NORTON -- Like most big things that happen in the lives of middle school students, it all started with a rumor.

When the rumor that Norton Middle School students would lose some of their valuable study hall time turned out to be true, three seventh-graders decided something had to be done.

And although the school committee turned down their initial petition to have study time reinstated, the trio hasn't thrown their hands up in defeat just yet.

`` We got very upset,'' said Audra Schlehuber. `` All of a sudden it was getting taken away from us, and it didn't seem fair.''

For Schlehuber, 13, and her friends, Kerryn Camara, 13, and Lynsey Kearns, 12, the new programming was an unpleasant surprise. In fact, the decision to eliminate two of the school's five study hall periods per week was made last spring and had been in the works for several years as the school committee tried to bring the middle school inline with state regulations regarding structural learning time.

`` This should have been done eight years ago,'' school committee chairman Kevin O'Neil said. `` Most middle schools eliminate study skills entirely.''

O'Neil said Norton Middle School had been operating at about 830 hours of structured learning time per year, somewhat short of the 900 hours specified as part of the Education Reform Act of 1993.

The student learning time portion of the act, which was reaffirmed in an official Department of Education board vote in December 1996, also carefully outlined what does not count, including `` non-directed study periods.''

To make the hours add up, O'Neil said, the school committee voted to take two of the middle school's periods out of class rotation.

The girls were told of the problem when they presented their petition, with 150 student and 12 parent signatures, to the board earlier this fall.

`` They were very articulate, and rather convincing,'' Superintendent Patricia Ansay said. `` But, our hands are tied.''

To the girls, however, that was not a good enough answer.

They said they understand about state laws, but what really translates to them is the amount of time they spend on their homework each day.

Kearns, who has theater or basketball practice each day after school, starts homework about 7 p.m. each night after she eats a sit-down meal with her family. Depending on how much work she has, bedtime is as late as 11 p.m.

`` Study skills makes a pretty significant difference. We all have activities after school,'' she said. `` We were really mad, and we decided to see if we can change it.''

The girls, who are in advanced level classes, acknowledge that they aren't given an unfair amount of homework -- Schleuhuber said she `` can't blame the teachers.''

`` It's a problem in general, in society,'' O'Neil said. `` People will tell you, (most people) are over scheduled. (Study skills) is not a problem unique to Norton, and it's (better) in Norton.''

Better, maybe, but the girls have decided to take the school committee at their word.

Schllehuber said they are trying to work out a way to eliminate other school day times, and come up with a way to make the numbers add up in their favor. They'll take that plan to the school committee.

`` They said, if we can work out a `` magical way'' to make it, they'd be happy to hear it,'' she said. `` We won't been done trying for a long time.''