This paper examines the anticipated advantages and disadvantages of a proposed trimester plan for a Birmingham (Alabama) high school. The proposed plan would maintain the usual length school year, simply dividing it into three "mesters", rather than the traditional two. The Birmingham trimester plan also would lengthen each class period to 85 minutes; each day would run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and would consist of five class periods. Each teacher and student would have classes scheduled for four of the five periods and would be at school either from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. After describing the proposed trimester plan, the authors discuss its probable advantages and disadvantages for the secondary school program as a whole, and for the secondary visual arts program in particular. A final section lists prerequisites for the success of the program and possible pitfalls to be avoided in its implementation. (JG)