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

Students spend less time on the bus. What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? Rural areas report that their student attendance has increased since switching to the 4-day school week. 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. Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. 4-day school weeks add There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. 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This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. 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. However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. 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. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? 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. The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum. 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 day is too long. The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. Who Sang For Troy In High School Musical? Their child is at home while they are at work, which is problematic for parents of younger children. That reorganization, though, and the underlying effort, will have much to do with reviving the American education system, and reviving a national love of learning. 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. A three-day weekend allows for extra leisure time, as well as a reduction in commute and energy usage. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. 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. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. However, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with shortening the school day that should be considered before sweeping action is taken to alter the traditional school day. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. In 2022, companies in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada instituted a four-day workweek pilot program to test the concept. Ages. It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. 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. 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. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. If schools only had one day off per week, millions of dollars would be saved. 3. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? If she is not receptive to your suggestions, you may want to get a doctors note stating that recess is required. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. The program not only saves districts money, but it also allows students to spend more time with their families. A poll where 2,700 random people were polled about 67% favoured a 4 day school week(university of Scranton). Cons of the 4-Day School Week. Those changes happen because students who are active participants in their learning have more fun in school. 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. 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. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. The benefits are many. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. 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. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. Students already feel like their school day is too long. We were able to build a strong community and school consensus as a result of our programs success. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. Some districts have seen their disciplinary issues decline by more than 70% in the first two years of implementing a 4-day schedule. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. There is no one answer to this question as it can depend on individual circumstances. A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. His conclusion was that the best way to solve poverty was to educate the children in public schools. It's almost the end of the first semester, and realizations are starting to set in. This provided the teacher with more freedom with curriculum and time management. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. 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. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. Increase Engagement and Productivity. 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. The 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. If so, keep reading. In many cases, it is in the best interests of students to reduce costs and have minimal impact on instruction. Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule. Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. 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. This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. Which one is the best? The trade-off for a shorter week is a longer school day. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. 1. Children need the opportunity to rest and re-energize, and theyre often overextended with activities, homework and part-time jobs. 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. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. 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. Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. An eight-hour day is pretty undesirable for elementary-aged kids. Children have more time to participate in other activities that help them learn more. When larger school districts attempt this kind of schedule, they find few, if any, benefits coming from their actions. That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. It creates a long school day for students. 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. 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. 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. If so, keep reading. remediating them begin to take a bite out of the budget. Changing school start times will increase attendance and money brought in. All rights reserved. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard 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. the traditional 5th day. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. The Cons of Longer School Days. 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. 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. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. These are the key points that must be addressed first. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it. What are the pros and cons of longer school days? 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. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. 1. Not only would this give everyone a 3-day weekend to enjoy, it would also limit the pressure on students and teachers to have a diversified learning experience in a compressed time period. 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. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. Your email address will not be published. Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. 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. Students have more time outside of school to focus on other important aspects of their lives. Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. 1. Pros And Cons Of Five Day School Week 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. Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. . Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. Pros of Year-Round School. They question the value of a continuous . That also means some families, with children who are old enough, can eliminate daycare expenses completely with this type of scheduling option. Schools are facing many issues today. 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. 2. Does precision really make a program successful? Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. NOTE : The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. There were also reduced sick days requested by their teaching staff.