2. 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. A three-day weekend allows for extra leisure time, as well as a reduction in commute and energy usage. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. Having students to fit 5 days' worth of classroom time into 4 days would make for a tiring schedule, where many of the younger school children would find it very difficult to focus on their study for such long periods. (Question). 5. The school day had to accommodate available daylight and the requirements of helping with the family farm. A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. 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. 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. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Long summers are known to cause "summer slide," or the decline of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the extended vacation. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. According to the vast majority of states, spanking your child is against the law. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. Because school buses are only running 4 days per week instead of 5 days, there is the potential of reducing transportation costs by up to 20% by shifting the schedule. It might help school districts save money. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. It also means that certain holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving, are extended to a full week, and that can be a scheduling concern for many families. The list just gets longer. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. Underperforming schools and the lagging performance of U.S. students in comparison to other countries is a concern. It provides a realistic way for schools to remain open and also has added benefits beyond saving money. The challenges of implementing such a schedule for parents, administrators, and even some teachers have caused some Colorado school districts to return to the traditional schedule instead of the alternative 4-day schedule. Black Boys in Crisis: Why Arent They Reading? Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. ", 21 Payday Loan Industry Statistics, Trends & Analysis, 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, 50 Best Business Letter Closings of All-Time. Students in the third through sixth grades have improved their ACT scores, according to studies. Well, at least initially. Increases student attendance. Spread the loveTeachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Many school Other Debates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students are less active when they are not allowed to recess during the school day due to bad classroom behavior. In general, ELT has received positive feedback; however, some schools have had more difficult transitions than others. Some school districts have reported saving Some students believe that having a four-day school week allows them to get more rest and to be in a less stressful atmosphere than they would otherwise have. 2. (Solution). The reason why school districts are going to a 4 day school week is to save money and the states that you see switching to a 4 days are states that have economic problems such as Oklahoma. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. on those days off. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. Each community has unique needs which must be met, so there is the possibility of a 4-day week being useful to some districts, but not others. Students already feel like their school day is too long. What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. Kids already spend a very long time each week in the school and away from their family. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. Many break times have been incorporated in the calendar, such as morning recess, afternoon recess, snack time, and so on. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. While some research has shown that increasing the amount of time spent in class can boost student accomplishment, these findings have been influenced by factors such as the classroom atmosphere, the quality of instruction, and students prior knowledge and abilities. Some are even cutting arts programs or shortening the school week to balance the budget. This is a big con for me, as sacrificing the futures of our most vulnerable students is not worth the trivial benefits of 4-day school weeks. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. Shorter school days should be used in the United States education system since they have several advantages. They just dont have time to get everything done. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. There is no one answer to this question as it can depend on individual circumstances. These 300 would have to find some alternative to school on Fridays if the Moniteau County R-1 School Districts schedule changed from a five day week to a four day week. 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. School districts save money. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Should the school day start later pros and cons? This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. Longer school days may lead to attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. Easier to recruit employees. If something goes wrong . The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. 2. When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. 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. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. These will be some pros of a four day school week. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. Anticipated savings are in transportation, food and food service workers, hourly workers and utilities. 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. recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during . It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. These actions often negate the benefits of the 3-day weekend because it really isnt a true 3-day weekend. By switching to a 4-day school week, the number of transitions can be reduced because more time can be spent on each subject. Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. Some school districts, particularly those that are in regions of the U.S. where snowfall creates a handful of cancellations each year, find that they are forced to reduce, if not eliminate, certain holidays or vacations. There is the possibility of making up for lost time, especially those who are at a disadvantage due to the digital divide. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. To avoid this issue, many school districts have considered shifting to a 4-day school week. Elizabeth Perle 1). The four-day week did not appear to affect. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Students that sit in lecture classrooms retain 10% or less of the information that is presented to them. not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. One school said that they have saved a teacher in diesel fuel costs (chiaramonte 2 ). According to him, providing education to all would be beneficial to society. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? Pros and cons of a four day working week. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. I say this because we would have to start. Which one is the best? Pros and cons of shorter work weeks. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. manageable in a myriad of ways. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. The school day is too long. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). Teachers report Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. As a result, learning is less effective due to budget constraints. They were located in 7 western states in the U.S. and all but 13 of them identified themselves as being a rural school district. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. Most students in the four-day districts80 percent of high school students and 90 percent of elementary studentsspent their "off day" at home. A 4 day work week would promote an equal workplace as employees would be able to spend more time with their families and better juggle care and work commitments. Wildbit, a company based in the US, a portion of whose workforce works remotely, tested the 4-day week to see whether the shorter working hours will affect employee productivity. Pros of the 4-day School Week. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. 6. When busing and after-school activities are included in that timeframe as well, some older students may find themselves putting in 12-hour days at school every day. Other concerns with early school start times and the resulting insufficient sleep include: Increased likelihood for participating in risk-taking behaviors, such as bullying and fighting. Does precision really make a program successful? List of the Major Cons of a 4-Day School Week 1. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. The school day could be shortened to give children and teenagers more time for movement, brain breaks, and other activities that have been shown to increase learning outcomes. 1. Students follow the same type of pattern. School districts save money. Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. They saved 1.4%, or $45,000, instead. This is one reason school districts use to implement dress codes. All rights reserved. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. It creates a long school day for students. In Anecdotal evidence also suggests that attendance improves; parents and teachers can schedule doctor's appointments and other weekday commitments for Fridays rather than during school days. Very Costly. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. Additional costs savings from a shorter day include less . The basic assumption of a 4 day work week is fulfilling the duties in a shorter amount of time, instead of the usual five-day workweek and receiving the same pay. These crimes occurred all during the week, The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. If you ask the average kid what they think about school, youll get a very honest answer: Its boring. From K-12, it can be difficult for students to stay engaged in the classroom during a 5-day school week. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. 1. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Does time of day affect student learning? The trade-off for a shorter week is a longer school day. Massachusetts, a pioneer in extended learning time (ELT), has made significant progress in this field. Also, since special populations fare poorly in this configuration, the costs of Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. You should approach these strategies with your childs teacher instead of punishing him or her. Four day school weeks may not be a realistic situation for all schools throughout the nation, but for those that it is possible, the four day school week saves money, improves test scores, and further improves the school as a whole. There tends to be less student exhaustion, which allows them to focus more on the learning process. What are the pros and cons for students, teachers and school boards? four-day week across 16 school districts. Sacrifices Family Time. Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process. By 2013, a dramatic improvement in scores was credited to the extended learning time. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. What are the advantages and disadvantages of including issues such as child care? It requires longer school days. For the Cove School District in Eastern Oregon, the school day begins at 8am and doesnt end until 4pm. In-depth consultation between all constituents reveals the pros and cons of extended school days. Florida's inflation-adjusted education spending per student has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -- to $7,473 in 2000-01. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. The requirements for total education time do not change just because a school district goes to a 4-day school week. But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. 6. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? 1. 4. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. Other popular year-round schedules are the 60-20 and 90-30 calendars, where students are in class for 60 or 90 days with vacations of 20 or 30 days respectively. This creates challenges for families that range from transportation to daycare and could make it difficult for parents to be fully involved with their childs education. Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. Spread the loveThis term refers to the grouping of students by mental capability, aptitude, or hobbies. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. What are the pros and cons of shorter school week? After analyzing Colorado schools operating on four-day school weeks, (Dam) reports that transportation costs can be reduced by 20%. 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%. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. 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. Changing the times could increase attendance by 1%, which could bring in $40 million more. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. Your email address will not be published. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. Harvest times were set in the old way and still are when most school calendars are set up, when the United States was a farm country. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. The evaluated skills include science, math, and reading. teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. Examining the pros and cons of year-round school gives insight into why some education leaders push for its adoption while others argue for sticking to the traditional 10-month schedule. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. 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. Many companies have found that when workers are able to work a schedule which suits their needs, letting them work how they like, then their workers are more productive. When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. There are a variety of health issues that can be caused by a lack of sleep. 3. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. Those against extended lunches might argue . Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. 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. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? The ability to offer a 3-day weekend, every weekend, is a powerful motivator for school districts that are recruiting for quality employees. A local news reporter says thevve also saved substitute teacher costs because teachers don't have to take a day off for appointments (Chiaramonte 2 ). Delaying school start times has been shown to have positive outcomes for students and families in overwhelming scientific research. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. An understandable concern for parents, teachers, and students about the 4-day school week is the extended time required to be at school during the day. List of Cons of Implementing 4-Day School Weeks 1. Spread the loveTo be twice-exceptional is to be exceptionally gifted in some academic aspects while being below average compared to peers in other aspects. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. Your email address will not be published. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new Colorado has nearly three-quarters of its school districts on a four-day schedule. Then ask the superintendent of the school district to consider year round school with only four days per week.First, students would not forget what they learned over the long summer. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. When the new school day was implemented, the system was relieved of the need to cram math, reading, and science into a short period of time, allowing for more time to be spent on subjects that students enjoy and teachers enjoy. The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative has already benefited 19 schools and over 10,000 students. How do longer school days affect students? That also means some families, with children who are old enough, can eliminate daycare expenses completely with this type of scheduling option. When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. They question the value of a continuous . However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. 4 day school week would be better for schools without a doubt because you save money and kids will be more refreshed and not burned out also their behavior is showed to become better. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum. There are various school days in the United States. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. 1. 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. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. Why did they switch to 4-day school weeks? If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. It is also possible for schools to extend the school day in more districts across the country. 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. Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day. Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. Sara Blackwell teaches Employment Law at University of South Florida in Tampa and she is a published author. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. 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. The. The average length of the K-12 school day is 8:30 to 3:00, engaging U.S. students in school for 6.64 hours a day over the span of 180 school days.

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