The typical school week is five days for most school systems in the United States, but perhaps there is another option. Four-day school weeks may be the next big thing. Some schools today go over in time making a four-day week possible. Schools that have switched to hours instead of days no longer have to make up for days missed because the school may schedule excess hours above the minimum (Rivera). While students may not use the day off productively, schools should adopt a four day week because it could result in better academic performances, give more time for extracurricular activities, and save money.
A four-day week was first reported in South Dakota in the 1930’s. When utilities began to increase in the 1970’s after the energy …show more content…
Officials at Weatherford school district estimated that they could save $100,000 to $110,100 a year just by switching from a five day week to four (Chmelynski). While some schools may be suffering from financial problems a four-day week could help solve their problems (Yarbrough and Gilman, “From Five”). Whenever a teacher is absent the school has to hire a substitute for the day. Mr. Aguillard said that the district cut $10,000 in substitute teacher costs last year at Merryville high school (Chmelynski). “The biggest savings have been on substitute pay, utilities, and hiring employees under a four-day contract,” says LeMarie (Chmelynski). Schools could hire the new employees under a four-day week. Money saved can be used to hire old teachers back (Yarbrough and Gilman, “From Five”). With the money the schools save from a four-day week could be used to better the school (Johnston). In Saratoga, superintendent Lewis Diggs, left the four-day week this year, saving enough money to pay for a preschool program, tutoring, and subsidized college courses (Chmelynski). With all the money being saved from a four-day week the school could use the extra money for extra activities and financial …show more content…
A four-day week could require longer days making it difficult for students who play sports or have jobs (Weldon 33). In Texas, switching to a four-day week would require attendance to change to hours (Yarbrough and Gilman, “4 Days”). Kathy Christie, chief of staff at the Educational Commission of the states said “This allows more districts to add sixty to ninety minutes to each day during a four-day week to make up for the time off” (DeNisco 22). Extending school time could make it hard for younger and special needs children to attend that long of a school day (DeNisco 22). Many parents of younger children are afraid a longer school day will be hard to keep the kids attention (Weldon 33). The Pacific Region Laboratory studied that four-day school weeks have better results in rural areas than urban centers (Yarbrough and Gilman, “4 Days”). Also changing to a four-day week could cause other problems. Changing to a four-day week could cause the state laws to change (Weldon 33). Restructure of teacher contracts may have to be done (Weldon 33). Four-day weeks would not solve all problems (Yarbrough and Gilman, “4 Days”). Students using the day for the wrong purpose makes a four-day week useless (Chmelynski). Four-day school weeks could work for some districts but could also become a problem. Even though some students would not use the day off
A four-day week was first reported in South Dakota in the 1930’s. When utilities began to increase in the 1970’s after the energy …show more content…
Officials at Weatherford school district estimated that they could save $100,000 to $110,100 a year just by switching from a five day week to four (Chmelynski). While some schools may be suffering from financial problems a four-day week could help solve their problems (Yarbrough and Gilman, “From Five”). Whenever a teacher is absent the school has to hire a substitute for the day. Mr. Aguillard said that the district cut $10,000 in substitute teacher costs last year at Merryville high school (Chmelynski). “The biggest savings have been on substitute pay, utilities, and hiring employees under a four-day contract,” says LeMarie (Chmelynski). Schools could hire the new employees under a four-day week. Money saved can be used to hire old teachers back (Yarbrough and Gilman, “From Five”). With the money the schools save from a four-day week could be used to better the school (Johnston). In Saratoga, superintendent Lewis Diggs, left the four-day week this year, saving enough money to pay for a preschool program, tutoring, and subsidized college courses (Chmelynski). With all the money being saved from a four-day week the school could use the extra money for extra activities and financial …show more content…
A four-day week could require longer days making it difficult for students who play sports or have jobs (Weldon 33). In Texas, switching to a four-day week would require attendance to change to hours (Yarbrough and Gilman, “4 Days”). Kathy Christie, chief of staff at the Educational Commission of the states said “This allows more districts to add sixty to ninety minutes to each day during a four-day week to make up for the time off” (DeNisco 22). Extending school time could make it hard for younger and special needs children to attend that long of a school day (DeNisco 22). Many parents of younger children are afraid a longer school day will be hard to keep the kids attention (Weldon 33). The Pacific Region Laboratory studied that four-day school weeks have better results in rural areas than urban centers (Yarbrough and Gilman, “4 Days”). Also changing to a four-day week could cause other problems. Changing to a four-day week could cause the state laws to change (Weldon 33). Restructure of teacher contracts may have to be done (Weldon 33). Four-day weeks would not solve all problems (Yarbrough and Gilman, “4 Days”). Students using the day for the wrong purpose makes a four-day week useless (Chmelynski). Four-day school weeks could work for some districts but could also become a problem. Even though some students would not use the day off