This is one reason school districts use to implement dress codes. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. Unbiased Longer School Days Pros and Cons | Navajo Code Talkers Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Schools are facing many issues today. 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 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. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. Does time of day affect student learning? 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. Do students learn better in shorter classes? STP every day allows students to do their schoolwork, resulting in reduced overall stress. 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. Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a 4. 4-Day School Weeks: New Research Examines the Benefits and Drawbacks They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. All rights reserved. What Grades Is Elementary School? It also means that certain holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving, are extended to a full week, and that can be a scheduling concern for many families. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. But just because the final bell rang doesnt mean that youre done. Alexander Alvarez, Reporter November 16, 2021. Pros and cons of shorter work weeks - Royal Examiner Increases student attendance. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. 2. Sacrifices Family Time. Shorter school days should be used in the United States education system since they have several advantages. . Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. Delaying school start times is associated with a decrease in bedtimes and an increase in sleep for every minute the school day is delayed. 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. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. 2023 The Black Well Firm. 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%. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. Extended School Year Pros & Cons | GEDDES - raymondgeddes.com The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. It was a kneejerk response to dwindling education budgets and the belief that schools could save a ton of money by operating Monday through Thursday, which in theory would lower their operating expenses. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. 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. The length of the school day in China varies from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With a shortened school day, the amount of instructional time would be reduced. 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. 4 Day School Week Statistics: Pros and Cons Debate - CreditDonkey 4. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. 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. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. 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. In general, ELT has received positive feedback; however, some schools have had more difficult transitions than others. The pros and cons of schools ditching a long summer break Pros and Cons of Longer School Days | GCU Blog In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. Students spend less time on the bus. In this article, we will examine this question in depth. By 2013, a dramatic improvement in scores was credited to the extended learning time. The Pros and Cons of the Four-Day School Week - LINQ One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. More time to focus on mental health In the typical K-12 schooling model, mental health education is too often shunted aside. Schools are able to switch to a four-day week by simply increasing the length of their school day. The Benefits of Shorter School Days | Case Study Template The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. Also, there have been studies that found that special populations do not thrive under this configuration. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. Why weekends should be longer for students? It almost forces some families into taking their vacation time from work during these holidays to accommodate the needs of their children. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. It's almost the end of the first semester, and realizations are starting to set in. Sports schedules are easier to manage. According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. 3. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. Cutting that by 20% means a savings of $4 billion, if implemented nationwide. An eight-hour day is pretty undesirable for elementary-aged kids. A poll where 2,700 random people were polled about 67% favoured a 4 day school week(university of Scranton). 4-day school weeks add These schools save all this money from just switching to a shorter week. Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. There is no one answer to this question as it can depend on individual circumstances. Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. NEA Today: A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. Arguments For and Against Longer School Years - Poynter 10 Noteworthy Benefits of a Shorter School Day - Tenney School Most schools, when Year Round Schooling: Should it Be Implemented? Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. 1. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. 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. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. These crimes occurred all during the week, Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. It would also be beneficial to reduce the week in order to promote activity participation. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. (5) Most costs that were reduced were Operations and maintenance, heating and cooling, janitor supplies. It has been so problematic that in Colorado, some urban districts which switched to a 4-day school week have gone back to the traditional scheduling instead. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. His conclusion was that the best way to solve poverty was to educate the children in public schools. When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. 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. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. 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 . The schedule forces teachers to spend small blocks of time on specific topics without really being able to dig into in-depth issues. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. 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. . As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? Should school hours be shorter? In 1095or in 1905, depending on your sourcesRoberto Nevelis of Venice, Italy, is often credited with inventing the concept of homework.