Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day. 19 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of the 4 Day School Week If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. 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. Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. 5. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Should the school day start later pros and cons? In-depth consultation between all constituents reveals the pros and cons of extended school days. 6. Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Cutting that by 20% means a savings of $4 billion, if implemented nationwide. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. If school doesnt get out until 4pm, then the student makes it home at 5pm. Ages. Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. Moving to the 4-day schedule shifts student movement patterns, reducing the number of lost transition minutes. 4-day school weeks: Educational innovation or detriment? - Brookings School days shorter? - The STEAM Press Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. About 20% of the states school districts incorporate a 4-day schedule of some kind. Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. Research has shown that in this configuration, students who are low-income, minority, or special needs dont fare too well academically. We must ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn by improving the effectiveness of our schools and ensuring that all children have access to them. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Teacher time will be increased when the school day is extended, allowing them to spend more time with pupils and to concentrate on problem areas and more challenging content. Con: Not all students need one-on-one assistance, and some may even experience boredom or burnout from the extended school day. Christmas and Spring holiday weeks may be extended as well. Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. The Pros and Cons of a Shortened School Schedule Every issue has its good and bad bits, and the same is true for districts making the switch to a shortened school week. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. 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. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. What are the pros and cons for students, teachers and school boards? Our individualized learning setup at the Tenney School allows us to offer more instruction in a shorter amount of time. 3. It also means that students face more daily seat time, in exchange for a 3-day weekend which may not materialize with their after-school commitments. Shorter Classes: Depending on your school's summer schedule, you can complete a semester's worth of work in eight, five, or even three weeks. Alexander Alvarez, Reporter November 16, 2021. STP every day allows students to do their schoolwork, resulting in reduced overall stress. 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. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. You are more likely to face poverty: those who drop out of school without any plans, stare at poverty in the face without the option of getting out of it. The. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. 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. Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities. Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. More time to focus on mental health In the typical K-12 schooling model, mental health education is too often shunted aside. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. Recently Michael Gove raised the issue of the length of school holidays and the school day - the former are apparently too long, the latter too short. Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. Many school In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. This issue occurs at all grade levels. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their Sacrifices Family Time. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. 1. Those against extended lunches might argue . The Alaska school year averaged about 180 days in length, and the school day was 6.48 hours long. In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. It requires longer school days. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. (5) Most costs that were reduced were Operations and maintenance, heating and cooling, janitor supplies. List of the Advantages of 4-Day School Weeks 1. Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. Third, shorter days could reduce the amount of time that students spend on the bus or in the car, which would save money and reduce pollution. 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. 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. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). . The Pros and Cons of a 4-Day Week for Employers & Employees 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. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. 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. There are potential savings to food programs and other important areas of infrastructure because the school district is closed 1 additional day each week. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on students math and reading scores. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to help students who cannot fasten their own clothes? For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. Dr. Kelly S. Meier - Updated May 03, 2019, Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, NavajoCode: Unbiased Longer School Days Pros and Cons. If so, keep reading. There can be no one answer to this question because it is a matter of case by case. In this article, we will examine this question in depth. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. 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. Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during . Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. That means the average cost, per student, is about $700. Shorter days can only be seen as a positive thing and would benefit students, teacher, and administrators. 10 Reasons Why School Days Should Not Be Shorter? (TOP 5 Tips) First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. Additionally student involvement and safety would suffer. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. Many school districts keep their administrative staff on school grounds all week long, though some allow half to take a Monday off, while the other half takes Friday off. What are the Pros and Cons of 4-Day School Weeks? 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 final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. The Pros and Cons of a 4 Day Working Week - Change Recruitment Shorter, intense courses in which a semesters worth of content is delivered at an expedited rate were deemed to be more successful by students in a recent study by academics at the University of Texas at Austin. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. Pros & Cons of Lengthening the School Day - Synonym (Solution). It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? school schedules from 5 to 4 days. If schools only had one day off per week, millions of dollars would be saved. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process. One way to address these issues is to shift the traditional school schedule into a 4-day week. I say this because we would have to start. The Trump Administrations Vindictive Attack On Federal Workers: The Shutdown Of The Office Of Special Counsel, Michigan State University College Of Law: A Top Law School, Why Union Safe Company Is The Best Choice For Protecting Your Home Or Business, The Life Of John Laurens: A Patriot Lawyer And Army Officer. Students are tired and cranky by the end of 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. And the school districts in the state have stable student achievement levels on their standardized tests. The districts on the 4-day school week are finding it easier to recruit for the staff they need because they offer the prospect of a 3-day weekend during the school year. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. Extending the school days even longer would further cut into valuable time to bond with family. When a school opts to go with an early start time, then students are spending less time sitting in traffic as they head to class. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports 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%. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. Students can adjust to the new schedule. Reasons Why the School Day Should Be Shorter - Synonym It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. 6 Benefits of Shorter School Days | Should There Be a Change? - ID Tech Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. In comparison to 2007, the number of public schools that offer year-round programs has increased by 26%. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. that the flexibility of the 4-day work week helps them get more done. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. 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. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. Changing school start times will increase attendance and money brought in. Some school districts have reported saving Overall, there are pros and cons to shorter school days. 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. It provides an extra day for actual rest to occur when it may be needed without compromising the remainder of the family schedule. 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. One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. 1. The shorter the school day, the better? These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. When properly implemented, extended learning time programs have the potential to increase students academic progress as well as their social and emotional development. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. If so, keep reading. Year-Round Or Traditional Schedule? - Public School Review Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Taking only one class is practically a . This is one of the strongest arguments in favour of a longer school day. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. Programs like student tutoring or sports, teacher/parent meetings, staff development, and building maintenance still happen on the fifth day, which negates many of the cost-savings opportunities that the 4-day schedule appears to offer. Pros and Cons of Year-Round School - American University It creates a long school day for students. Schools benefit from shorter school day - Chapin Chronicle Kids already spend a very long time each week in the school and away from their family. 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. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. 4. If so, keep reading. Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. 5. 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. Shorter School Days Are the Way - The Oarsman . It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. During recess, limit the number of games or activities that students can participate in. not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week - ThoughtCo Pros of the 4-day School Week. Anticipated savings are in transportation, food and food service workers, hourly workers and utilities. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. To avoid this issue, many school districts have considered shifting to a 4-day school week. Longer school days may lead to attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. 2023 The Black Well Firm. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. Easier to recruit employees. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. How would it sound if school weeks were only four days long and, in doing that, it saved your school money at the same time? 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. Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children between the ages of 12 and 18 require at least eight hours of sleep per night, and in some cases as much as nine hours. That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. Companies have been experimenting with shorter work days for at least a decade and, despite announcements that the 40-hour week is dead, there have been mixed results from the experiments. The pros and cons of longer days and shorter breaks - SecEd Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. "I get really tired throughout the day and I would love shorter school hours." Out of a budget of $5.5 million, they saved $206,000. What they discovered was unexpected. The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. The Pros And Cons Of Shorter School Days - 1283 Words | Bartleby . More teaching: Covid-19 has resulted in a lot of disruption in teaching. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms.