pros and cons of shorter school days

According to him, providing education to all would be beneficial to society. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. NOTE : The information on this website is for general information purposes only. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. 2023 The Black Well Firm. In this article, we will examine this question in depth. A three-day weekend allows for extra leisure time, as well as a reduction in commute and energy usage. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. Pros of Year-Round School. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. The four-day week did not appear to affect. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. Those against extended lunches might argue . Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. I am glad that you asked. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. Should school hours be shorter? Then ask the superintendent of the school district to consider year round school with only four days per week.First, students would not forget what they learned over the long summer. Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. They question the value of a continuous . So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. 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. Advantage: More time for other subjects. Most parents work a 5-day schedule and struggle to adapt to a 4-day school schedule. A 4-day school week is misleading. Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to help students who cannot fasten their own clothes? 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. 3. Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. Since students receive dedicated 1:1 teaching for all core subjects, they don't need to bother spending time on topics that aren't on their instructional level. Others believe that lengthening the school day is an expensive endeavor that wont yield substantial results. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. 1. Since many of the families in these areas run farms, it gives families extra time to get work done during the week. At my school, class went from 8:15 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. about an hour or two longer than a typical five-day-week school's day. School districts save money. 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. 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. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. "I get really tired throughout the day and I would love shorter school hours." 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. 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. Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. 3. Year-round schooling has been proposed as a better option for students than a traditional 9-month schedule. According to the vast majority of states, spanking your child is against the law. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. It may improve overall student attendance. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Signup for The Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in P-20 education news and opinion delivered to your email address! Ages. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. 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. The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. 6 Ways to Implement a Real Multicultural Education in the Classroom, Understanding Letter Recognition and Its Role in Preliteracy, The Advantages and Limitations of Homeschooling, 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education, How Dumbed Down Education Is Creating a National Security Crisis, 21 Inspirational Quotes That Nelson Mandela Made About Education, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 7: How Digital Age Teachers Can Win Over Parents, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 6: 8 Ways That Digital Age Teachers Avoid Burning Out, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 5: The Archetype of a Great Teacher, PISA (The Program for International Student Assessment): Everything You Need to Know, How International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs Work, Globalization: Everything You Need to Know, So You Want to Attend Graduate School: The 411 on Grad School Admissions Tests, 20 Ways to Teach Kids to Take Care of Their Personal Property, 13 Ways to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners, 20 Strategies to Encourage Students to Take Care of their Personal Property, 14 Strategies to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners, 22 Strategies to Help Students Who Cannot Fasten Their Own Clothes, Homogeneous Grouping: What You Need to Know, Merit Scholarships: Everything Your Need to Know, The Importance of Mentoring Young African-American Males, 7 Ways That Black Students are Discriminated Against in U.S K-12 Schools, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 4: How to Create a Culturally Responsive Classroom, 6 Steps to Data-Driven Literacy Instruction, Four Keys to a Modern IT Approach in K-12 Schools. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. Your email address will not be published. If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. They may also experience irritability and fatigue. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their The evaluated skills include science, math, and reading. Sacrifices Family Time. Public school everything for schoolchildren and students. 1. I say this because we would have to start. This added Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. Some districts have seen their disciplinary issues decline by more than 70% in the first two years of implementing a 4-day schedule. Good for working parents: This would lead to less wraparound care for working . This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. 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. On the plus side, employees love it. Although sleep is a huge and major part, it is not the only part. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. 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. After analyzing Colorado schools operating on four-day school weeks, (Dam) reports that transportation costs can be reduced by 20%. List of Cons of Implementing 4-Day School Weeks 1. Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. The requirements for total education time do not change just because a school district goes to a 4-day school week. The article Should School Stay Earlier? One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. In YRE, the number of days in school equals the number of days in a calendar year (180 days). The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Students have more time outside of school to focus on other important aspects of their lives. Additional costs savings from a shorter day include less . The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. This is one of the strongest arguments in favour of a longer school day. Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities. Very Costly. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Pros. During recess, limit the number of games or activities that students can participate in. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? We were able to build a strong community and school consensus as a result of our programs success. These schools save all this money from just switching to a shorter week. What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? Moving to the 4-day schedule shifts student movement patterns, reducing the number of lost transition minutes. Time of day effects may be induced by variations in the quality of instructors instruction, changes in the learning abilities of students, or differences in student attendance patterns. 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. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. 6. Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. Arlene Ackerman says she and her students don't have the strength to teach or learn near the end of the school day. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. 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 properly implemented, extended learning time programs have the potential to increase students academic progress as well as their social and emotional development. Parents can drop-off their kids in the morning, then pick them up in the afternoon, without worrying about work. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Pros and cons of a four day working week. 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. According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. Children would get up early and help with chores, go to school and then help out on the farm until sundown. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. Traditional vs. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. The. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. 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. Sara Blackwell teaches Employment Law at University of South Florida in Tampa and she is a published author. Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. Does time of day affect student learning? 2. She is the author and co-author of 12 books and serves as a consultant in K-12 and higher education. 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. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. 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. 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. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. 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? time attracting qualified applicants. 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. Sports schedules are easier to manage. During class time, young kids who are too exhausted to concentrate or perform well may experience tiredness or fall asleep. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. On the other hand, there have been studies that found no significant difference in overall academic achievement between four-day districts and five-day districts. 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. Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. Many say that the four day school week is good for students. Many schools are adding thirty minutes to both the beginning and end of the school day. As a result, learning is less effective due to budget constraints. schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. 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. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. His conclusion was that the best way to solve poverty was to educate the children in public schools. 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. 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. 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. 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. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. 1. The Too Early to Tell School districts save money. If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. Despite these difficulties, many disabled students go on to lead successful and fulfilling lives. In comparison to 2007, the number of public schools that offer year-round programs has increased by 26%. 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. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. 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. Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. Easier to recruit employees. 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 . Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. Changing school start times will increase attendance and money brought in. Who Sang For Troy In High School Musical? In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. What Grades Is Elementary School? . The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. After physical activity, children with or without ADHD appear to perform better at attention, memory, and mood. The list just gets longer. 2. (Question). 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. Some are facing the debate about whether to keep standardized tests or not. These actions often negate the benefits of the 3-day weekend because it really isnt a true 3-day weekend. 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. If so, keep reading. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. configuration, but nine districts were actually spending more. Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. Students can adjust to the new schedule. If something goes wrong . . Teachers would be required to reimagine their curriculum and would need extra time to develop a curriculum to fit an expanded day. (Solution). 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.

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pros and cons of shorter school days