Question of the Day: Is a 4 Day School Week a Good Idea?

A universally educated population is what America’s economic might is built on. This is not the place to cut corners. Take a bludgeon to the teachers union, but don’t cut out the class time our kids need to keep the US on top.

In my area, even if there was no school, the schools are constantly in use every day by other organizations – boy scouts, churches, even the court system uses the auditoriums and cafeterias for functions, so there is no savings on heating, cooling, custodian salaries, etc. High school sports are played almost every day as it is, even some Sundays. This idea is stupid. I’m for 5 days, and make ‘em LONGER days at that!

Noz:
They are not sent to school to be occupied. They are sent there to acquire education which they can utilise.
When they are not at school, it is time for parents to play their part.

It would be ok if the children had longer days. If they had more activities and more people, businesses, and politicians getting involved then yes, it would be a wonderful idea. But if they were to go to school for the same time, same boring classes I just think it would be a waste of time.

QUIT DUMBING DOWN OUT YOUTH!! PAY OUR TEACHERS CLOSER TO THEIR VALUE!! QUIT CRIPPLING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH BULK JUNK!! Our students need year around school{12 months/4 quarters) 5 days each week. There should be up to 14 days flex/vacation within each quarter. These can be staggered by local school districts. Then the quality of education can be maintained and our students can cease loosing up to 3 months repeating what they were supposed to have learned the previous year. Classes need to be smaller ratios of students to teachers with better resources. Students need to be allowed to test out of a ‘grade level’ as they progress on into the next. Physical education needs to be a required part of EVERY school day, whether in school or required team participations. Every one of us less than 18 years of age should be required to be in school of some quality type; whether academic, technical, trade, etc. Every student should be required to master ‘civics’/American government and how to be a quality citizen voter. American style English language and at least one other language should be manditory in the pre-K thru 6th grades. Bonus credit should be given for continuing one or more languages. Math withOUT calculators should be manditory at least thru 7th grade equivalency. Practical math applications for daily life should be manditory – balancing a checkbook, bill paying, basic interests, figuring tips, etc. Manditory thru 18 years = Basic ethics, accountability and responsibility, communications, eloqution, phonics, reading, writing, resumes, key boarding, research, sciences, environmental appreciations & protections, PE, health, nutrition, American & world histories, basic cooking, parenting, and self maintenances, etc. Parents are not currently relied upon to even teach their ‘breedings’ basic manners. When we set higher standards = students delight in measuring up !!

It is about CONTROL, not education.
1) the explicit reason is for cost-savings and better learning.
2) the hidden reason is for control of children.
In the past this might be well and good, but now due to economic forces beyond one’s control both parents work-(assuming a child even has two parents anymore and that that relationship hasn’t been torn assunder by bad tax policy, welfare, and economic hardship). Worse yet a single parent! Who will watch the child on those 5th days off??
Let me venture to guess:
-Federally funding day care centers
-Youth battalions (“volunteerism”
-private corporate day care
-or school programs that parents will need to pay for
many, if not all, will not be controlled by your local schoolboard (e.g., YOU) but by the friendly bureaucrats and politicians in DC.
We want your children. We want to teach them. We want to control them. To be good little government snitches, good tax payers, good little workers, and don’t question authority, their boss, the government, or corporations. Please let us raise your children!

I don’t see the big deal. I live in France, and here they have a 4 day school week. Kids go all day (8:30-4:30) on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri. Wednesday is their day off, and the day most kids take some sort of lessons (music or sport). France has a fantastic education system, and no problems with the 4 day school week!

Are teacher union contracts renegotiated to reflect the shorten work week?

I am a first year teacher, and I would like to start by saying that I make a little more now than I did when I was waiting tables in college. I DID NOT want to become a teacher solely for the money, but for the all of the joys that it provides. (Even though I am the first teacher to arrive and the last one to leave- I work 12 hr. days.) However, I do agree that teachers should be paid more (possibly merit pay on top of basic pay)considering that I and others have more than $30,000 in school debt left to pay, which will take me 20 years.
As far as teachers unions is concerned, there are some things you need to know about them. They help get the good teachers the pay that they deserve, insure us when legal issues arise (just like doctors insurance), and fight and defend education against bad legislation.
And YES, the schools are short money because of the legislatures! They think they know what’s best for education, but yet they send their kids to private schools and don’t consult education professionals about the choices they make for education!
If money shortage is the reason for a 4 day week, then maybe administrator pay needs to be looked at…….
Now to the issue that started it all-a 4 day work week. I think it’s a bad idea. I have a hard enough time cramming in all of a days work in 1 day as it is. And here’s another thing, everyone seems to think that you can shove the information in front of the child and they will instantly learn it. NOT TRUE-IT TAKES TIME AND PARENTS! I do agree that there are some bad teachers and I’ve seen some of them. However, making the school week shorter is not the answer. I think the month of July off would be a great summer break instead of 2 months. Also, lengthening the school day is another bad idea. Whoever said it before me is right on-you can’t keep their attention! Think of how you were in those high school or college classes that were an hour and fifteen minutes or longer! They were torture! It’s the same thing for these kids!
I think everyone needs to stop and think about what is best for the children. I bet you’ll find that a 4 day school week is not the best answer.

Not as good an idea as online school. Many schools in Arizona, esp. on the Rez, which is short for Reservation. Kids weren’t coming to school on Fridays, or many weren’t, so they went to a four-day week. It seems to work very well. Better to save money there than by cutting teachers, Specials, and so on. I think it’s a shame parents have to provide such things as paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizer, and on and on. Much money is misspent in any school district I have seen. Too many people at fancy desks with too little to do. I believe it would be safe to say staff at central office could be cut by one-half without harming anyone’s education. President Obama, please note.

Yes this is a bad idea i want a normal days form my lovely class!

I support a 4 day school week and work week.

What happens to ppl like me…. i’m a high school student.. they plan on cutting us down to 4days but make our days longer…. i have to be at work by 3:30 and they expect me to be at school til 4:05 that means i will more then likely loose my job over stupid reasons…… plus not only that but if i don’t loose my job i will not get enough hours a day or in a 2 weeks paycheck to make enough money to pay for my rent and bills.. i live with my 22 year old sister who is a waitress and she doesn’t make very much… i make 8.15p/h and she makes 2.50, plus we have a 2 year old living with us… my neice needs a roof over her head,,,, i wouldn’t mind having a four day week as long as we were to get out before 4pm that way i could make it to work and have enough hours.!!!!

I think that the four day school week is a great idea becaus, kids need more time spending with their families than being a school house.Some children will be less tired when we have a five day school week.

If you will refer to the previous comment, this middle school student is a prime example of why we DON’T need less school days, we need more. These days spelling, grammar, and punctuation are all skills that are sadly lacking in a lot of our students. A 3-day weekend, EVERY weekend is something we absolutely do not need!

I am a 13 year old boy at Bonner Elementary. I think that a 4 day school week would be good because the students would feel more rested, and bullies would not want to be bullies that much anymore because they had a longer weekend to think about there personal problems. I also think no because there would be more gangs, and shootings, and etc. more kids and adults would be in jail becuase of illegal drugs. They would have nothing to do so they would just be stupid and go do that.

Do teacheres get paid less in a 4 day school week??

no teachers do not get paid less for the reason they get paid by week and not days nor hours atleast thats how it is here so they paid the same as a 5 day if swiched to a 4 day

hi

I love what this person said and I think it should really be looked at
and considered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
QUIT DUMBING DOWN OUT YOUTH!! PAY OUR TEACHERS CLOSER TO THEIR VALUE!! QUIT CRIPPLING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH BULK JUNK!! Our students need year around school{12 months/4 quarters) 5 days each week. There should be up to 14 days flex/vacation within each quarter. These can be staggered by local school districts. Then the quality of education can be maintained and our students can cease loosing up to 3 months repeating what they were supposed to have learned the previous year. Classes need to be smaller ratios of students to teachers with better resources. Students need to be allowed to test out of a ‘grade level’ as they progress on into the next. Physical education needs to be a required part of EVERY school day, whether in school or required team participations. Every one of us less than 18 years of age should be required to be in school of some quality type; whether academic, technical, trade, etc. Every student should be required to master ‘civics’/American government and how to be a quality citizen voter. American style English language and at least one other language should be manditory in the pre-K thru 6th grades. Bonus credit should be given for continuing one or more languages. Math withOUT calculators should be manditory at least thru 7th grade equivalency. Practical math applications for daily life should be manditory – balancing a checkbook, bill paying, basic interests, figuring tips, etc. Manditory thru 18 years = Basic ethics, accountability and responsibility, communications, eloqution, phonics, reading, writing, resumes, key boarding, research, sciences, environmental appreciations & protections, PE, health, nutrition, American & world histories, basic cooking, parenting, and self maintenances, etc. Parents are not currently relied upon to even teach their ‘breedings’ basic manners. When we set higher standards = students delight in measuring up !!