pros and cons of shorter school days pros and cons of shorter school days

Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Pros and cons of a four day working week. You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their They may also experience irritability and fatigue. Well, at least initially. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. Alexander Alvarez, Reporter November 16, 2021. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . As with any innovation, shorter workweeks have advantages and disadvantages. Those changes happen because students who are active participants in their learning have more fun in school. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. Advantages Of Five Day School Week Traditional Five Day Class Week Should be Resumed Samantha, a freshman college student taking up Bachelor of Science in Nursing, values her education so much. 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. 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. flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more Elizabeth Perle 1). Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. 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. An eight-hour day is pretty undesirable for elementary-aged kids. 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. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. 1. Shorter School Days Are the Way. How do longer school days affect students? Students can adjust to the new schedule. That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it. When making a decision about whether to adopt a shorter school week, it is important for school districts to consider the 4 day school week pros and cons. However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. 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. 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. There are many changes with switching the school days. Schools can save up to 20% on some budget-line expenses with a 4-day week. 2. Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day. What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. For others, perhaps not. That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. A story on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's website said: Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. Advantage: More time for other subjects. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. 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. The Pros of Longer School Days More Time for Instruction The number one reason for lengthening the school day is to provide teachers with more time for instruction. 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. Disadvantage: Less time for extracurricular activities. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. The 4-day schedule eliminates one full driving day for the transportation department. schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on It almost forces some families into taking their vacation time from work during these holidays to accommodate the needs of their children. Most schools, when Year Round Schooling: Should it Be Implemented? The school day is too long. Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. Students are still getting the same amount of instruction in terms of minutes, just in a shorter number of days. It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. This added These are the key points that must be addressed first. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. List of Cons of Implementing 4-Day School Weeks 1. the traditional 5th day. Many break times have been incorporated in the calendar, such as morning recess, afternoon recess, snack time, and so on. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. If she is not receptive to your suggestions, you may want to get a doctors note stating that recess is required. the fifth day, but they forget, they will still be open and running activities 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. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. 2023 The Black Well Firm. If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. 6. 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 ). Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. 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 . Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. During recess, limit the number of games or activities that students can participate in. Sports schedules are easier to manage. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. . 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%. 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If so, keep reading. 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. The evaluated skills include science, math, and reading. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. I say this because we would have to start. Spread the loveWe all have our heroes. 2. One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. 3. 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. For the Cove School District in Eastern Oregon, the school day begins at 8am and doesnt end until 4pm. Second, it would allow students to get more sleep, which is important for their health and well-being. There are 21 states that have four-day school districts. There tends to be less student exhaustion, which allows them to focus more on the learning process. It takes about 4-years for schools to get these students back on track academically. (Question). In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. 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. 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. More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. Many of these schools are already operating on an alternative schedule because that is what works best for their community. Delaying school start times has been shown to have positive outcomes for students and families in overwhelming scientific research. These crimes occurred all during the week, Easier to recruit employees. Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. Pros of the 4-day School Week. Schools would also have to change their bus transportation systems which are designed to run as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. A low income school in New Haven, Connecticut started the new year telling students they would be attending school until 4:15 P.M. four days a week. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. The list just gets longer. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. 3. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process. On the plus side, employees love it. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. 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. Too Early to Tell By having more instruction in class, students can not only get better test scores, but they can also get better grades. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. We can all agree that school feels like it lasts forever. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. 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. A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. 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. 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. 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. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. Very Costly. Recent survey findings show that four-day school weeks have been adopted as a way to alleviate budgetary issues, attract teachers, and reduce student absencesissues that the pandemic . You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. 4. In 2022, companies in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada instituted a four-day workweek pilot program to test the concept. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. To see how shorter school days hurt both teachers and students, we need to look at a major structural change in education. 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. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. New Haven teachers in an unprecedented move allowed their teacher unions to take over the rewriting of their contracts. 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. 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. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard 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. Students spend less time on the bus. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. By switching to a 4-day school week, the number of transitions can be reduced because more time can be spent on each subject. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. According to the vast majority of states, spanking your child is against the law. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. 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. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during . districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. . The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. Christmas and Spring holiday weeks may be extended as well. This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. Other Debates. Webster County, Kentucky moved their school district to a 4-day week in 2003. It matches the class schedule to a parent's work schedule. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. They need a shorter school day so they can have more time to relax and play. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. 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. 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. Since many of the families in these areas run farms, it gives families extra time to get work done during the week. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. Long summers are known to cause "summer slide," or the decline of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the extended vacation. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. Many of these districts are small and rural, such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. Adds flexibility to teacher's schedules. Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. More than 80% of people in the UK would prefer a four day working week, according to a survey in 2021 by recruitment company Reed. 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 pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. Why weekends should be longer for students? 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. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. During class time, young kids who are too exhausted to concentrate or perform well may experience tiredness or fall asleep. To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. There are various school days in the United States. 2. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. Sacrifices Family Time. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? 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. Also, there have been studies that found that special populations do not thrive under this configuration. The only students who actually get to benefit from the 4-day school week are those that do not have any extra-curricular activities in which they are involved. Ages. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to help students who cannot fasten their own clothes? over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. 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. About 20% of the states school districts incorporate a 4-day schedule of some kind. Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. At the same time, teacher attendance rates also rose, which is a trend still seen in these districts, 20+ years later. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. Some school districts have reported saving Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. In general, taking away recess as punishment may be seen as unfair or too harsh, especially for young children. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours.