachers instructed three periods a day, used one for lunch and had a spare to prepare courses and mark papers.
2008
Hanako has a busy school year ahead when she will be starting grade ten. At the moment, Hanako says she is even taking grade ten English through correspondence so that she has a spare this year to pursue other interests like a creative writing course or a Japanese language class.
References
- COD-2
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 15 Oct. 2012
