Four day or five day school week is what almost everyone is debating. I stand on the five day school week side of this argument. This editorial is going to explain why I stand on the side of the five day school week, and the pros versus the cons of the five day school 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. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. 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. I say this because we would have to start
In a four day school week it would help kids physically by getting more rest so there healthier. they also help by they can also help by taking care of their body by making sure they are clean, so they don't feel rushed in the morning not taking a shower.
This would allow the instructor to better connect with his or her pupils. Also, according to the Columbia Journalism School’s Teacher Project, some of the schools who have switched “ have seen marginal increases in standardized test scores.” This is yet another piece of evidence to suggest that the four-day school week provides more adequate academic performance for our ever evolving world. Additionally, another eyewitness testimony by the Superintendent of the Lathrop school district Miami R-1 from Missouri stated “ Our ACT scores are the best they’ve been in 10 years, and our teachers love it.” Once again, the four-day school week has proven its’ ability to conduct education for young adults in an effective manner. This same Superintendent also announced that a community poll conducted approximately half way through the first year showed that 70% of the parents supported the four-day schedule. This poll helps to show that it appears that the majority of the community in small, rural districts such as Miami R-1 or even perhaps Colby where childcare is not an issue would benefit greatly from the four-day school schedule. As one can see, the four-day schedule is widely accepted with a strong base of support from the community if it is in a rural area such as Missouri or
A lot of parents are shaking their heads at the consideration of a four-day school week, and a longer school day. Shorter school weeks or longer school days are reasonable solutions when there is a shortage of funding, or possible budget cuts coming to the school district. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and school board members.
Changing a five day week to a five day week to a four day week (For schools)
Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. Many say that the four day school week is good for students. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. There are improvements in the school financially. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about.
Students would benefit immensely from this change, as resources and facilities could be upgraded with the extra funds that come from being in school for fewer days. Activities that normally couldn’t be done during class, like time to work on homework, and activities that take longer than an average class time allows, such as science labs, could be worked into the schedule. The added Friday or Monday would give teachers and students an extra day to recover from the intense curriculum and be able to obtain a much needed period of relaxation. Then, young Americans would be less stressed and much more eager to
Imagine a school year that gave the students one week off after every quarter and every Friday off. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? 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. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. Let’s take a look at some proof.
Studies show that the amount of discipline referrals issued go down. The Chattooga county school district saw a 73% drop in discipline referrals(Vittana). This is because the students had an extra day off and don’t have to focus for five straight days on school. In addition to being more rested from the extra day off. Students that are more focused and rested learn better. So it increases the value of class time where a 5 day school week by Friday students can be unfocused and not rested. That leads to unhappy students who aren’t learning and probably gonna distract other students to keep them from learning. So
This eventually leads to better standardized testing scores district wide. Merryville High School in Louisiana, “has seen average ACT scores school wide rise from 18.7 to 20 in just four years of having the four day schedule. Honor roll students in middle and high school have also doubled” (Chmelynski). Also, according to the table on page 82 of Yarbrough’s article, test scores on the CTBS improved after moving to the four day school week in both the 3rd and 9th grade levels that were tested (see last page of paper). These improvements do not just happen over a long period of time, school districts have seen immediate improvement in scores. “Webster County School district ranked 115th in Kentucky’s state test scores. The year after moving to a four day week, they improved to 61st” (Weldon 32). Not only are schools seeing improvement in test scores, but they are also seeing overall improvement in all aspects of their district.
However, when it comes right down to it, it is all about the test scores. Whether it is standardized tests or just regular tests in school, four day school weeks are just better when it comes to both. ACT is a major standardized test that can directly show how ready a student is for a post-secondary education. Students that took the ACT one year with a five day school week had an average score of 18.7 on the ACT. The next year, the same school switched to a four day school week the following year and saw the average score rise to 20 (Chmelynski). From 10 random school districts those that had a four day school week versus a five day school week had better average standardized test scores (Yarbrough and Gilman). It isn’t just the standardized test that see improvements. Regular in-class test scores have also improved as a result of the four-day school week. In-fact studies show that test scores in all major subject areas have improved drastically (Yarbrough and
Four Day School Act is beneficial for students attending middle school through twelfth grade along with school faculty. This program is important for students who lose focus and began being disengaged in classes towards the weekend giving them enough time to recuperate an extra day. The other option is to cut Monday as well since it is the beginning of the week where students to also be less engaged. The possible outcome effect is less absences, higher test scores, and less yelling from teachers to stay on task. While students are out on Thursday, that leaves Friday for school faculty to prepare for the following week. Teachers can accomplish various things even schedule meetings on a Monday or a Friday.
According to a report from the New York City district, a school that received funds for longer days fared better on standardized tests. This school had seven percent more students scoring at or above grade level in reading, when two other schools had increases of five and six percent. In math, three percent of students scored at or above grade level in a school with a longer day, compared with one percent for a low performing school and an average of one percent for other schools (Brett 1). This information is one example of many studies that illustrate that long school days have a great positive impact on school performance. The main school goals are improving students’ knowledge and building different skills that will help them in the future. Therefore, if longer school days support these educational goals, people should be concerned about improving schools by lengthening the day.
Most people believe that students should have a four day school week because students benefit from less homework, the students can also get a better math score, and the student can also be more productive. There is a boost in math scores and other classes, the shorter school schedule resulted in a seven percent increase in math and a three percent boost in reading. This shows that there is more of a dramatic improvement in students math score. According to Education.seattlepi “512 schools have tried this method with the shorter schedule and it became more popular from the great outcomes from other schools. This shows that students do better in school from the four day school week.
First, let's look at the positives. Having a four-day week would open up the opportunity of scheduling doctors appointments on Mondays, so that students wouldn't have to miss school for dentist and doctors appointments. In my opinion, this is the only positive to having a four day school week.
Superb grades are crucial to getting into a decent college. As students, the most valuable source to good grades is time away from the classroom. More and more schools have switched to the four-day school week, and in many schools it has been beneficial to not just students but teachers as well. The four-day week is helpful in so many different ways, from catching up on homework to that extra rest from a long day. When a child is sick or needs a check-up at the doctor’s office, that extra day off gives them that time to take off without falling behind in school. Many schools have to deal with financial problems and with the four-day week that gives the school less expenses and in a long run will help tremendously. Not just Colby but every school should switch to the four-day week because all of these factors are beneficial and useful.