That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. Shorter days can only be seen as a positive thing and would benefit students, teacher, and administrators. recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. The requirements for total education time do not change just because a school district goes to a 4-day school week. Also, there have been studies that found that special populations do not thrive under this configuration. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? 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 major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. 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. Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. The school day had to accommodate available daylight and the requirements of helping with the family farm. Extending the school days even longer would further cut into valuable time to bond with family. Some school districts shifted to a 4-day week not because of financial needs, but others did so to make it easier to schedule sporting events or after-school activities. Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Black Boys in Crisis: Why Arent They Reading? Students spend less time on the bus. STP every day allows students to do their schoolwork, resulting in reduced overall stress. 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. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. According to the vast majority of states, spanking your child is against the law. After physical activity, children with or without ADHD appear to perform better at attention, memory, and mood. Children would get up early and help with chores, go to school and then help out on the farm until sundown. Pros. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. By 2013, a dramatic improvement in scores was credited to the extended learning time. The. It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. Should school hours be shorter? These schools save all this money from just switching to a shorter week. Having well-rested and happy employees can increase their overall work engagement and productivity. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. Shortening the school day can give kids and teens more time for movement, brain breaks, and other activities that have been shown to improve learning outcomes, among other benefits.. With more room to move and less worry about following the rules in class, kids can be better equipped to focus when needed. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. Students follow the same type of pattern. Some districts take just one week off at Christmas instead of two weeks because of these conflicts. 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. Other schools are worried about academic performance. A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. 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. Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. Eleven states set the minimum number of instructional days between 160 and 179 days, and two states set the minimum above 180 days (Kansas and Ohio). If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. 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. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. School districts save money. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Con: Not all students need one-on-one assistance, and some may even experience boredom or burnout from the extended school day. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. There are several major pros and cons of a 4-day school week which must be considered by school districts looking to make this kind of change. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. 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). Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. Some are facing the debate about whether to keep standardized tests or not. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. 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. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. 2. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. If so, keep reading. 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. teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. They may also experience irritability and fatigue. Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Underperforming schools and the lagging performance of U.S. students in comparison to other countries is a concern. In 1095or in 1905, depending on your sourcesRoberto Nevelis of Venice, Italy, is often credited with inventing the concept of homework. The Alaska school year averaged about 180 days in length, and the school day was 6.48 hours long. Students that sit in lecture classrooms retain 10% or less of the information that is presented to them. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. 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. 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. disabled students may also find it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and socialise with their peers. 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. 1. Those against extended lunches might argue . List of the Advantages of 4-Day School Weeks 1. These are the key points that must be addressed first. You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. 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. Sports schedules are easier to manage. on those days off. Public school everything for schoolchildren and students. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. When properly implemented, extended learning time programs have the potential to increase students academic progress as well as their social and emotional development. 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%. 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. 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. If a longer lunch allows high school students to leave campus, they might opt for unhealthy fast-food options; on the other hand, this extended time might allow them to seek out healthier dishes than those available in the cafeteria. Weekend sporting events make it easier to get students to them, especially when they are an away event, because the school day doesnt interfere on a Friday. In comparison to 2007, the number of public schools that offer year-round programs has increased by 26%. In YRE, the number of days in school equals the number of days in a calendar year (180 days). Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. All rights reserved. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. 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. Ages. More time to focus on mental health In the typical K-12 schooling model, mental health education is too often shunted aside. 1. How does it impact your success? They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new With the long break of summer, many people prefer the short breaks of year round schools. Very Costly. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. Sacrifices Family Time. To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. Du Bois Essay Topics to Write about, Most Interesting Volvo Essay Topics to Write about, is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. For others, perhaps not. NEA Today: A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. 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. You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. How do longer school days affect students? Schools are facing many issues today. If no other elements are in place, it is highly unlikely that extending the school day would result in increased student learning. 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. What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? Many of these schools are already operating on an alternative schedule because that is what works best for their community. 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. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. Adds flexibility to teacher's schedules. 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. Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. At the same time, the constant back-and-forth for students limits the amount of fun they can have. 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. . 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. 2. It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. 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. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. 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. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same situation. 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. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. . Others believe that lengthening the school day is an expensive endeavor that wont yield substantial results. 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. Easier to recruit employees. 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. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. 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. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. That means the students in those districts have better opportunities to learn. This is one of the strongest arguments in favour of a longer school day. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. Increases student attendance. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. The longer school days of a 4-day week make it almost impossible for teens to find a job after school. 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%. Teachers report They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. What are the pros and cons of shorter school week? Students are tired and cranky by the end of the day. There are improvements in the school financially. Spread the loveThis term refers to the grouping of students by mental capability, aptitude, or hobbies. An eight-hour day is pretty undesirable for elementary-aged kids. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. Custer School District, in rural South Dakota, believed they could save $70,000 with a 4-day school week. Pros and Cons of the Four-Day Week Proponents of four-day school weeks say that even though cost savings are minimal, they are achieved. Along with giving kids more time to concentrate on critical activities, a shortened school day would also provide pupils with more opportunity to relax. Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . There are many changes with switching the school days. This got me thinking about the pros and cons of longer vs. shorter trips. Students in the third through sixth grades have improved their ACT scores, according to studies. Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. What are the pros and cons for students, teachers and school boards? Too Early to Tell Potential for juvenile crime to increase. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. The only question is does it hurt students education but the statistics are showing that is clearly not the case one bit. In Alabama, the school year lasts 180 days and the school day lasts 7.03 hours. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: For many American students and. time attracting qualified applicants. More teaching: Covid-19 has resulted in a lot of disruption in teaching. 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. . Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. 2. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. In addition, they are given a week off for major holidays and 2 weeks of summer vacation at their parents discretion. 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. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. I say this because we would have to start. Our individualized learning setup at the Tenney School allows us to offer more instruction in a shorter amount of time. 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. What are the advantages and disadvantages of including issues such as child care? Changing the system could result in many more. If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. Research has shown that in this configuration, students who are low-income, minority, or special needs dont fare too well academically. During class time, young kids who are too exhausted to concentrate or perform well may experience tiredness or fall asleep. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. Easier to recruit employees. That also means some families, with children who are old enough, can eliminate daycare expenses completely with this type of scheduling option. At the same time, teacher attendance rates also rose, which is a trend still seen in these districts, 20+ years later. According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. It provides a realistic way for schools to remain open and also has added benefits beyond saving money. Suffolk Public Schools went with a 7:25 am start time for their district and are saving almost $700,000 per year. Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. Students already feel like their school day is too long. 5. Although sleep is a huge and major part, it is not the only part. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? One way to address these issues is to shift the traditional school schedule into a 4-day week. Children have more time to participate in other activities that help them learn more. 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. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. Most parents work a 5-day schedule and struggle to adapt to a 4-day school schedule. It matches the class schedule to a parent's work schedule. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. 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 Cons. 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. Why shorter school days are better for teachers? A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. 3. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. The shorter the school day, the better? Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. 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. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. Taking only one class is practically a . Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their If school doesnt get out until 4pm, then the student makes it home at 5pm. manageable in a myriad of ways. Christmas and Spring holiday weeks may be extended as well. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. The ability to offer a 3-day weekend, every weekend, is a powerful motivator for school districts that are recruiting for quality employees. 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. Rural areas report that their student attendance has increased since switching to the 4-day school week. The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. The schedule forces teachers to spend small blocks of time on specific topics without really being able to dig into in-depth issues. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. 1. 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. 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. More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. The 4-day schedule eliminates one full driving day for the transportation department. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. They question the value of a continuous . Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. By switching to a 4-day school week, the number of transitions can be reduced because more time can be spent on each subject. Lets face it our best school memories arent from tests or pop quizzes. This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. When students are too tired or mentally exhausted to concentrate at the end of the day, the last hour becomes meaningless.

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