pros and cons of shorter 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. 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. Changing the times could increase attendance by 1%, which could bring in $40 million more. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. 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. not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. Should We Have Shorter School Days? - The BlackWell Firm Students are engaged more fully when their school schedule is expanded, and they learn more efficiently when they are exposed to a more stimulating environment. remediating them begin to take a bite out of the budget. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. In the Article by Lisa Lewis, it also talks about how delaying school by 1 hour produces the same benefit as shrinking class size by one-third or replacing a teacher in the 50th percentile of effectiveness with one in the 84th percentile.(Lewis). Compacting school into just four days a week leaves more time for kids to spend with family, friends and outside interests. 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. If so, keep reading. Pros and Cons of a Longer School Day | GoStudent | GoStudent Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during . 1. 4. But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. 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. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. 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. When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. . The 4-day schedule eliminates one full driving day for the transportation department. Shorter School Days Are the Way. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. School Days Should Be Shorter: Persuasive Essay (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. Class runs Monday- Thursday with an added 40-60 minutes each day to compensate for the lost time by not having the schools run on Fridays. It might help school districts save money. 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. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. At the same time, the constant back-and-forth for students limits the amount of fun they can have. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. 4-Day School Weeks: New Research Examines the Benefits and Drawbacks Lets take a look at some proof. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. 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. Decreased need to re-teach skills after long vacations, allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. Well, at least initially. Anticipated savings are in transportation, food and food service workers, hourly workers and utilities. 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. The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week - ThoughtCo The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. According to the majority of the researchers, the inconclusive results do not imply that decisions to change schedules should be made based on test scores. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. There are several advantages and disadvantages of 4-day school weeks to examine based on the results that districts are reporting from their efforts to implement this schedule. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. Despite these difficulties, many disabled students go on to lead successful and fulfilling lives. By switching to a 4-day school week, the number of transitions can be reduced because more time can be spent on each subject. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. List of the Major Cons of a 4-Day School Week 1. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. 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. Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. There are potential savings to food programs and other important areas of infrastructure because the school district is closed 1 additional day each week. If she is not receptive to your suggestions, you may want to get a doctors note stating that recess is required. The ability to offer a 3-day weekend, every weekend, is a powerful motivator for school districts that are recruiting for quality employees. This may not seem like a lot, but when you factor in homework and after-school activities, it can be a lot for a student to handle. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Some are even cutting arts programs or shortening the school week to balance the budget. 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. That reduces the effective time they would have for homework once they actually make it home. Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. Some are facing the debate about whether to keep standardized tests or not. 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 have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. If so, keep reading. Pros and cons of shorter work weeks. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. As you can see, there are a lot of pros and cons to the 4-day school week, but in terms of its long-term effect on academic outcomes, the jury is still out. 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. 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. 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. Shorter school days should be utilized in the U.S. education system as it comes with many benefits. 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. On top of that, you will likely only be taking 1-2 classes at a time instead of four or more. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. Overall, there are pros and cons to shorter school days. It was suggested that a combination of four-week summer holidays and a school day finishing at 4:30pm would lead to improvements in pupil attainment. 4. Pros & Cons of Longer School Lunches | livestrong Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. Why School Days Should Be Shorter? (Solution) - Public school Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. It is encouraged for students to try new things in order to benefit from them. Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Advantages of a Shorter Work Week People who work a four-day week say they're healthier, happier, and less time-pressured, according to a report in The Atlantic - and their employers say their employees are much more focused and efficient. I believe that if we go to a four day school week that it would help the kids physically, mentally, and financially. Many school districts still operate Monday-Friday, even on a 4-day week. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. 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. 4-day school weeks: Educational innovation or detriment? - Brookings All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. There were also reduced sick days requested by their teaching staff. 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. 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of 4 Day School Weeks Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. 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. Reasons Why the School Day Should Be Shorter - Synonym Underperforming schools and the lagging performance of U.S. students in comparison to other countries is a concern. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. Shorter school weeks or longer school days are reasonable solutions when there is a shortage of funding, or possible budget cuts coming to the school district. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. To avoid this issue, many school districts have considered shifting to a 4-day school week. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial.

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