This extra hour can make the day pretty long especially for younger students, which can often lead to a loss of focus later in the day. These will be some pros of a four day school week. My main concern is that most kids will not be able to focus by the end of the day because the school days will be longer,and so there would be no point in trying to teach at the end of the day. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. You have a lifespan that is nine years less than people who graduate: Statistically, you may have a shorter lifespan than people who have gone to school and have been empowered. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? This got me thinking about the pros and cons of longer vs. shorter trips. Black Boys in Crisis: Why Arent They Reading? It's almost the end of the first semester, and realizations are starting to set in. Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. 1. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. 2. Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. The A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. By 2013, a dramatic improvement in scores was credited to the extended learning time. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. 2023 The Black Well Firm. Over the next three years, the school district was able to save 2% on their overall costs each year, for a total of $200,000. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. That reorganization, though, and the underlying effort, will have much to do with reviving the American education system, and reviving a national love of learning. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. Fuel, oil, salaries, and supervisory costs can be, A lot of parents are shaking their heads at the consideration of a four-day school week, and a longer school day. (5) Most costs that were reduced were Operations and maintenance, heating and cooling, janitor supplies. One of the primary reasons why school districts, especially rural districts, save money when they shift to a 4-day schedule is because there are fewer transportation costs. Pros and cons of shorter work weeks. The shorter the school day, the better? 6-7. Decreased need to re-teach skills after long vacations, allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. If so, keep reading. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. There tends to be less student exhaustion, which allows them to focus more on the learning process. For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. the fifth day, but they forget, they will still be open and running activities While small gains were made in reading, math and writing, there were no statistically significant results for children in the areas of receptive language, social skills or vocabulary. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. Many school Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. Kids that go to schools with the 4-day week are often happier, stay happy throughout the school year, and look forward to going to school each day. The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. Many schools are adding thirty minutes to both the beginning and end of the school day. The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. Our individualized learning setup at the Tenney School allows us to offer more instruction in a shorter amount of time. The school districts may operate classes Monday-Thursday on a 4-day week (or Tuesday-Friday in some instances), but they are still operational from an administrative standpoint on the off-day. Some districts have seen their disciplinary issues decline by more than 70% in the first two years of implementing a 4-day schedule. Long school days can cause eating problems for students who don't eat at school, or who use up all their energy while learning. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. on those days off. 3. They may also experience irritability and fatigue. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard The class periods would probably be over an hour long but longer school days is a must if you for sure have four day weeks. (Question). The Peach County School District in Georgia saw that their graduation rates slowly increased year after year when they switched to a 4-day school week. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. Does time of day affect student learning? With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. Pros And Cons Of Five Day School Week Though some people say that four days in a school week will help students in certain classes especially in math, this test only worked on 4th and 5th graders. Because the four-day school week has only been around for a decade or so, we simply dont have enough time, data, or research to make a definitive declaration. Teachers are attracted by the prospect of having a shorter work week. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on students math and reading scores. These actions often negate the benefits of the 3-day weekend because it really isnt a true 3-day weekend. 2. That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it. According to the vast majority of states, spanking your child is against the law. Lets face it our best school memories arent from tests or pop quizzes. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. Over the last century, humans have acquired a staggering amount of knowledge and understanding. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. The Edvocate was created in 2014 to argue for shifts in education policy and organization in order to enhance the quality of education and the opportunities for learning afforded to P-20 students in America. Well, for some rural schools across the nation, this has become a reality. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. Others believe that lengthening the school day is an expensive endeavor that wont yield substantial results. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Delaying school start times is associated with a decrease in bedtimes and an increase in sleep for every minute the school day is delayed. For school districts following the 4-day school week, the Thanksgiving holiday usually receives a full week off instead of the final two days of the week. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. However, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with shortening the school day that should be considered before sweeping action is taken to alter the traditional school day. Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. He goes on to say that in order to realize that level of savings, schools must severely limit transportation for activities or programs not conducted on regular school days. 3. Students in the third through sixth grades have improved their ACT scores, according to studies. Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. It is critical to maintain a consistent schedule and not change it on a weekly basis in order to give students the best chance of success. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. Shorter school days should be used in the United States education system since they have several advantages. Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . 2. More teaching: Covid-19 has resulted in a lot of disruption in teaching. The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. If you want to avoid withholding recess as punishment, consider rewarding yourself rather than punishing yourself, such as rewarding yourself with extra recess for good behavior. flexibility is why they are such staunch proponents of the 4-day school schedule. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. The school day is too long. There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. Five-day schools still have the edge in many districts Despite the fact that many districts have seen their test scores make a substantial leap, there are some five-day schools that are still outpacing them academically. It is possible that children will be better prepared to concentrate when it matters because they will have more opportunities to move around and avoid being distracted by classroom rules. Over the course of their first year on this new schedule, they reported that the frequency of discipline referrals for their students dropped by 73%. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. Changing the times could increase attendance by 1%, which could bring in $40 million more. flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. Shortening the school day by even an hour or two can allow a district to save dramatically on its utility costs. If so, keep reading. The idea of having a four-day school has been around for several decades, and has been considered at least since the 1930s, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Spread the loveUsually, people are under the wrong impression that geography does not offer many job opportunities, and there are no jobs for a geographer. This provided the teacher with more freedom with curriculum and time management. It requires longer school days. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. In 2006, a study by Yarbrough and Gilman found that teachers working in a 5-day school schedule reported that they have a lot of wasted time. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. Con: Not all students need one-on-one assistance, and some may even experience boredom or burnout from the extended school day. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. These crimes occurred all during the week, In 2007-2008, the United States had an average school day of 6.64 hours per day, and an average school year of 180 days. The schools who did switch the expenses reduced by 20%, transportation would reduce also by 20%, and the average district could have saving of 5.43% total budget. remediating them begin to take a bite out of the budget. 2 Students Should Be Getting More Rest In addition to students having more time to focus on important activities, a shorter school day would give them more time to rest. Defining Moments Are What Make Good School Leaders Great, Year-Round Schooling: How it Affects Students, Why you need a multi-tiered behavioral support approach, Understanding Strategy and Strategic Leadership, Teaching & Learning Strategies, Concepts, and Terms That Every Teacher Must Know: Letters DIA-DIG, First-Year Teachers: 4 Reasons You Need a Mentor Right Now, 18 Reasons the U.S. Education System is Failing, The Top 5 Unexpected Benefits of Early Childhood Education. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. Longer school days would provide students with more time to focus on core subjects or classes where they need more instruction, which would be a huge benefit. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. The school day had to accommodate available daylight and the requirements of helping with the family farm. Longer school days may lead to attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. Schools are able to switch to a four-day week by simply increasing the length of their school day. Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day. It can also be difficult to monitor, as students may be able to find ways to sneak in a recess break even when they are supposed to be punished. Increases student attendance. The Cons. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? They question the value of a continuous . Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. New Haven teachers in an unprecedented move allowed their teacher unions to take over the rewriting of their contracts. If something goes wrong . Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. What Grades Is Elementary School? On the other hand, there have been studies that found no significant difference in overall academic achievement between four-day districts and five-day districts. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. manageable in a myriad of ways. In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. When shifted to a 4-day school week, they reported that they were forced to focus on instruction much more than they had previously. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. The school days are spread more evenly over the year, with more frequent short breaks and the absence of a 10-12 week summer break. It lists the advantages of the four-day model as: Improved morale and fewer absences: A shorter working week leads to less burnout, making staff happier and more focused in . One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. 1. The list just gets longer. All rights reserved. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. Traditional vs. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. "I get really tired throughout the day and I would love shorter school hours." . The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. Compacting school into just four days a week leaves more time for kids to spend with family, friends and outside interests. That is a lot of time taken away, but if the school days were shortened, you would have a lot more time to do your activities. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. Rural areas report that their student attendance has increased since switching to the 4-day school week. NOTE : The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Shorter school days that start later in the day could alleviate this problem, promoting healthy habits and the many benefits that go with a solid sleep routine. If so, keep reading. The benefits of going to a 4-day week for schooling is that it offers teachers and students an additional day for rest every week. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. Students can adjust to the new schedule. The most popular is a 32-hour work week, which means people work 8 hours per day, 4 hours in a week. 1. The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America's 85,000 public schools each day. If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. Students already feel like their school day is too long. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. The four-day arrangement gives opportunity for students to work an extra day at an after-school job, participate in volunteer activities, or pursue further educational goals by taking advantage of the extra day. Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. Some districts take just one week off at Christmas instead of two weeks because of these conflicts. When students are too tired or mentally exhausted to concentrate at the end of the day, the last hour becomes meaningless. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Who Sang For Troy In High School Musical? This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. Schools would also have to change their bus transportation systems which are designed to run as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. In many cases, it is in the best interests of students to reduce costs and have minimal impact on instruction. While state requirements vary on the number of instructional days and hours in the year, the majority of states set the school year at 180 days (30 states). The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. Not only would this give everyone a 3-day weekend to enjoy, it would also limit the pressure on students and teachers to have a diversified learning experience in a compressed time period. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Why should school weeks be shorter? by elenam112 states This means the school would be open longer, resulting in larger electrical and heating bills. Schools would need to stay open later at night for after school activities and stay open early in the morning for students who are dropped off early. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule.
