pros and cons of shorter school days

Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. 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. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. 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. New Haven teachers in an unprecedented move allowed their teacher unions to take over the rewriting of their contracts. Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. 6. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. Year-Round Schedules Many people think of the school year as starting in August or at the beginning of September and continuing for 10 months. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. The 4-day schedule eliminates one full driving day for the transportation department. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. It almost forces some families into taking their vacation time from work during these holidays to accommodate the needs of their children. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. Many school However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. 5. In addition, they are given a week off for major holidays and 2 weeks of summer vacation at their parents discretion. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. This provided the teacher with more freedom with curriculum and time management. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. Teachers are frequently overworked and required to perform tasks that are outside their job description. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. 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). 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. What they discovered was unexpected. How does it impact your success? The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. Your email address will not be published. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. 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. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. 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. To be competitive in a global market, students need to be exposed to a wide variety of subject matter. These are the key points that must be addressed first. Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. Advantage: More time for other subjects. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. (Question). Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. What are the advantages and disadvantages of including issues such as child care? Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. 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. Decreased need to re-teach skills after long vacations, allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently. 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. What are the Pros and Cons of 4-Day School Weeks? four-day week across 16 school districts. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. This added If something goes wrong . 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. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. My main concern is that most kids will not be able to focus by the end of the day because the school days will be longer,and so there would be no point in trying to teach at the end of the day. The most popular is a 32-hour work week, which means people work 8 hours per day, 4 hours in a week. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. It matches the class schedule to a parent's work schedule. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. 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 ). Increases student attendance. More time to focus on mental health In the typical K-12 schooling model, mental health education is too often shunted aside. She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. (Solution). If schools only had one day off per week, millions of dollars would be saved. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. Those against extended lunches might argue . Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. 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. 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. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. List of the Major Cons of a 4-Day School Week 1. From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors, 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week, 21 Best SMART Goals Examples for Teachers and Educators, "From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors. Massachusetts, a pioneer in extended learning time (ELT), has made significant progress in this field. Moving to the 4-day schedule shifts student movement patterns, reducing the number of lost transition minutes. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. 2. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. She is the author and co-author of 12 books and serves as a consultant in K-12 and higher education. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? Underperforming schools and the lagging performance of U.S. students in comparison to other countries is a concern. Some school districts, particularly those that are in regions of the U.S. where snowfall creates a handful of cancellations each year, find that they are forced to reduce, if not eliminate, certain holidays or vacations. Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. Students can adjust to the new schedule. 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. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. It requires longer school days. Students spend less time on the bus. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. Long school days can cause eating problems for students who don't eat at school, or who use up all their energy while learning. According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . 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. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. Children have more time to participate in other activities that help them learn more. 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. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. Easier to recruit employees. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. The only question is does it hurt students education but the statistics are showing that is clearly not the case one bit. 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. Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. 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. 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. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. 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%. Ages. Some districts take just one week off at Christmas instead of two weeks because of these conflicts. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. Teachers are attracted by the prospect of having a shorter work week. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. Most parents work a 5-day schedule and struggle to adapt to a 4-day school schedule. 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. Con: Not all students need one-on-one assistance, and some may even experience boredom or burnout from the extended school day. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. They just dont have time to get everything done. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. There is a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, depression, alcohol use, and impaired cognitive function that can contribute to this. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. Spread the loveWe all have our heroes.

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