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

Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. But the extra money hasn't gone into teachers' salaries, which have dropped on average from . Some are even cutting arts programs or shortening the school week to balance the budget. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. It takes about 4-years for schools to get these students back on track academically. 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. 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. Many of these districts are small and rural, such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. There will be days, even with the best efforts of everyone involved, where a student is stuck with an after-hours activity, deep into the night, after being in class for most of the day. 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. There is a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, depression, alcohol use, and impaired cognitive function that can contribute to this. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. Students are tired and cranky by the end of the day. Pros and cons of shorter work weeks. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. Elizabeth Perle 1). Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. If she is not receptive to your suggestions, you may want to get a doctors note stating that recess is required. 1. If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. In general, ELT has received positive feedback; however, some schools have had more difficult transitions than others. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. Traditional vs. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. flexibility is why they are such staunch proponents of the 4-day school schedule. Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. Why weekends should be longer for students? 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. New Haven teachers in an unprecedented move allowed their teacher unions to take over the rewriting of their contracts. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Some school districts have reported saving These actions often negate the benefits of the 3-day weekend because it really isnt a true 3-day weekend. A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. How do longer school days affect students? Lets take a look at some proof. If the school days are shortened, then students will not be able to learn enough because of the short school day. A small portion of the districts cash is saved, but not as much as intangibles. Well, at least initially. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. 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 ). The Alaska school year averaged about 180 days in length, and the school day was 6.48 hours long. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? 2. 3. Out of a budget of $5.5 million, they saved $206,000. Additionally student involvement and safety would suffer. When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. 2. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. 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. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on students math and reading scores. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. Keeping schools open five days a week is not financially feasible. More teaching: Covid-19 has resulted in a lot of disruption in teaching. Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. Pros of the 4-day School Week. 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. that the flexibility of the 4-day work week helps them get more done. 4. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. 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%. 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. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. 6. 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. This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. Sacrifices Family Time. Just 11 of the districts had enrollments of more than 1,000 students. There tends to be less student exhaustion, which allows them to focus more on the learning process. The shorter the school day, the better? There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. Although families benefit from the 3-day weekend and those scheduling benefits, the non-traditional time off given to students can offset some of that savings. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard Which one is the best? Many break times have been incorporated in the calendar, such as morning recess, afternoon recess, snack time, and so on. Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities. They do have a full day free for a job in some instances, but trying to find work on the weekends only, especially in a rural community, is never a guarantee unless you dont mind working on a farm, that is. The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum. They question the value of a continuous . Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. 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). Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. This added The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. 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. 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 Peach County School District in Georgia saw that their graduation rates slowly increased year after year when they switched to a 4-day school week. By 2013, a dramatic improvement in scores was credited to the extended learning time. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. The ability to offer a 3-day weekend, every weekend, is a powerful motivator for school districts that are recruiting for quality employees. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. 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. If so, keep reading. 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. One is that students might not have enough time to receive all the instruction they need in a particular subject. 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. If so, keep reading. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. Florida's inflation-adjusted education spending per student has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -- to $7,473 in 2000-01. Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. By switching to a 4-day school week, the number of transitions can be reduced because more time can be spent on each subject. 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. Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. 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. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . What Grades Is Elementary School? Custer School District, in rural South Dakota, believed they could save $70,000 with a 4-day school week. 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 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. When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. Programs like student tutoring or sports, teacher/parent meetings, staff development, and building maintenance still happen on the fifth day, which negates many of the cost-savings opportunities that the 4-day schedule appears to offer. If the schools made 40 minute periods, the students could learn just as much as they would in a 50 minute period.One of the biggest benefits of this system is the financial savings. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day 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. the fifth day, but they forget, they will still be open and running activities They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. By shifting to a 4-day schedule, it becomes easier to transport students to all after-school events and activities because there is an extra day available to plan activities without running into mandatory school times. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. These are the key points that must be addressed first. manageable in a myriad of ways. 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. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: For many American students and. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. It might help school districts save money. Even the cost savings of a total shift to a 4-day schedule may be minimal. There are various school days in the United States. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. According to the findings, relocating some math classes to the morning and other subjects, such as English, to the afternoon might result in an increase in students GPAs and test outcomes. Other Debates. the traditional 5th day. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. 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. There should be year round schooling because it can help students learn more and forget less, other classes are included and childcare is provided, teachers get more time to plan and teach lessons. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. 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. Potential for juvenile crime to increase. The Trump Administrations Vindictive Attack On Federal Workers: The Shutdown Of The Office Of Special Counsel, Michigan State University College Of Law: A Top Law School, Why Union Safe Company Is The Best Choice For Protecting Your Home Or Business, The Life Of John Laurens: A Patriot Lawyer And Army Officer. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. That may mean reducing Spring Break to 2 days instead of having the entire week off. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. Those against extended lunches might argue . 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. The most popular is a 32-hour work week, which means people work 8 hours per day, 4 hours in a week. 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. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. Year-round schooling has been proposed as a better option for students than a traditional 9-month schedule. School districts save money. List of the Major Cons of a 4-Day School Week 1. Schools can save up to 20% on some budget-line expenses with a 4-day week. It provides an extra day for actual rest to occur when it may be needed without compromising the remainder of the family schedule. On the plus side, employees love it. School districts save money. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. All rights reserved. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. 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. (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on 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 . That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. Some students believe that having a four-day school week allows them to get more rest and to be in a less stressful atmosphere than they would otherwise have. To see how shorter school days hurt both teachers and students, we need to look at a major structural change in education. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. 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. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. Easier to recruit employees. Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? Required fields are marked *, on Why School Days Should Be Shorter? 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. One school said that they have saved a teacher in diesel fuel costs (chiaramonte 2 ). We were able to build a strong community and school consensus as a result of our programs success. They just dont have time to get everything done. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that attendance improves; parents and teachers can schedule doctor's appointments and other weekday commitments for Fridays rather than during school days. 3. If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. 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. Increases student attendance. . Underperforming schools and the lagging performance of U.S. students in comparison to other countries is a concern. A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. 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. That means the average cost, per student, is about $700. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. That reduces the effective time they would have for homework once they actually make it home. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. At the same time, teacher attendance rates also rose, which is a trend still seen in these districts, 20+ years later. To be competitive in a global market, students need to be exposed to a wide variety of subject matter. 5. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. It is encouraged for students to try new things in order to benefit from them. Do students learn better in shorter classes? Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. The Edvocate was created in 2014 to argue for shifts in education policy and organization in order to enhance the quality of education and the opportunities for learning afforded to P-20 students in America. Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. There are a variety of health issues that can be caused by a lack of sleep. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. 1. 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. Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. 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. There can be no one answer to this question because it is a matter of case by case. 2 Students Should Be Getting More Rest In addition to students having more time to focus on important activities, a shorter school day would give them more time to rest. 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. 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. 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. Shorter school days should be utilized in the U.S. education system as it comes with many benefits. teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. 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. How does it impact your success? It creates a long school day for students. With the long break of summer, many people prefer the short breaks of year round schools. The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Cons of a Longer School Day Does Not Ensure Higher Achievement Some studies have been done that show that longer instruction time can improve achievement, but those results depend on things like classroom environment, quality of instruction, student prior knowledge and ability. List of the Advantages of 4-Day School Weeks 1. Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. Why should school weeks be shorter? Should the school day start later pros and cons? To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. ", 21 Payday Loan Industry Statistics, Trends & Analysis, 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, 50 Best Business Letter Closings of All-Time. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to help students who cannot fasten their own clothes?