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Four-Day School Week?Posted Friday, May 7, 2010, at 1:00 PM
In this period of dwindling funding in our education system, people are trying to get more education out of every education dollar. One innovation that has been suggested locally, is being used in other states, and is in a trial period in at least two Indiana school corporations is the four-day school week. The use of the four-day work week with ten-hour work days has been used in industry, especially the construction industry, when the employer is involved in projects that would involve excessive hours of travel time for employees such as a Kentucky or Ohio employer having a project in Indianapolis.
When I initially heard of this, I was concerned about the effect of Indiana law that requires 180 days of school operation and student attendance per year. In a discussion with Mr. Rayle, Principal at Northview, he disclosed that the Indiana school corporations have been given a waiver of the 180-day attendance law and are operating on an hour-to-hour equivalent. I'm going to simplify the equation for this illustration, but essentially four ten-hour days equals five eight-hour days. So, lengthening the school day would not lengthen the school year into the summer or change our six-weeks grading periods. The beneficial effects on education that I see are longer class periods for more time on subject material per day while maintaining the same amount of class time per week. Cost reductions come in transportation of students, building utility costs, less housekeeping building maintenance, and cafeteria operation. One possible negative effect could be a rise in disruptive behaviors due to boredom if a teacher does not keep the subject matter stimulating and the students involved, and this could be a factor especially in study hall. Another consideration that may be a factor is the sheer length of the day for the student and staff. Two more hours per day would mean rising earlier in the morning or getting home later. For some of our students, during the winter months they would be in transit to school or at school almost from sunrise to sunset during the most depressing months of the year. We should also consider effects on other activities and situations as well. Lengthening the school day is going to have an effect on extra --curricular activities. It is going to have an effect on single parent and two-earner families as they would have to find a way to provide child-care on the extra day per week that the children would not be in school. What are the foreseeable effects on local business, traffic, and the rest of the community? What say you?
Leo L. Southworth may be contacted directly at leosouthworth@gmail.com . Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
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IM Lee Thall:
...Leo is not an expert but tries to learn about details and help the situation....No he is not a school board members but is a member of Academic improvement committee at Northview...and may be involved with other things as a volunteer in community. As I said earlier, this forum exchanges opinions and ideas....not solutions.
BUT the "gadfly" is also a useful tool to disseminate information to those who are not aware of those same details of which I speak and has been a tool since the time of Socrates to "goad" people into action. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_gadf...
They are not usually "popular" but do provide a service to a society. As both Leo and I have experienced, to upset the status quo does not win one a popularity contest, but don't think either of us set out to do that...except most times that is what an elected official does when they win and political race, so there are benefits to it. Have a good day.... and before the Christian Taliban asks why I am writing here instead of attending church right now....I went to mass last night. My brand of Christianity allows for that.
Actually, about 80% of our students are not bored with most classes. You will have some in that 80% who will be bored due to the factors that I'm about to go into.
That a teacher spend 90% of their time on 10% of the students is an old saying, but I see it happening. Some of them are bored due to being ahead of the class in that subject, but most of them are bored because they are so far behind that the material is incomprehensable to them.
Jenny, if we are going to "lock in" attendance to the school that serves a studnet's home address we are throwing money away to operate so many separate buildings to provide choices. This is why Owen and Greene counties consolidated as much as they did in the past, to cut costs in their support services.
Mrs Positive...
That is downfall of the internet. Can't really have a "tone" or face to face interaction. A certain portion of the communication is lost.
Internet comments are an isolated portion of a person. You know little or nothing else of their history or other parts of their lives. Even your screen name hides a portion of who you are as no one can always be positive...I am sure there is much more to you as well...just like there is much more to teachers than a student sees in a classroom.
That said, my comments aren't to win a popularity contest...They hopefully will initiate those who read them to ask their kids and maybe even their teacher friends about what I write. Some will not agree with me, but others might then learn that what I say can be verified elsewhere as others have seen it as well.
Our schools do a decent job but we should strive for excellence. Those teachers who are already doing a great job may not have it in them to give any more but we can demand that the poor performing teacher improve or be removed from the equation so the whole becomes better.
Atta boy pats on the back about our schools are needed and I have written multiple letters of thanks and praise to teacher's supervisors when I notice that a teacher has really gone beyond average...It means more if it's in their personnel file than on this blog, but also I have written and called supervisors about the teacher who is not teaching or acting as a good role model for their students and from past history know that unless multiple people do this, that teacher will still be there cheating the students for many years to come. I am no better OR worse than anyone else on this "blog". We all have different opinions and different methods of making our thoughts known. I feel that too many feel personally attacked when their performance is reprimanded..There are many good people who are lousy teachers in this world and many good teachers who are not very "nice" people. We need to separate the performance from the person.
I am not attacking our schools when I criticize. I am pointing out deficits that I hope if others see they will contact school officials about as well. That is our responsibility to both today's and tomorrow's students and as tax payers. If we don't DO something and think everyone else is going to, it will never get done. If you think every thing is perfect at the schools, so be it. You have a right to your opinion as I do mine.
But on this blog it is only opinion. The rest of our make up is what we are doing outside this blog to help improve the schools and the community. I assure you that this is not the only thing I am doing. It's just one...As a matter of fact take this as official invitation to become involved with the Academic Booster Club at Northview. We do things to encourage academic programs and those involved with them. From locker decorations for academic competitive events, to awards, to workshops to help students prepare for their future after high school. We saw a need at the high school and "trying" to fill it in a bit. We need more help though. I hope others will join us.
Have a good day.
Jenny dies not rely on facts but an innate sense that she is better then others. Her tone is not helpful and never will be. I think if she wants to enact change she must cultivate and inpire other adults instead of berating and belittling them. Sometimes you do speak with the right tone but eventually it is back to doom and gloom.
This would be something that could greatly benefit the school corporation. The kids would really enjoy it having a three-day weekend every week. Attendance would probably go up dramatically, increasing their time in class to learn.
I would like to address one of the comments made by Mrs. Moore. "Most of the kids causing problems in school are bored as they are not challenged mentally"
Really? You are able to make this profound statement based on what. How long has it been since you have taught in the classroom? How many times have you worked with students that have caused problems to find out they are bored because they are not challenged mentally? It would be my guess that 90% or better of kids do not get in trouble in school. The 10% or less that do, are the kids that want more for an education. You are living in some fantasy world that doesn't exist. The kids that get in trouble probably have no respect for education, teachers, other staff members, or students. Unless you have definitive data to back up the reason for their behaviors, then don't comment on things like this. Stick to the things that you think you know.
Leo:
I think before we go to the 4 day week we might discuss what Dr Schroeder presented to the school board this week instead...something we should have been looking at years ago. Oh wait a minute we did but people didn't want to have their children change schools simply because it put the parents out of their comfort zone for all I could figure out. I commnented on the article as did others but they were all deleted...I can repost that here if you like. Pretty much gives my opinion on the matter of where to cut costs. I actually AGREE with the superintendent this time [lol]
Most of the kids causing problems in school are bored as they aren't challenged mentally. Too many are sitting around with nothing to do in elementary school so others can play catch up due to either being on a lower learning curve or not prepared[ie parents didn't make them do their homework].
When there are too many kids in the class or too many levels for the teacher to deal with, one group of students or the other is going to get short end of the stick. Really no excuse for this to happen at either end if people plan appropriately and class sizes aren't over large or not balanced.
Well as a parent of daycare kids, I feel having a day off during the week for the school kids may not work for most. Daycare is expensive and I can't really afford the time they go there now, so how can I afford all day. There is no easy solution to this issue. We must rely on the school board that we voted in to make important decisions for our school corporation. I do feel also that if we have the kids in there longer than they already are, we may find that some may act out on pure boredom, as I hear from my kids all of the time. School is boring....
Erethism:
...Because this community has made their wish's known via their vote as well as their apathy. Tomorrow's adults may not have the education they need, but will have buildings to look at[and maintain on an ever shrinking tax base due to graduates not being able to compete for jobs and those who are able to get through our education system successfully will go elsewhere so their children can have a better education, roads, and other infrastructure]...The other 75% already have no idea what all this means as they didn't even vote.
How about we keep building and adding on and spending money where we shouldn't be spending money. I'm sure that will fix the problem.
Actually, a student day is closer to 7 hours a day rather than 8, Leo. Therefore, by adding one hour and 45 minutes to each of the 4 days, you would have that fifth day covered. It might be worth looking into.
I agree with wiseupnow, it would make more sense to have a tuesday through friday schedule. This would allow for little disruptions in after school activities (including sports). There are many viable options where this 4 day school schedule would work. perhaps clay community schools should explore this and see if this would benefit the students.
While there would need to be some schedule adjustments for children and parents it could be a benefit. If the school day lasted longer that would put students off closer to the time parents (those with conventional work hours) work days end, possibly cutting day care costs for those with younger children. Again there are many options and variables to consider, but what needs to be considered even over work schedules, financial aspects, extracurricular activities is what will the educational benefit be for the children. If it provides better educational opportunities for my children, I will bear the inconveniences to make sure they get a good education.
Why would Friday have to be the day off? It would make more sense to have Monday as the day off and run a Tuesday through Friday schedule.
Perfect way to introduce that 7 period day at the high school to bring Clay County up to par with 90 other Indiana counties....That way class periods can be adjusted accordingly.
A need will arise for friday child care but could also be that other companies will reduce work week and a possible side line career of Friday childcare may come of it...OR instead of Y care being needed after school, hire some of the teens to work at Y in childcare, keeping them employed and occupied.
Not sure how extracurriculars will work around this if other corporations aren't on same schedule as Friday games and other competitions will mean that some will still be making those extra trips to town etc. That said, if we can't afford to send kids to school 5 days a week, can we afford to stay in extracurriculars? Maybe we need to go to an intramural type competition where teams from the same school play each other?
No solution is going to be perfect for everyone but we must adapt to do what we can afford to do and still get the job done.