Four-day school week good idea?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As the recession forces states to slash education funding, more school districts are considering cutting the school week down to four days as a way to save money.
The Los Angeles Times reports that only about 100 of the nation's 15,000 school districts now use a four day schedule - most of them small, rural school districts.
But that might change... some districts are now tossing around the idea to serve more suburban or urban areas, including suburbs of Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon, and even the country's fifth largest school system in Florida's Broward County.
Usually schools that go to four day weeks extend their hours 60 to 90 minutes per day. Experts say there's no proof as to whether the shorter week helps or hurts students.
But some worry that especially younger students will lose focus with a longer day. And many parents don't like the idea because it means they would have to find another child care option for that extra day. This is why schools are also considering other options - like ending sports, mandatory furloughs for employees and renegotiating union contracts.
Also, when you consider the below-average results that many U.S. schools are already turning out each year, it seems like less time in school is hardly the answer.
But education spending makes up the biggest share of states' budgets. Nationwide, the 50 states face a combined 350 billion dollar shortfall over the next 3 years. They are also planning to eliminate close to 600,000 jobs.
Here’s my question to you: In light of reduced education budgets, is a four-day school week a good idea?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
William writes:
Four-day weeks represent throwing in the towel on education. Younger kids will lose focus and the end of the day will be wasted for them. If money is saved, but minds, potential and futures are lost (not to mention safety, given the places some kids will be when out of school), do we gain anything? A seductive but very bad idea.
Kevin from California writes:
Great idea. We can repeal the child labor laws, and on their days off they can make Nikes to get acquainted with competing against their Chinese counterparts.
Yazz writes:
Have we not short-changed our children enough? In a country willing to give billions to rich companies 'too big to fail', cannot we all agree that our children are 'too vital to fail'?
Paul from Austin, Texas writes:
It is a good idea and does work. I lived in a city in Colorado that did and it worked fine. The only thing is the school day was a little longer and there was only a 6-week break in the school year.
Arthur writes:
Cutting the school week puts a tremendous burden on working parents and cuts relatively little cost. Why do it then? Who is the real beneficiary of a four day week? Surprise – it’s the teachers. They found a way to get the same salary and an extra day a week off. And as with everything else, they claim it benefits our children.
David from San Diego writes:
No. To compete in a world where our industrialized and semi-industrialized competitors already outpace us at K-12 education, we need more, not less, time in school. Saturdays would be a useful addition, as would a longer school year.
Brian from Sugar Land, Texas writes:
Hell no! Whadda are you trying to do? Kill all us single parents?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Jack, if a four day school week is a good idea to reduce costs, why not a 3 day week to reduce costs even further?
In light of the current economic mess this country is in, we need to expand the school week to 6 days a week, then maybe, the next generation of elected officials might be smarter than the ignorant fools that got us here.
A 4 day school week is a terrible idea unless the plan is to have the school day increased to 8am-8pm Monday through Thursday or have the school year go year round. President Obama has said that we need to increase education, that means more time in the class room.
No, It is better for the Children to be in school then on the streets all day. A lot of them can't retain what they have learned in five days, let alone a four day week. It is sad, because School Teachers are teaching and baby sitting anymore. Most Teachers give it their all, for very little pay.
Bad idea. when I was a kid you went to school. Now , I notice they are always off .No wonder kids don't learn . Their never in school
A four day school week would only allow the 19 to 21 year old middle and junior high school thugs to have an extra day breaking into neighborhood houses and rolling senior citizens for their social security checks. As far as learning goes, our education system is barely on par to compete with Mexico.
No. I'm tired of schools pandering to laziness. Its a bad idea and just excuses so that they don't have to go to school (teachers included). If the schools want to do this, how about cutting teachers salaries to match? I doubt they'd like that. Money isn't the problem. Teaching is. If they don't want to teach, they shouldn't be making excuses so they don't have to.
Jack, we are already so far behind the "curve" compared to other industrialized nation; I can't fathom how we can cut back. If we increase the hours in class, and reduce the days, fine. We are already creating a generation of numbskulls; who at best can only figure out how to hook up their video games versus calculate the area of a curve!
It's a great idea Jack! In this modern era of computors there is no reason that students should have to be bussed to an archaic old building to be taught in an archaic old manner. The learning could still continue on the fifth day by assigning research and written projects to be completed at home and maybe, just maybe these kids would learn a little bit about personal responsibility. In addition the teachers should be on-site at the school, on the fifth day, to provide more intense,personalized assistance to students that have parents responsible enough to get them there.
Not unless the standard work week is reduced to four days, as well. Aren't our kids unsupervised, or left in various "day care" facilities after school for long enough?
And is this really going to help our overall abysmal performance in literacy and math? Doubt it. Maybe if they cut some of the fancy new stadiums for football, or fancy new diamonds for baseball, they can find the money for teachers to teach the basics! If you want to really hear the true opinions of school budgets, watch the parents (especially fathers) scream if the sports programs are reduced - yet those same people will allow substandard performance in being able to read, write, and figure. Go FIGURE that!
if the state has to do it for budget reasons then do it. I mean we are almost last in the education of our young people anyway(of the highly industrialized nations), it's not like we can get any worse..
I'd rather see the Department of Homeland Security hold a bake sale to raise funds rather than have our next generation's education cut by 20 percent.
N O! there are too many families where both parents work. If you can think back that far, you should know what ou would have done wihout superrvision
Four day school and work weeks are great ideas so long as the time evens out. Ask any worker who has a four day week and a three day weekend how they like it and I doubt that many will want to go back to five days. It saves student and worker alike carfare, commuting time, clothing expenses and so forth. Should have done it decades ago.
No! Even if they spend the same number of hours in class. T
Jack, in light of your recent statements on student learning levels, a six day week is a better idea. The monies poured down the drains labelled Iraq, Afghanistan, Wall Street and Detroit would be better spent on raising the level of achievement of our next generation while still in their best learning years. A four day week will produce a generation of geniuses on the level of George W. you know who.
A fact of life is you need money to do everything including providing education services. It would seem America is arriving at a crossroads and are soon going to have to decide where they want the government to spend their money.
If the bulk of the taxpayer's money is going overseas and on wars then I guess it only stands to reason that domestic issues are going to suffer so cutting the number of school days will just be one of many social programs that will need alteration.
No, it isn't, because the staff who are on hourly pay, will not earn enough to get by.
I think that's a great idea, but only if you reduce the teacher and administration salaries accordingly, and if that's not going to happen, what's the sense? Yes, I get the heat and utility issue, but in order to reap any benefits from this idea, everything gets cut, after school activities need to be included in the four days.
You and I both know that if teacher's salaries are going to be cut, this isn't going to happen.
NO! If they got rid of the teachers who do not like to teach and the unions, they would have plenty of money. Teachers and Unions today
only want to get as much as they can without working for it. Plain and simple.
As a former teacher I think the 4 day school week would be great,by Friday the kids are tired, the teacher is tired, but with SOL objectives to meet 5 days isn't long enough to teach them properly!!
If we could only throw away the SOL's and teach the basics– 4 days would work great and we would be turning out students who can read, write and do math without a calculator~
Only if within those four days, additional time is added to the day to help make up for the lost time on the fifth day. And if a four day week is to be mandated, then businesses need to follow suit because parents need to be around for that new weekend day their kids have off. It's a rippling effect. But definitely needs to be studied before a decision is made. Lots of implications.
No, it would be a good idea to give our schools the funds they need to do their jobs.
Is this a 4 day work week where teachers make more pay and have an extra day off? No, it is not a good idea at all. How come the children are put last? It is bad enough that some teachers send work home for the parents to do their jobs for them and now this? What about the extra expense of daycare for these children that this day off would bring? Do teachers work anymore?
As Obama calls for longer schooldays and school years to raise education standards, governments are talking about shortening the weeks.....If you want to know why Public education is not working, look no further than the fact that the state governments pull crap like this all the time.
Yes Jack, I'm 17 and I think it's a GREAT idea.
As long as the teacher who only work three days a week, get paid for 5. We have a union here and educating children is not the priority as you can see by the sorry state of the system. The more liberal years we have in the Congress and the White House the dumber America has proven itself to be. Thanks NEA
In Hawaii we pretty much already have one. Any reason to take off a day from school and Hawaii School's are closed. We've got holidays you've never heard of Jack. Prince Kuhio Day and Statehood Day come to mind. That's right, Hawaii still celebrates the day they became a state, well at least some of the people do.
Yes, at this time in history it is, however someone needs to go to work, and put our education back in working order, and the sooner the better before our students become the laughing stock of the world vfor not have been taught. Parent brag about how smart their children are while growing up till school age, and then complain that they are not learning things in school. You can't have it both ways. Parents, and teachers, and students alike should, and could be doing a lot better job tan at present. Don't tell me kids can't learn, when kids of lesser advantages as kids today made it through the Great Depression, and the two World Wars, and they learned, and today most kids are brighter that those of my day, so again, don't tell me that they can't learn
Jack: American students are behind in math and science compared to other industrialized nations. Our children need all the time they can get in the classroom to improve their skills. If both parents work who is going to supervise these students on Friday. Young people can get into a great deal trouble when not given constructive task to do or left unsupervised.
It's not even remotely a good idea. Many families in this country either have only one parent or two working parents. Removing a school day creates a massive child care cost burden on families that can least afford it.
Very Bad Idea !!!!!!!!!
David
OH heavens no. The kids have no where to go but hang out in the malls stealing and causing problems. I say put them on a work detail picking up litter on the day off and that way they will think before they create problems in society. Idle hands are the work of the devil.
I think is is, Jack. Savings on Transportation and Food Service alone would be huge! Though, many families will have problems with finding adequate care for their children, however, that could be a great job-creating opportunity, as well.
looking at the last math and english rankings, students could get as much out of 4 days, 3 days or even 2 days a week as what they're getting now. I doubt anyone would notice any change except fot the video arcade places and internet cafe's.
Our young students are below international averages in reading, math & science. Can we really afford to educate them less?
I've had it with baby boomers, Jack. Lets start cutting spending on their benefits. They created this economic mess; but the "elders" continue to pass the insult and injury to future generations. Isn't it bad enough that baby boomers are leaving the USA worse off than it was when they inherited it? Its like your generation has no shame, even when shame is the appropriate human feeling. I suppose you baby boomers have to make young people dumber, have them go to school only four days a week, just so they don't realize what an incredible disappointment your generation really is.
It's not like Americans are getting any smarter. No, it's not a good idea. Even though we've come to expect schools to basically raise our kids, a four-day week doesn't sync with the 5 day work week. Here's an idea, change the work week to four days too, then we can hire one fifth of the unemployed Americans to pick up the slack. Now if we can just devalue homes enough for a four-day, minimum wage job to afford.
Bill D
Champaign, IL
Only if school-days are 8 hours long, and emphasize only what used to be called "solid subjects": math...science...languages...English, as a FIRST language...history...civics...basics of parenthood...substance-abuse intervention...gun-safety...CPR and first-aid...veneral disease history, prognosis and prevention...
Less education is just what the doctor ordered. That will lead to having to many ditch-diggers. For a country who's education system continues to fall back from the pack, having less school is foolish. Once enacted it would never go back to 5 days a week. The budget problem will not last forever.
It could be Jack IF they actually taught for a full 8 hours. Seems they have more goof off time than study time. Out here some kids are out at like 2:30...make it 4 and an EARLY start:)
No Jack it is not a good idea. Who would supervise all the kids while the parents are working as that job now rests with the teachers? Just downsize the amount of none teachers in the school system. They command the big salaries and dont teach.
The four day school week may be a good idea for the budget but it would be highly difficult for the majority of working parents who may not be able to adjust their schedules.
No. Having just gone through a couple of days of school district closures due to the swine flu hype leaving parents scrambling for childcare options, school schedules need to coinciude with parents' work schedule. Five days a week, 8 – 5:30 year round!
Ralph – Corpus Christi, Texas
My mother has taught school for over 50 years. I asked her about a 4-day week and her response was, "It doesn't matter if it's 4 days, 3 days or no days. Parents expect teachers to award A's and don't expect their children to learn anything except how to work the system through lawsuits and intimidation. School boards love new athletic fields over books and computer labs. No one seems to care about learning anything these days." About 15 minutes later, she ended with, "I'm fed up and I'm going to retire." Mom, who used to love teaching, wishes she had gone into banking instead.
Sure it's a good idea, provided it is accomanied with a mandentory 4 day work week - Unless that happens any gain would be offset by additional day-care expenses -
RB Knoxville
I'm sure a 4 day school week will help. I think a large lay off of upper level administration will be a better solution.
No, unless partents can go to a 4 day workweek, That would save gasoline & other expense for workers..
It is a good idea and does work. I lived in a city in Colorado that did and it worked fine. The only thing is the school day was a little longer and there was only a 6 week break in the school year. So I really can not say that for budgets that it would be good except that you do not have long breaks of 3 months for students and teachers and no unused public buildings and they still have a full 6 weeks to do maintance of the buildings. I think the idea should be used.
Jack,
I implemented a 4 day work week at my company. It reduced overhead, cut down on employee sick days, and having a 3 day weekend was nice. Of course it caused longer work days but the perks outweighed that aspect. If the same happened in the school system I believe that it would reduce costs. Just cutting the fuels costs by 1/5 for the busses alone would be very measurable.
Jack: As long as working mothers get the same deal.
For k-12, yeah. Extended school hours on those four days would definitely make sense. Give Fridays off!
If the districts can cut costs by doing it I think they should do it & try to save the taxpayers some cash. There are districts in Minnesota that are do 4 day weeks; it seems to work for them.
No school day or hour reductions aren't the answer but giving the education system more resources is the answer.
If giving these education systems requiring more resources including money is the answer then there might be a need to cut down on military and international expenses to save future generations of Americans.
People seem to be so vocal on the deficit mortgaging their kid's futures but completely oblivious to them having a poor education making them unable to compete globally for their entire lives.
As long as employers agree to cut parents work week to 4 days as well.
It is the worst idea yet. Not only will it reduce the learning curve, but I imagine there will be a lot of latch-key kids running around looking for something to do. It doesn't save money, it simply moves the expense from the schools to law enforcement. Unbelievable.
It's not a good idea unless parents are given a 4 day work week with the same pay. As usual, education big wigs are putting their problems on the backs of parents. They are already paying for supplies that the school system should be paying. (copy paper, paper towels, hand soap plus money for incidentals) I'm not saying that the teachers should foot the bill for all this, just have the superintendent put it in his budget along with the private bath (with amenities), etc.
In a word, "No!"
We cut time, lower our standards and ask, "Why are our children not improving? " The fact that we even ask the question is proof of our failure.
The japanese have 6 day school weeks, but their school days are shorter than ours.
How does our education system fair against theirs?
Great for the kids, not so great for working parents... Do teachers get same pay for 4 days as they do for 5? In my state, kids go to school 180 days a year, while teacher´s pay is based on a yearly contract... Pay may not make them rich, but it´s still a good deal. So I guess the Teachers won´t object to a 4 day week.
Jack
I think America is ready for the four day work week for all. Prohibit part-time work unless they pay twice the minimum wage Also mandate E-verfy and deport illeagles Return the statue of liberty to the French .
Back to the future Jack.
I thunk grate idea! Who need a edyoocayshun anyway!
If we are talking about saving money, a 4-day school week doesn't save any money, it just shifts the burden directly to the parents in the form of daycare, etc.. if we are talking about the quality of our children's education, longer days are not the answer. Everything we have learned about the brain in the last 5 or 10 years says that the structure of a typical school day is virtually the opposite of what you would want for the most productive learning environment.
Definatly not a good idea. I will say that most of the people that have been in a year around school situation really does love it. I had a daughter in year round school,
What a good idea.
What are we a third world country. People, cutting schools will only effect the poor. The private schools will continue to have five day school weeks and the poor will not be able to compete. Do we really want take everything away from people who have so little.
Here's a news flash, some parents work five days a week. I think this idea will cause bigger problems. It's a quick fix.
Interesting that the majority of comments focus not on education but the lack of taxpayer-funded daycare. My son's high school goes for 4 days, using 1 h 50 min sessions per class, work that was 'homework' is done in class. Don't see any reason other schools can't do so. Also note that my son's school using the classrooms from 6 AM to 9PM, getting full usage out of the expensive facility.
$350 billion? That's only half the federal government bank bailout! How about the federal government does for states what it did for banks. At least governments helping governments makes sense. i'm still trying to figure out why the government gave private banks so much money.
Lene' you said "It is bad enough that some teachers send work home for the parents to do their jobs for them and now this? What about the extra expense of daycare for these children that this day off would bring? Do teachers work anymore?" It is called parental involvement. If kids are so far behind other nations its because parents do not get involved in their child's education. Studies show that parents who get involved have children who perform better in the classroom. And yes, I have researched it and wrote a thesis on it. Put the blame where it needs to be. Kids are the way they are today because of lazy parents who do not get involved and think that schools are just a form of free daycare. Teachers are not babysitters and should not be treated as such. Maybe when lazy parents understand that we can begin to address other issues.
Melissa, It's the teachers and the teachers union who will not budge. Everyone in the McMinnville School District took pay and day cuts to help bug=dget wise. The teachers are "SPECIAL" ya right!
Anyone who knows anything about education will understand that a child's attention span is only so long and extending the day is not going to help these students learn anymore. Instead a longer day will increase behavior problems which then reduces actual learning time which means that children will most likely learn less then they currently do. Not only that but parents will have to spend more money they don't have on child care which will hurt the economy even more then it already is. The answer is to nationalize education and treat each school district the same so there is not such a huge disparity between the tools and resources that are available to those in rich districts compared to those in poor districts. Not only will states save money because education is run by the feds but fairness and equity is more likely because all districts are treated the same. So not only is more money saved but more equity comes about.
It sounds like the POTENTIAL cut to four days could be for financial reasons and no thought to the academics.
If the cut is reasonable, perhaps quality education and not babysitting should be the agenda. Learning is important.
Many Thanks from a
Parent of the "DITTO Generation" that raised OOOPS ! lowered the IQ of many children. Deliberatly undereducating the masses.
Jack,
Allow me to tease you...salt just like sugar is always connected to every healthcare issue and costs! It may seem like just a grain of salt or a teaspoon of sugar...but these two small white grains are the cause of many costs and both shortens our quality of life...of course salt tastes good until you tried less and use herbs and spices...less is sometimes actually better in life since you choose quality over quantity...well as far as salt and sugar goes!:>)
When it comes to education, everyone is an expert. The fact is that a 4-day week is geared to cut school costs by limiting bus miles, cafeteria costs, heating and cooling costs, and other related peripheral expenses. Education has become such a politicized issue in the United States that people simply wish to blame the other side rather than examine what the root causes of the education problem might be. Individuals work to create universal education plans that must be applied to all schools, disregarding how different our schools are not only in regions of the country, but neighborhoods of a given city.
The comments on this page illustrate the shortcomings of society as well as the education system as much as the article does.
As a teacher, I am sick and tired of people accusing me of being lazy and overpaid. If they think I'm overpaid then they need to come into my 8th grade classroom for a week and experience over 100 students a day, try to get them to like history, enjoy it, LEARN it so they want to be productive and non-ignorant citizens, while dealing with their drama, their poor home lives, political craziness from administration, poor colleagues....etc. I could go on all day. It is not a job for the faint of heart and there should be more rigorous standards for teachers, however, since we get paid next to nothing compared to others with the same or less education no one wants to enter the field. Thats the problem. So, before anyone complains about my piddly salary that I have to make with a Master's degree and other certifications and say I should take a pay cut, they need to do what I do and as well as I do.
Can a 4-day week help? I have no idea, it hasn't been done here. But if it does become a reality, I will work just as hard 4 days a week at the same amount of hours and same small pay.
I think a 4 day week for students is a great idea...coupled with a full, year-round school session (with maybe a week break at Christmas and summer).
The problem is that there's so much to learn in order to be competitive in the global marketplace, that the current system pretty much destroys what childhood is about, and that is learning to explore, learn, and socialize at a child's pace.
The best thing for children, in my opinion, would be a Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri school week. Wednesday would be free to catch up on homework and study, and possibly concentrate on extracurricular activities like sports or fine arts. Either Saturday or Sunday would be the weekend equivalent, and the remaining day is the day for children to play.
Play is essential for proper development–it's been shown in study after study. But so many demands are being placed on children these days that they either forgo play to satisfy academics, or sacrifice grades to play... neither of which is a good idea.
Ha! I'm a teacher and this is a terrible idea! It's hard enough to keep students focused and accomplish the required objectives, especially with all the kids out of school for various reasons (field trips, driver's tests, dentist's appointments, family trips, and sports). When I give an assignment in my classes, I can expect maybe 75% of my students to accually do the work and bring it in the next day–as a result, I have to spend valuable instructional time doing catchup work with students who consider anything required of them outside of the classroom "too hard". These same students think nothing of spending four or five hours online, working part-time jobs, putting in hours on sporting events, but consider a half-hour of schoolwork too much of a load. I have about a forty to fifty-percent success rate at contacting parents who actually follow through and push their kids to do better in school. If anything, we should be extending the school day and dropping all of the peripheral activities like sports and extracurriculars to focus on the main goals of education. School time should be for school and outside activities should be held on weekends or outside of school. I'm sick of trying to convince students that it's very important for them to be able to read and write fluently, have a good core knowledge of science and math, and be able to conduct themselves profesionally on the job–they can only see the short-term benefits of buying a car or having a cool facebook account and can't see the long-term benefits of a good education.
I think it's a bad idea. Thanks to No Child Left Behind, teachers are forced to try to cover an insane amount of material very quickly for standardized tests, and we all see how well that's going now. (And we can't get in depth about anything!)
Sidebar: I love how people are talking about cutting teacher's salaries, teachers sending their work home, making teachers work longer hours. I'm not sure where these people live, but in most parts of the US, the starting salary for a teacher (who has to complete an undergrad, at least, and take a certification test that isn't easy) will easily qualify him/her for food stamps. And us sending our work home? How about parents sending their kids to school when they haven't had a bath, eaten breakfast, and have no social skills what so ever. Teachers are dealing with so much more than they were dealing with even 10 years ago, and that's thanks to parents not doing what parents should be doing. And as to the hours, I, and most of my colleagues, are in the door at 7:15 in the morning and we don't leave until 6:00 at night. And we get about 30 minutes during the school day to use the restroom, eat lunch, make copies, grade, do paperwork, etc. Teachers do plenty, believe me.
I am an educator, so I have a little perspective from inside (right or wrong). People think there is one magical item that is going to fix the problems with education.
1. Parents have to make their kids work, and instill and sense that education is important. Educators may not be perfect, but quit thinking they are out to get your baby, your baby does no wrong, or what your child does at school is the school's problem.
2. Stop trying to fit everyone into one mold. Most students are not going to college, period. They should have the opportunity if they can meet the standards and find a way to pay for it. The rest need some base level of vocational training.
3. Reduce class sizes. I don't care how pretty the school building is, if you don't have enough teachers with smaller classes to give the students individual attention, then it's all for nothing.
4. Put a serious discipline system in place. Putting a kid in detention doesn't work anymore. They need a real punishment. The serious ones that hold all the other kids back need to be remove to another setting. By serious I don't just mean drugs or violence, but repeat behaviors that impair the others ability to learn.
These are just a few steps. Stop coddling kids and being afraid of unreasonable parents. If they are going to learn and be our next generation then they are going to have to work.
Let me try posting one more time.............
Instead of a four day school week, during a time when our children are falling further and further behind in comparison to the World. Why not start at the top, and thin out upper management at all the nation's school districts?
Low hanging fruit...that is what that solution is...people we have to think more about everything...We have to cut spending elsewhere and DEMAND it...The ADULTS need to sacrifice for the children (And I don't have any) in this country...and the ADULTS (illegal or not) need to start having only babies they can afford.
It's an uphill battle because these days the ADULTS are VERY uneducated overall and want to coddle the kids...Kids need to be invigorated to enjoy school and see its potential – it is in understanding what education could afford me that inspired me as a child...i knew it was tough, that pulling A's was harder than C's even though C's were OK by many people around me...My dad taught me to be proud and inspired me too.
When i was a student, 5 days and even after school was not enough time...I really liked school and so did many others...And we did have distractions like Cable TV which was like the Internet in terms of excitement and hours killed as "downtime" watching MTV. So its all relative...
I say go for the 4 day school week. Everything I read is how teachers need to do more but no mention of what parents are suppose to do. Parents need to get more involved and help teach the kids.
Just Curious , if the Four Day school week does not work , will that be President Bush's fault also?
Jim Kelly
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
I can't believe there is talk of cutting back on time in class. Students need every minute in class they can get. If a cut in the field of education is needed, it could be found in other areas, i.e. School Board member salaries, fancy football stadiums, unneeded people in the central county offices. Cutting teacher salaries wouldn't work either. they barely make enough to live on as it is. Also, the 180 days work pay is divided into an annual wage so that teachers have money coming in each month. They do not get paid for working when they are not. In fact, they work far longer than the hours for which they receive pay. Leave the children where they are, let the teachers teach instead of babysit, and parents, support the teachers, see that your children study at home, and then you will see that the time in the classroom is not the problem.
I love how there are so many negative comments on here about teachers. They did not suggest this. For those of you ranting about how horrible teachers are, I challenge you to spend a week in a school. In Texas there is no limit to the number of students you can have in a classroom after 4th grade. Districts can create guidelines, but when times get tough, they do not stick to them. 20 or less is the number research shows creates the best learning environment. I have seen classes with 36. There are so many children these days who have respect for no one, including themselves, and flat out do not care. Guess what? There is little their teacher can do about that. A teacher can not force your child to put pen to paper or open a book. Discipline? Who can do that anymore. That starts at home. The over indulgence, and why is everyone picking on my baby, needs to stop. Parents you need to start taking a little more responsibility for your children, and stop acting like children yourselves. I am 28 years old and I can tell you I would have never dreamed of speaking to my teachers, or in front of my teachers the way these kids do now. Get in trouble at school? No way. I knew I would get it double when I got home. What you have now is Mommy running up to school saying, oh not my child, why are you picking on him, we are going to file suit. I am not saying there are not bad teachers out there, because there are. But before you start playing the blame game, you should take a long hard look in the mirror. Case in point the previous poster complaining about homework, and parents having to do the teachers job for them. Please, their education is as much your responsibility as it is their teachers. So ask yourself, what have you done to contribute to your child learning something today?
I think the four day school week is a bad idea. Especially in the warmer months, especially in school buildings without air-conditioning, the current length of the school day is taxing enough. Going to a four day week with longer days would reduce the amount the students can learn. Simple common sense and a lot of experience tells me this is a bad idea
In this day and age of increasing demands on the schools and the teachers therein, extending the school day is just not justifiable. This change is another example of trying to balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable–in this case, our children.
Our school systems don't need a "tweak" they need to be rebuilt completely. I have a radical idea, why don't we use real education researchers and real education research data to decide how schools should be run. Our education dollars would go much further and probably be more efficient.
You might find you only need the teachers to be around for 4 days (or less) a week and lower wage "supervisors" would only be required for the rest.
Eric – Iowa City
This is only going to shift costs on the backs of working parents. Already vacations, holidays, and professional days cause issues with child care. Who will be there to watch these kids on the 5th day? How will parents that are already seeing taxes increased, wages shrink, and child care costs go up pay for a full day of child care?
I think we need to be more creative in raising money for education like more regional school districts, corporate partnerships, scholarships, and endowments. If private schools and colleges can do it and have exceptional programs, surely public schools can follow and also improve education.
The resason our kids are so far behind is because the schools spend their entire time teaching to their state standardized tests. The teachers no longer want to put any effort into their job and if it's difficult they whine. Please give me examples of other jobs that make equal pay with so many days off including holidays and the summer. AS a parent who has lived overseas and have had children go for a "full year" term. The kids have a shorter school day and are given many breaks throughout the year so the time spent in school equals our school year. They amazing have superb art , music and athletic programs as well. The answer is to stop making excuses and do your jobs and stop whining. It's amazing how the people who did fine in schools with recess and many opportunities to music and athletics grew up to go to college to completely screw the next generation becasue they couldn't handle the responsibility of being an adult and having to make grown up decesions.
I would prefer a year long school. The students would not have the long break of summer but rather mini-vacations throughout the year. This would help them retain their knowledge and allow for budget cuts when cooling or heating is at a premium (depending on locale).
I do not think this is an area to save money. Our kids need many skills today beyond the 3Rs of my childhood. Their schooldays are filled with many extra subjects. They need time for basics as well as these additional classes. Also this is not an easy adjustment for today's working parents. They would often incur additonal child care expenses or be forced to miss time at their place of employment.
Not a good solution.
Our school systems are bad but not because of too little time in the classroom. Untill the underlying problems of bad teachers (due to non merit based pay), no support at home and teaching to a test, a 4 day school week will have the same results as the current system.
I teach in a small rural district and I think this would be great. I also think that summer break is way too long, and that there should be more time spend in school over the year. I can't understand why some people think that the teachers will be paid to "only work four days". The days would be longer and would still work out to a 40 hour work week. Also FYI about getting paid year-round salaries... it is a 9-month salary that is spread out over 12 months.
Three days off per week? Absolutely not. Kids today are already lazy enough (I have 3 school-aged kids).
The older students certainly don't need another free day to get into more mischief and trouble. Would be nice if they all spent it working at a job.
Child care would become a problem for many families with young children.
To prepare for the workforce as adults, kids need FEWER days off, and need to attend year round. One month off for a "summer vacation" would be plenty. We should be copying the Japanese school year.
Although some local and sate government administrations have experimented with a 4 day work week, Real business work a 5+ day business week. A 4 day school week does not benefit parents as they bear the added financial burden of additional child care expense and ever increasing school budgets.
With the current econonic situation and record unemployment and employee's having to take pay cuts, how about school administrators and teachers take pay cuts as well.
What about for working families? If you have to work 5 days a week and your children are in school 4 days, who is going to watch that child on the 5th day? You cant quit your job, and your employer is not likely to give you every Friday or Monday off. I have read that it could cost the average family $3,000 to $4,000 a year in additional cost for childcare. The school districts are trying to take their budget shortfall and place it on the parents.
The four-day school week could work as long as the days are lengthened to make up the time lost on the fifth day. It's been working in New Mexico for the last 30 years, after all.
I think something that is far more damaging to the education of our children is the three month summer holiday. More learning slippage occurs over three months of playtime than there ever could be during a three day weekend.
We aren't an agrarian society any longer; we don't need children to go out and work in the fields all summer long. Keep them in school and keep their little brains sharp!
4 day work weeks are an insane solution to an insane problem. However, while it might serve for saving cash in the short term, it doesn't address the real problem; personnel. Invariably, you walk in to a school district and you find employees who could not be employed elsewhere given their work ethic. It's deplorable how much they expect to be compensated for how little they do. Keep in mind I'm talking about school administrative staff, not teachers. And not all of them, to be sure, but the majority. Some few are highly motivated individuals, but you'll find they typically leave for greener pastures, leaving the district in the hands of the people most unqualified to run it.
As for teachers....you can't pay a good teacher enough, frankly. Given their responsibilities and how well they execute them, 6, 7 digit salaries wouldn't be overly much. However, for every good teacher there is are 10 bad ones who have no business being around kids let alone teaching them.
And the root of this problem? Unions. They shelter bad employees, "guaranteeing" employment through termination processes so convoluted and obscure that it takes a team of lawyers 6 months to get anything workable, and even then the employee may not be termed.
Fix this problem, get rid of the deadwood, and you could run school districts on a fraction of the personnel necessary now.
I think when teachers, who are paid commensurately with their peers in the retail business, start working 264 days (less national holidays and 2 weeks vacation) per year instead of 176 like they do now the education of our children will start to be effective. Cut back on school? What a silly concept. Year round school is what we need to catch up to the rest of the civilized world. Our kids are behind, what will it take to make people see it and take action?
As a rural teacher working with a 4-day schedule, I must say that the kids are probably about as well educated as when I taught with a 5-day schedule. The problem with the US system is that we push kids through the K-8 system whether they have the skills or not. Then we finally expect results in high school after 9 years of coddling them. At that point you have HS teachers teaching kids the stuff they should have gotten back in 3rd grade. A waste of time, in my opinion. Parents also need to be held more accountable for making sure their kids are on track. How about tax breaks if their kids get A's.
So basically what is being suggested is: let's promote the demise of tomorrow's future because our government cannot find a way to help school districts. At what point are our Congress men and women going to realize that the public cannot support the financial needs of education through their taxes? AND ...By shortening the school week, you are asking for career sucide for all teachers as the requirements and workload has only increased because of the NCLB.
The wheels of Education turn slow...even if this is a good idea, which it might be...the Great Recession will be over before it is tested.
I don't think a 4 day school week is the best way to go at all! Our kids are already struggling to pass tests and learn the things that they need to know to graduate. We have 1 teacher trying to teach 35 (or more) kids, with no money for paper, copy machine toner, pencils or books to go around. These are things that are happening at our school – not some 3rd world country.
Our district just decided to close one of the schools in our district to try and save some money. So next year classes at the other two schools are going to be even more cramped than they are now! It puts the children in an impossible learning situation! Teachers are going to be pushed to the limit and then what quality of learning is that for the children??
We need to temporarily cut funding for things that are not vital to survive for the next 3 – 5 years so that we can get education back on track, because without education we are no where and we will be no where in the future.
As an educator for 38 years I think this requires some further study. Yes, there would be day care issues and latch key kids. That being said schools are places to learn but with a lot of bad parenting we become a place to send the kids for babysitting. Wtih respect to budgets, the federal government has a myriad of mandates but sends little funding. They provide only, what 17% of the funding for special education and leaves the rest to the states to provide. The problems with education is not funding, not teachers it's about good parenting. With strong support whether it is one parent, two parents, grandma or grandpa, uncle, aunt or anyone else who loves the child good things happen in school and out of school. Quality not quantity is the mantra. But I will tell you this, if we keep kids in good solid supervised, supportive activities, school, sports, drama, and so forth
we will succeed. Supervised playground activities and sports is key for after school and parks. Kids need to be busy in quality activities. What we do for kids are choices and it needs a lot of study and lots of love.
Thanks for this great question.
The experts seem to agree that children will fatigue with longer days to allow fewer days. I vote for keeping 5 days.
But 5 days of more of the same will not help our children to compete in the new world where so many nations are doing a better job of educating their children. Just look at the roster of college freshman and you will see fewer and fewer home grown kids as their high school grades can't compete with children from overseas. And it is not grade inflation either; these kids come to America with real skills and well developed thinking and study skills and all the while doing while speaking a foreign language, English.
We certainly can't lay this blame at the feet of our children and we have certainly invested a tremendous amount of money on education so where is the problem? The parents or the teachers? Or both?
It is up to the parents to augment what children learn in school. Unfortunately this will widen the "divide" and this is happening today. I don't believe anyone dare ask the teacher's as we are likely to get stonewalled by their union representatives. Remember when we had a failing auto industry which could not afford to invest capital in engineering advances etc.? And we also have failing infrastructure because the ever increasing budget barely covers wage increases for government rank and file and managers who are charged with our infrastructure.
We may be reading the first chapter of "The Fall of ......." I just can't bring myself to say it.
When American children are compared to Chinese children who are going to school 7 days a week, I get embarrassed. The Chinese international business men/women are going to be ahead of American by an extra step.
Jasper Tyron Gonzalez
Chilcoot, CA
No, in japan, when i was a student, i attended 6 days a week, that is, monday to saturday. but now, the students who belong public schools attend only 5 days. As a result, they learn less primary subjects compared to us. hence, they struggle with the new idea which we already know. i would say it will bring us less workforce as a whole.
Are teachers and administrators will to take a 20% pay cut?
So basically what is being suggested is: let’s promote the demise of tomorrow’s future because our government cannot find a way to help school districts. At what point are our Congress men and women going to realize that the public cannot support the financial needs of education through their taxes? AND …By shortening the school week, you are asking for career sucide for all teachers as the requirements and workload has only increased because of the NCLB.
American Kids need to compete in the global market place. By cutting education budget, we will save money now but will have dumb population 15 year down the road. It will then take another 15 to 20 years to fix it. THAT IS IF IT CAN BE FIXED. We really need to think about our country first and other countries later.
Did anyone see Pakistani president begging for money in Meet the press interview. He had a look of entitlement and discontent on this face about how little money he is getting compare to AIG. Now thats what i call a panhandler with and attitude. I get it now! He is saying that Pakistan is a bigger screwup then AIG and therefore deserve a Bonus.
We as americans need to wise-up and start investing in our homeland AND EDUCATION. Wasting our money in Pakistan WHILE CUTTING EDUCATION BUDGET AT HOME, will not make our kids smart.
Hell! it won't even help Pakistani kids smart.
My Question is:
WHY NOT INVEST MORE IN EDUCTION IN USA AND SEE OUR NEXT GENERATION BECOME INTELLIGENT?
Why not just cut education spending all together, or better yet charge parents? No price should be to high for our children. We owe it to our childrens future to educate them. I beleive that one of the reasons we are in this economic mess is lack of a proper education for "all" students.
Come on, they aren't cutting it with the time they have now, and most states will be cutting back on staff faculty this year, but with the same number of students. You may as well be asking if they really need all of those books and chalkboards.
This idea is only good if businesses and banks switch to a 4 day work week. With the majority of parents both working and weekends off, it would just increase the number of unsupervised children or force them to suddenly have child care expenses. I know that's not everybody, but it is most two parent homes. Single parents would be in the same situation but with no help. Most of us can't walk into our jobs and just say we no longer work Fridays.
I don't think cutting the weekly hours is a good idea, for many reasons that people listed before me, however, we should cut out some school vacations and have the kids get out of school earlier in the year. If we could give the kids 2 days off for Thanksgiving, maybe only 1 week for Christmas vacation instead of 2 and cut out the February vacation, not to mention all the teacher in-servie days, the kids could be out of school by the end of May, saving the school districts an extra 2-3 weeks of taxpayers money.
For some reason people think that teachers only work from 8-3 or so. As a former teacher the hours that one puts is far beyond the 40 hour work week that people work. Also, they have to deal with students and believe me, it is not a pleasant experience especially when you are dealing with kids that don't want to learn.
Also, it's a myth that more time in school equates to more learning. Learning does not only occur in school. I have a son who is in first grade and goes to second grade math. He is six years old and he already knows how to multiply two digit numbers like: 23 x 5 or 42 x 36.
When he is in second grade he will be attending 3rd grade math and at home he will be doing 3-4th grade math.
You have to realize if there is no money to pay for things you have to make cuts just like every other person has to. When times are good I understand that you can expand services but when times are bad you have to trim services. You can't leave them at the same level and that's what government is trying to do. Corporations lay off people when the economy is bad and hire more people when it is good.
This is a Very Bad Idea. The federal and local Goverments complain about budget shortfalls and want to cut spending on education. how about complaing about all of the jobs and wages lost to outsourcing? That is lost tax revenue that could be going to the schools systems. And while we are on this topic what ever happened to the money from the state lottery's that were supposed to go to education? Our shcool; systems are in bad shape and there is plenty of blame to go around, buts lets start with the parents, It is our responsibility to make sure our children get a good education. we need to get involved with the school system, and no not the athletic department.
No. Four days a week is not enough. In fact I would prescribe extending the school year into the summer. and give each student vacation time at a time of their choosing like a real job would. If you want to make cuts, do it by cutting busing for one thing. If you need a bus then students should pay for the bus to school just like people pay for the bus to get to work. Alternatively, you could drive your kids to school yourself or have them walk. Exercise is good for them. Second, cut all extracurricular activities. You want to have your kids on the soccer league? good. sponsor it yourself and start your own league. Why is that the tax payers responsibility? You could cut the schools liability by a tremendous amount by simply getting rid of after school activities altogether. But why on earth would you cut short the period of instruction by a whole day? The core curriculum is essential to the goals of the educational system and every effort should be taken to avoid cuts in this area and if possible increase spending. Everything else is just ancillary.
It's a great idea . . . as long as I get a four-day work week.
The school district that I work for throws around the idea of a 4 day week every year. 4 days a week would be helpful for teachers who never have time to collaborate with other teachers as the 5th day should be used for professional development. However, 4 days a week will only benefit children if they are going to school year-round – which is where the US should be going at this point in education. We can't afford to lose contact hours with children and the 3 month long summers doing do any good either.
Only if Friday is a full day of homework.
Seriously? What a bunch of morons. Why don't we just take them out of school all together and we can then become the unskilled labor force in the world turning out the next generation of innovative products except we'll be the assembly lines. Morons...
There's a growing anti school culture in the US which has also encouraged outsourcing and brain drain from other countries because America is never able to train enough of the experts it needs not because it doesn't have the capacity. Enough already with this. Let us get our kids to school for as long as it takes to produce all that is needed to keep this country great. 5 day school week should only a minimum requirement.
Get rid of all school and lets just give up on our young people.
This is crazy!
1) Yes, employees of jobs like 4 days of working and 3 day weekends. But lets not forget, we're talking about CHILDREN. Not adults.
2) Considering teachers already get the summers off, maybe we should keep their salaries the same and extend the school year by a month to get somewhere close to the education they're getting in Asian countries so that our own children have a chance to go to our Colleges and Universities.
3) To cut afterschool sports is stupid. Obesity has become an epidemic, killing more people through its side effects of heart disease and diabetes every year and we're going to let this generation of kids fall victim to it as well? Not me. Afterschool sports are what keep a lot of kids even attending school.
YES!! please...a four day week would be nice...trust my word i am a student in high school
Schools without sports and other extra curricular activities have students who do not necessarily do their best. Studies have proved kids need those activities. A 4-day week may save plenty, but will it improve education? THAT should be the question! What ever happen to Obama's education reform? Why isn't money going into the school districts instead of needing to find more? As for California, the Governor is out of his league.
It think it would indeed save money, but what about our kids education? are we willing to cut off many hours of learning in exchange for some saving? i believe that there is many other things that can be done instead of this!
Served 10 yrs on Bd of Ed & believe 4 day wk maximizes use of bldgs & staff. Savings are huge!
Jack,
How about using the budget for builidng schools in Iraq and Afghanistan at home? What a wacky country...
In regards to the comment "In this modern era of computors there is no reason that students should have to be bussed to an archaic old building to be taught in an archaic old manner."
I'm not that old, but I think that kids learn best in school as opposed to trying to learn over a computer connection. In the business world, that is why there are still face-to-face meetings and not all WebEx conferences.
Note: eating is still done in an archaic old manner (food in mouth) even thought we could all just get IV's. Which do you think works best?
Jack,
It's hard to think American children should go to school 4 days a week, when we are SO far behind the world in education. So many countries are passing us and it is very annoying that all people can do is want to cut the school week down to save money. We need to invest in our kids future if we expect them to have one!
A 4 day week for students is a great idea. As a stundent in school, I know first hand that this would work. It's a win win situation for all; students and teachers get an extra day off to rest and schools save money by not having to pay to run the school for that day.
Hi Jack,
Cutting the school week to 4 days is the worst idea I have head in years. With America so far behind the rest of the world in education already I don't know how anyone could even consider this option.
I think a 4 day school week with longer hours each day is a horrible idea. I can't believe it is even considered. I am raising 2 grandchildren in the first and second grades, and I work out of my home, so daycare is not an issue for me. But my girls get on the bus before 7:00 a.m and don't get home until almost 4 as it is. My first grader, who is bright and an excellent reader, often cries about going to school because the days are so long and she gets so tired. Whoever came up with this idea is not really concerned about our children at all.
Considering the number of spelling and grammar errors in everyone's comments, maybe the ones who are whining about schools and their attempts to balance the demands of education, budget and community, should go back to school. Next time through the system: Do your homework. Care about learning and stop whining about a school system and teachers that you obviously paid no attention to.
lets face it this government is failing big time. Our children can't learn in four or five or six as long as they have other children who can't or won't learn or can't speak or write in ENGLISH. THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT FAR TO FOLLOW ROME.
I am just shocked at the naivety of "adults" who responded to this article. There are so many comments knocking teachers for being lazy or for being greedy. I started teaching when I was 21 years old (middle school special education). While my peers were out partying, getting drunk, and being irresponsible, I was staying up late lesson planning and finding new way to engage my students and guide them to success. While my peers were moving into their new careers making significantly more money that me, I spent my own personal income on buying supplies for my students when I knew my school wouldn't cover the costs. Yet even as I worked and worked and taught and taught, all the while thinking "I could be making so much more money for half the effort", I also knew that what I was doing was important because I care that my students LEARNED SOMETHING.
The nerve of you adults who do not realize what teaching entails and shoot your mouth off about how greedy and lazy we are! How misinformed so many of you are!
For example:
"In my state, kids go to school 180 days a year, while teacher´s pay is based on a yearly contract… Pay may not make them rich, but it´s still a good deal. So I guess the Teachers won´t object to a 4 day week."
What you may or may not realize is their salary is simply spread across the entire year, rather than just for the months they are working. They are not getting paid to do nothing over the summer: they are getting paid the remainder of the salary they earned during the school year. Don't be ridiculous.
Obviously the problem with our student's achievement isn't just the quality of schools or the quality of teaching in schools: it's the culture of ignorance that our country pathetically breeds.
Teachers don't have enough time to teach all the learning objectives in 5 days.... let alone four!
Why not just 'tweet' the kids to an education. That seems to be the only way to reach Americans these days.
Better yet, remove all of the distractions from the classroom and maybe 4 days will work. If 14 year old girls wouldn't send 30,000 text messages a month then they might learn a thing or two without lengthening the school day.
Why don't we send them to countries in Asia, such as Japan, where they'll spend MUCH more time in the classroom year-round and will graduate with much better educations than our scools provide and be indeed ready for college. Also, we won't have to put up with them during those first 17 or 18 difficult years.
No. Our children are stupid enough as it is.
Four days would be good if school starts at
8 AM and ends at 6 PM. Also, if unions would let
retired teacher come back into the class room as
teacher aide, this would help the students.
Thanks,
The four day week does little harm to the "A" and "B" students. The students who struggle and the special need students take even longer to reach proficiency. To quote a middle school teacher I know–"god for teachers and bad for kids." Mary SD
As a first grade teacher, I say NOOOOOOO to longer days. Instead, I suggest shorter, more productive days. When I was younger, I went to school in Russia for a few years. At the time, school days were about 4-5 hours long, with plenty of breaks. We did NOT waste time during our lessons, and I took physics, chemistry, biology, algebra, drafting, etc. in middle school. I think we can use our school time much better if parents do not depend on school to act as daycare.
As a senior in high school, I can state from experience that the school day is currently too long. Making the day longer to cut costs would not be advantageous; rather, it would be less detrimental to eliminate extracurricular activities. The students can always find activities to do outside of school. Heck, maybe we'll even have more community service being done...
If you're a kid- it's a GREAT idea !
If you're a parent...it's terrible,
and if you're a teacher..it's an extra days pay that you can't afford to loose.
Jack, remember in the 70's and 80's, we were a fit country and our kids had plenty of exercise in school. Then in the 90's they started eliminating PE classes. Now, we have the fattest kids roaming the halls of our schools than ever before. OMG.. I said fat.. who did I just offend.
If anyone thinks that implementing a 4 day school week is the right choice, then surely we will fall faster behind in education as a nation. Our kids can't learn the basics now..so there surely won't be any improvement. Iraq Funding – 1, US Education – 0
Broward County in South Florida decided last week NOT to go to a four day week.
Half of all schools are below average. Half of all reporting is below average. Half of everything is below average.
Jack, Will from San Jose says that " Removing a school day creates a massive child care cost burden on families that can least afford it". This is part of our educational problem. To many parents see our schools as a "Baby Sitting Service" for them so they can go out to work. We must learn and come to terms with the fact that this is not the purpose of our educational system. The increase cost is sad but schools are for educating our youth and not a Baby Sitting service.
The 4 day School week only makes sense if we have 4 day Work weeks, else we can't afford it!
Absolutely not should the school week be shortened. This is the whole problem with our mindset with education. I agree that we should be making more cost-effective solutions to problems in education, but this shows that we are willing to foster a program which puts schools ahead of students. This is not the message we should be sending students. As a recent graduate of a public education system, I know I would have loved a shorter week, but this was a short-term outlook. The shortening of a school week to four days for deficit reduction only continues this short-term vision of governments and school districts. The only way we will truly improve education in America is to have a long-term perspective. This is a foolish and irresponsible suggestion.
I think this is a terrible idea, especially if the day is extended. I had a hard enough time making it through the school day without being hungry, tired, bored, etc – I can't imagine what another hour would do to kids, especially one's that don't want to be there in the first place. That extra hour probably wouldn't be that productive, as the attention of the students will have decreased significantly. And what are the parents supposed to do with the kids on another day off? I was always bored on the weekends, and my parents had to deal with me lying around watching TV all day because there was nothing else for me to do.
I believe that it could be both a good and bad idea. It would be good becuase it would cut cost on fuel for busing. But it would be bad because students of schools will most likely forget what they learned so there's a day of review and one less day each week of learning. And you said that schools are thinking about cutting sports? not a good idea, kids need to be active
um, YES! and make them go year-round for GOD'S sake!
I think a 4 day school week is fine. The fifth day could be optional and paid for by parents. I know this would be something that would affect poorer households, but something like a school lunch program could be setup to lower cost for them.
That fifth day could be used for learning in other areas besides the typical math, reading , etc. It could be used for advanced science, music etc. I think a balance learning is more effective and this fifth day could be just for that.
Just a thought...
I don't agree with any sort of cuts in education. We are definitely headed for a mess if our kids become ignorant. I mean some of us are already pretty damn ignorant. I would rather cut the space program some. Why are we spending Billions to study a rock on Neptune. It's ridiculous. I'm not against science but there are so many things we don't know about Earth. Spend the research on Earth.
I dont think thats a good idea. They should keep a 5 day school week, its better than 4 days.
Sounds like a good idea.
The amount of time a day and the number of days a week are not the issue.
If we have still dumbed down our education process, they will still learn little.
So have we figured out yet we need to hold kids back and not cater to the lowest performer in class yet?
Great idea for the kids, but bad idea for the parents.
Jack – My fear is that state governments could be a little short sighted if they focus on cutting spending on education. Do we not already find our students struggling to keep up with students from other countries? Children need quality education and even though I no longer have children in school I am willing to pay more in tax dollars that will go for high quality education for our children in our Public School Systems. Thank you, Gibson, from Athens, GA,
A for day skool day is juz fine. Sea wat it did fur me! We don't need no education is correct if you use the double negative!
A four day week is not a good idea – maintaining the focus on education and developing a strong foundations in the basics is essential – reading, writing and math are essential. We are asking our schools today to take on too many other aspects of life –
Tommy-Louisiana
This is a terriable idea, especially for the schools in urban areas. Education should be moved up in America's priorities. We have the Bush Administration to thank for the massive debt we have incurred due to the unnecessary war in Iraq. That blonder will hunt us for many years to come.
Perhaps going to a shorter work week would force teachers into making better use of the time they have with their students. There is nothing that makes me more angry that to hear educators say they want to extend the school year. Teach my child while you have him/her and you will have more than enough time to get the job done. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of time during the day when children have absolutely nothing to do.
Many kids already have a 4 day week. As a teacher I am astonished at the number of kids who are off to go to movies, vacations, (outside of regular school vacas) and just stay home with mom days. In addition, children do not do their homework–their parents do, and they don't even have the kids copy it into their own handwriting. My principal won't let me adjust the student's grades or keep them in from recess to complete work as parents complain.
Yet people blame me when kids do not learn.
I provide scientific outreach in a school one day a week, and I can honestly say based on my observations, cutting the school week is a bad idea. Last week I did a day long student observation, where I realized 8th graders get all of 2 min between classes, and a 30 min lunch. My brain was sore at the end of the day and I knew the material being covered. I can't imagine how hard it is to sit still without a break for a 6 hr day, let alone an even longer day.
No. What we need is higher quality education for our dollar. We need teachers that know how to take classroom knowledge and put it in real world context so that they can capture student's interest. We need better science education in our classrooms so kids are prepared for the new economy. And we need lawmakers to take pay cuts the same way everyone else is.
Jack,
If the schools go to a four day schedule how about having that fifth day be for community service? We would still need some teacher as supervisors but the day would be structured differently.
High school students could put in their hours as "student tutors." They would work with the younger children on that fifth day, the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else.
Younger students could participate in the 'tutoring" programs" and also do community service under the "student tutors."
The high school students would have a full day of "school" and so would the younger kids.
You teach from the top down. High school students work with younger students and they all participate in the education process.
Or, of course, we could go to a four day school week and let the little darlings play video games, run unsupervised and get pregnant. That is a lot cheaper.
Tyler Texas
I received my education in England. We started school at 8.00 am and finished at 4.00pm every day with a 30 minute break for lunch and 2 ten minute recesses with just 6 weeks vacation every year. Tthis school schedule prepared me for the real world. It's time to stop mody coddling our kids and get them used to hard work early in life. 4 days per week sounds ok if the work day is at least 8 hours.
NO. Being one of the kids who did well in High School up till 10th grade.. Having the days cut from 5 to 4 would only make things worse. If people are anything like i was in High School, they'll only take the 5th day they have off every day as something else to do whatever they felt like it.
With the lack of parental advisors, parents to watch what your doing, yea.... This will only lead to more problems than it would fix. If they actually found a way (Not cutting sports..) to FIX the fallen down old schools that barely have the budget to repair the facilities, it doesn't work to well. Cutting school days to save money isn't going to fix the fallen down schools and increase maintenance that should be run on the many schools. With some schools having LEAD in their water that you need to run the water fountain for about 2 mintues or so BEFORE you can drink it (I went to one of those schools) says that there needs to be some serious maintenance on our schools and I know their has to be at least more schools like this out their a crossed the U.S.
I thought we were trying to compete with other countries in education and slow down unemployment in our country then how is the idea of four day school going to help?
Test scores may fall if we go to a four-day school week, but I can tell you two metrics that will rise: the crime and teenage pregnancy rates. Who's going to watch these kids while their parents are working that fifth day? They behave badly enough in the schools with "supervision." Mark my words, this will be an unmitigated disaster, pure and simple.
The answer is a question...how do our children measure against other nations ? That answer tells it all!
Pa requires 180 days of school. From what I have seen of our youth we not only need to not consider 4 days but add additional hours to the students and teachers who are struggling. I see far to much loafing and non-physical game play (video games). I also think that the summer break should be eliminated or at least cut back. We all need to go back to the days when our kids were more important and make choices based on there needs to develop.
Sure Jack – if we want to rob from tomorrow that is.
The international reputation of the American school system is already in the gutter and unless one can afford Ivy-league schools, most US college educations are not even recognized in most developed countries.
I think it is time we start thinking about the long term instead of focusing on quick fixes which set the US even further back on the international scene.
Sure, why not cut a whole day out of our kids education – this way they'll get exactly what they need to grow up to be politicians. Cut it down even more and who knows, maybe they can be just like the former president...
First NCLB, then the proposal of school vouchers, and now a four-day school week? The government is trying hard to undermine or perhaps eliminate public education altogether, eventually leaving us an educational system comprised of nothing but charter, parochial, and private schools. As usual, it will be the poor that will suffer most, too undereducated and critically unaware to protest the situation.
This is ridiculous. Are we also going to cut their parents' work week by one day? Or are people whose budgets are already stretched to their limits going to be expected to shell out still more for child care? I know this is an unpopular point of view, but I'm tired of hearing teachers complain about how hard they work and how little they get paid. If I only worked 8 1/2 months out of the year, with two weeks off at Christmas, a week (at least) off at Easter, and countless holidays and half days throughout the eight months I did work, I wouldn't make what I make either. Frankly, the quality of some of the teachers I've seen is so poor, they should be fired outright.
I think a 4-day work week would be fine, but only for those in middle school and high school. Elementary students need that structure and the education in their early years. Also, middle schoolers and high schoolers don't necessarily require as much parental supervision. They can pursue their own education through online research. If the government wants to do anything to alleviate the issue, they could try to give businesses incentives to give internships to middle schoolers and high schoolers. I started working at my family's store when I was 13, and while school gives you an education, it severely lacks in giving practical work skills. Maybe this recession can help in offering more to our children if we teach them the benefits of steady work. It'll also keep them out of trouble.
As a student I think it's a great idea. We all ready get at least 7 extra hours of homework a week, plus projects. Might as well give us the extra day so we can get some of that work done without cuting into our already limited free time. Besides, college students tend to have school just four days a week and yet manage to learn more than high school students who go to school for five days.
Until we take our school back over from the student who do not want to learn our education system will keep going down hill. This no kid left behind has come to mean that we spend all of our time trying to make something of little Johnny or Mary into something they do not care anything about being. Johnny is going to be the next high paid basketball player and Mary is going to marry Johnny or become an entertainer.
You talk about Japan and their education system. If you look at what they are doing you will find that the student wants to be there; not has to be there. That makes a big difference. China does not have a program were no Yang is left behind; if Yang is in school he knows that he is lucky to be there.
In Germany they have programs where student do internships at companies and learn what it means to work in that business. We need to get away from everybody needs to go to college; its OK to be a carpenter, mechanic, or baker.
A seven day school week will not do the trick any better than a four day school week until we have control of our schools; they are not daycare centers. Now this does not mean that a student who puts in the time and effort should be able to go to college no matter what their economiical back ground is.
The idea that this is some way for teachers to get money without working for it is wrong. If it is such an easy job than tell me why new teacher only last on average less than 5 years? Are there bad teachers, sure, but there are bad employees in all business.
I am not a teacher, but my wife is and I will tell you that any business that could get her to work for them would find an outstanding employee; who does much , much more without being asked.
No, a four day school week is not the answer. Schools should operate 50 weeks per year with a 2 week vacation. Our system was set up when 90% of the population lived on farms and the kids were needed during the summer in the fields. Most teachers are paid on an annual basis anyway. With the 50 week system the kids could get an extra two years of education and they need it!
Steve
Apollo Beach, FL
Jack,
Education may take up a big portion of state budgets but where does it rank in the Federal budget? My guess is somewhere down the totem pole of priorities, maybe next to insignificant things like science and infastructure spending. If we hope to hold onto our global empire much longer into this century then education needs to move up a few rungs, even if we have to cut some out of our number one national expense, the military. Instead of cutting a day out of the school week maybe we should just withdraw our troops out of a few dozen countries or build one or two less ballistic missiles. No worries though, Obama won't let this happen...
A 4 day school week is a great idea. All of those young impressionable minds can learn a lot by watching you and wolf on the situation room on their off school day.
No, it is a terrible idea. If anything we should add a day to the week. The
educational principle of massed vs. distributed practice dictates shorter,
more frequent sessions are better for efficient, effective learning.
A four day school week will just further ruin our nation's children who will grow up and propose even more stupid legislation in the future. Let's make an investment now and improve our education system. It will cost a lot, but it will come back plus a bonus when our nation's businesses are actually run by intelligent, competent individuals. It's an investment!
Jack,
Switching to four school- day is worth it as long as we don't cry and complain why Asian students outsmart American kids in math and sciences. Here in South Korea, they attend schools six days out of the week. Nothing comes for nothing, Jack.
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
Hi Jack, I enjoy watching you on CNN. I think the 4 day school system would be great. My mother and sibling only went the school on partial days because they had to work. They learned a great deal at school because the teachers taught the "the three r's, reading, writing, and math. They were taught these subjects well.
The children these days are taught everything and still do not know enough.
I believe it is not how long the school day is; it is what is being taught while they are there.
Thanks,
Diann S
Flagstaff, AZ
hi Jack,
these kids already lack basic knowledge, how will they get into unuversity.
just watch Jay Leno and the Jay walk.
More children than you want to think about depend on the meal programs for food. For some it is the only food they eat that day. Fewer school days may mean fewer meals for some kids.
Jack, let's just hire Vulcans as teachers. A 5 minute mind meld will transfer all knowledge to the students for a minimal cost. Of course afterwards all the Vulcans will want to do is hang out at the mall.
Jack,
I live in an urban-school district and cutting the school week to four days would only allow for more mischief to occur since many low-income parents would resort to older siblings watching the young children. Basically it would lead to more tv babysitting and many kids being left to fend for themselves as their parents continue to work the full week.
Want to cut costs??? Why don't our school districts stop paying the test-preparing business millions of dollars to prepare our students on how to pass their standardized test measures.
Then we can get back to allowing teachers to teach real subjects again!
Newport News, VA
Jack,
A 4 day school week is a great idea, as long as we wanted uneducated children.
dumb idea. As a single parent who works Mon-Fri, that then forces me to find daycare on the fifth day.
We can all wring our hands about the current problems in the school systems and nothing will change except your taxes will go up and the education your children receive will not improve one iota.
If you want to see real change and save money you have to develop a monetary incentive for the teachers; and no I don't mean bonuses for having Billy and Susie learn to read and write.
I propose making all teachers independent contractors. Minnesota currently spends approximately $10,000/ public school student. If I told a teacher they could have 25-30 kids in their class and they could charge $5,000/ student but they had to provide all teaching materials I would expect every teacher to sign up. Now the parent has to cough up the $5,000, but the state can allow that as a tax deduction. Further it allows parents to search for the "best educational value". Now parents and teachers wold be focused on pure education. Everything else would be an extra that the parent would pay for out of pocket. The school districta could rent out classrooms but they would no longer be floating bond referndums to build huge new buildings for limited use.
i believe it is a good idea because it will allow more focus in the schools. as long as schools do it right and not just remove the day.
A four day work week is a great idea for a number of reasons. First off, it would save districts about 20% of their transportation costs, 20% of free lunch expense, 20% of their utility bills, etc. Secondly, it would save staff and parents on fuel expenses, since we would have to drive one less day a week. The argument that parents would have to find alternative day care plans for that one day is meaningless. That's what parents are suppose to do. They take care of their children. It is not the school districts responsibility to take care of your child. It is our responsibility to teach them while they are here. That is one of the main reasons our children do so badly in school. Parents do not want to accept responsibility. They want others to do it.
Jack,
This is insane. Our children are the pillars supporting society.
We should be dumping all the money we can into education. It is the most predictable investment we could make.
No. Administrators themselves doubt that it would help the budget since you have to make up for the lost day anyway. Children would have a much longer day than normal, interrupting sleep patters with the already in place after school activities and homework. After a three day weekend, wouldn't kids return to school more sluggish? They'd be getting too used to relaxing more often. Also, the biggest problem I see, parents would have to be forced to hire a babysitter or bring them to daycare center for that extra day off. The cons of this outweighs the pros.
Jack,
but seriously, I am for a 5 day school day and we need to increase time spent for group and individual physical activity, a time to rest and other school activities in the arts, environment, nature, nutrition during the day since a healthy mind in a healthy body can actual learn a lot more in a day!
Schooling should be five days a week, all year long...period.
The value of what an education is and what an education should be provided for HAS to start at home. Simply stating that one places an important value in education isn't enough; reflecting what you believe through action is a entirely different level of operating a family...and a community. Schools are not a babysitting service and should not be treated with the animosity of entitlement to 'this' or 'that' kind for its function.
Terry from Hanover County hits the nail on the head of where priorities lie, especially in larger and wealthier school districts.
School hours need to be extended and they should be 6 days long. Have you seen the grammar abilities of people today? It drives me crazy when people use "their" when they are trying to say "they are". Everyone takes short cuts and even our current school disctricts grade on a curve. What we need to do is start giving them the grade they actually got instead of trying to make our school grades "look better in the public eye". If you want to control your childs education, then take matters in your own hands and teach them yourselves.
Why would/should we even consider this? Our schools/schoolchildren are a nightmare as it is. We witness it everyday with people who cannot conjugate a verb or do simple math. Bad, Bad idea. I think school should be year round. Every few months the children get a break. It's good for them and the teachers. Alleviate the boredum of a too long summer for everyone (I think only the teachers like the too long summer). As the mightiest, industrialized nation on earth, we should be at the head of the pack when it comes to schooling, but we are not. Shame, Shame. Very bad idea!!!!!
Since this is so important to our nation and our children permit me to add to my previous comment.
Can we explore using a Saturday or Sunday morning once a month where a few parents join the class to observe and contribute? Parents would sign up and be required to attend a certain number of these sessions each semester. The concept is to mix things up a bit and perhaps we will discover how best to fix our broken system.
It is a terrible idea, especially for children with autism who depend upon a structured day. The two-day weekends are bad enough for them.
Longer days would be disastrous for these kids attention spans, especially the younger ones or the ones with ADHD issues. Perhaps this could work for high school students? but then they'd be on the streets. The drop-out rates are nasty high to begin with, I can't imagine this helping.
As a disclaimer, I live and teach in Texas where "extra" curriculars are king. There are Fridays where I could shoot of a canon and hit no one since students are out for tennis, golf, band competitions, choir competitions, track, softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, drama, speech tournaments... You get the picture. I have often longed for a four day week and on the fifth day ALL "extras" would be done to negate any lost academic time. Why aren't these things done on the weekends? Ever try to book a golf or tennis tourny at the local course or public courts? In addition, "travel time" makes leaving early a requirement even for games or meets starting after the school day ends. Give me solid, uniterrupted teaching minutes, be that over a four or five day period and I will be a happy teacher.
I am a parent of two. I believe if going to a four day school week will stop lay offs in the school system then by all means yes. I would have to find daycare for that extra day but it is a much better alternative than teachers losing there jobs and other employees in the school system. Also they have cut almost every program for my children's school nothing is left to take away that will not hurt there education.
Absolutely not. If anything the school year needs to be increased to 240 days. Part of the reason students from Asian countries excel is that they attend school 240 days a year compared with out 180. By the time they graduate this amounts to 2 additional years of education. Of course, another reason they excel is the importance attributed to education by their culture.
This is the complete opposite of what this country needs. Our children should be in school year-round, in my opinion. The drop-out rate of some cities is both embarrassing and dangerous. Get those drop-outs to stay in school, make something out of themselves, stay off of welfare and out of prison, and you'd get the taxpayers' dollars back tenfold!
If American students want to become competitive sometime in the near future then a 4 day school week won't do. I came to america for my bachelors degree in 99 and remember thinking what a joke college was. Meanwhile my american classmates were struggling with C's and D's and choosing soft majors like history and art. No...I think more school hours not less.
Have we not short-changed our children enough? In a country and with a government willing to lend billions to rich companies 'too big to fail', cannot we all agree that our children are 'too vital to fail'? 5 days are not enough for the current inefficiency of most of our public schools (speaking from personal experience as a U.S. public school alumnus and sister of a public school teacher). A 4-day school week would just beg to leave most of our inner school kids behind! Shame on us if choose not to 'bail out' our children’s education.
Jack, 4 days of school for our childrens is just a quick way to save money in a country that needs educated leaders in our future to prevent this from happening again, I wonder if instead of cutting education we can save money by cutting one day of work and salary for the congress.... (after all they dont due much)
Jack:
At a time when in this country and throughout the world when future success is based so much on what is done today – when how well the next generation of workers is prepared for emerging technologies, jobs of the future, and the economy of tomorrow, will effect our effectiveness for generations to come – how could a shorter school day ensure anything for these children but failure?
Any and everything should be done to make sure that the school children of today are prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow – not just for their own sake, but for our own. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.
Jack,
Considering the fact that many of America's youth struggle just to do basic math or speak proper English it seems like a better idea to extend the school week. If we teach this generation right they may be able to repair the damage our current government has done to this country.
I agree after a point, continuing education for some is a waste of time. I propose:
1. School beyond 8th grade should be tested and qualified for. All others attend a school of technology of some sort along with basic life skills and that's it.
2. School beyond 12th grade should also be tested and qualified for. Cut out high school and public college extra-curricular activities, i.e. sports, dancing, photography, basket weaving, and stick with college prep courses and college graduation courses. Make it easier to get kicked out than stay in and only the deserving few will make it, as it should be.
3. Cut back to 4-day school weeks, but load up on the homework to fill in the empty 3 days. Schedule regularly-spaced and shorter vacation breaks for high school and college.
4. Keep teacher salaries the same, but give bonuses to those teachers who make themselves available for tutoring or extra help on their own time. Make it voluntary, but make it worth the teacher's time.
I see half of the people posting on these message boards not even using the correct spelling/meaning for the words they are trying to convey. That's sad. We need MORE schooling, not less. Honestly, teachers are already being paid hardly anything for the work they do, and often times, they are working more than 40 hours a week to adequately do their job. They have papers to grade, lesson plans to prepare, and students to mentor. Shame on the people coming on here saying that teachers are being lazy. They are babysitters, psychologists, mentors, and punching bags for YOUR children. And all you can do is come on here and moan? Sure, cutting the school week from five days to four days would save "money" but at what cost? Until education is made an "actual" priority, rather than a topic the government pays lip service to, the United State's general populace education level will continue to dwindle and become even more inferior to global standards.
I am tired of polticians preaching the importance of education during election cycles, yet education seems to be the first option when considering budget cuts. Education is invaluable, and should be approached as an investment in our nation's future. Limiting the school week would place an unfair burden on parents and send teenagers into the street. I wonder where that will lead?
One's attention span drops as the day gets "too long". So longer school days will hurt education. 4 days with today's day length would reduce education by 20%. We probably should add an hour to the school day and keep 5 days! Is the objective to save money or to educate children. Now you could track children like they do in Europe (at age 10 or so children taking standard tests are put on one of 3 tracks). It probably would make sense to shorten the education of the lowest track and increase the ed time of the highest track. We must challenge our bright children. The academically challenged should just be thoroughly prepared for basic life: simple math, reading and writing, physical labor. It works in Europe, maybe with some flaws, but better than the US system that drags down the smartest students to the level of the dumbest.
Let the kids have a 10 hour, 4 day week and then pass a law to make it a 4 day work week for parents (with 10 hour days of course). I would not mind at all.
I am a retired educator. I do not support 4-day school weeks with longer days nor regular-length, 4-day school days with extended days as money savers. No matter how you slice this pie, it would still result in the same amount of money to run the schools. I favor slicing the budget from the top down. I believe in hard economic times (or any time for that matter), that teachers and students in the classroom could press on without graduation coaches. lead teachers who do not teach students, myriad counselors, coaches, assistant principals, staff development coordinators with advanced degrees, assistant superintendents of you name it, consultants, public relation officers, etc.
Less educational days is a bad idea. Less unfunded federal mandates are a god idea. A review of federal mandates without funding diminishes the focus and intensity of intruction schools can provide. Targeted educational programs are diluted with unfunded federal mandates. Just review the best educational systems in the world and you will find more quality instruction and more school days provided to students. Thats a fact Jack. Love your level headed approach. Harry in Poetland
First I would like to reply to a few previous comments. This system would not be a cut in the hours teachers work, and would be more of a workload as they would have to prepare for longer class periods.
The 4 hours week would be fine for saving money. It would be harder on the students and teachers, but they could adjust. We already spend more money on education than other countries, and these additional funds are not going to make a difference in our poor student output.
The problem with our education system is not the education system. The average child is not in any way prepared, disciplined or educated at home. Because of this, teachers must spend more and more of the day trying to control kids who come to class unprepared, have no incentive to behave or achieve. They only look forward to going home to play, and with no fear of parental involvement hope to get suspended, because they will have that much more time at home. Therefore, these bad-apples, which are not uncommon, disrupt class for the more average students who expect to learn everything in a 7 hour day with no a home involvement in an uncontrollable environment. Finally the few good students, almost always those with involved parents, are forced to move at a snail's pace so that the other 90% of the class won't fail.
Absolutely Not! School is about teaching and learning and therefore requires two things - teachers AND students. When you take them away from each other then the opportunity for learning diminishes. Thats what happened to music and art when they took them away and now it is just left to the teachers. So, they want to take more teachers away. HAH!!! Larger classes produce slower times to learn and take away a day and then you lose the flow. It will be like having a vacation every week. The students don't even have a chance. I am standing up for the integrity of the students and saying NO MORE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! PLEASE TEACH US SO WE CAN COMPETE IN A GLOBAL WORLD.
Increasing the school day is a bad alternative. The kids are tired out at the end of the day and thier focus does fall off after they have lunch. Perhaps if the schools served a Healthy lunch rather than the junk they presently serve and do away with the vending machine which carry addional junk food ,the 4 day week may work. The kids would have new energy with the proper diet. Another alternative – cut out some of the programs that are not directly related to educating our children.
Jack, what angers me is that our lottery in Florida is worth billions – 20 years ago, someone sold us on the idea that this lottery would be the answer to our school budget problems. We have yet to see the good it's done.
Longer days would just add stress to the classroom for teachers and students, it's hard enough keeping kids focused to learn......like you Jack, I was never any good after lunch either. Now I take a lunch nap to refresh my mind for the afternoon.
Before we start cutting hours and days from school to save on the budget maybe we should cut bilingual education and the education of illegal aliens. Our students are already so behind the rest of the world because teachers are expected to dumb down their classes so that kids who don't speak english are given extra help. We need to get back to basics and educate the kids properly or we are going to see a third world nation developing. We need to make education a priority again and that starts with good teachers and skills that will increase our students ability in the world.
No. K-12 education should not be reduced to a four day school week. School systems focus so much on sports programs and test scores that students are not getting the true education they need. Even at the higher educational level, the emphasis is on sports – not academics. Sports is big business and brings in tons of money but the sports programs do not their share funds with the academics programs. The purpose of education is education, not sports. More after school programs focusing on tutoring and study skills are needed – not more sports programs. Longer school days and a longer school year would benefit students more than a reduction of the school week. It would be better to cut sports programs than lay off teachers, cut back educational and instructional time and resources, and further erode the education that students are getting.
Many european countries that have much better school result than the US have four days weeks for children... Or Sometimes 4 1/2 days.... It is not how long the children stay in school that is important but what they do during that time.. And most important of all how the parents educate their children. As a teacher, I can see that often it is what happened at home that determine if a student learn well or not and adding or subtracting school time will never change anything to that.
If anything, the school week should be increased to six days. The answer to America's economic problems is to properly educate our next generation. The long term consequences of cutting education funding vastly outweigh any short term budgetary gains.
The states might save in education costs in the short-term but will pay out more in teenage pregnancy, crime, and decreases in tax dollars. Parents will have to miss work or pay out more in child care and children will grow up less educated and get jobs that are within their education levels which pay less. Why do we always cut school budgets first and politician's pet projects last? I think the people in the US should be outraged over this selling out of our children and the future of our country and should stand up to say so.
save us further embarrasmet; after the republicans have ruined us by the senseless war in Iraq that cost us a whooping $10b a month.Our future should not be made to pay for the arrongance and shortsightedness of the republicans by long and difficult hours and shallow learnig sessions by shortening the number of school days.
Best job preparation ever...a four day week! If educating our young people is the most important thing for our country and our country's future, if we continue to be behind other industrial nations in math and reading, how does a four day week help that. We should move to a five and a half day week, and 200 day school year, and pay the price for a quality education.
Whether it's a 4-day week or not, we need to get rid of/shorten the summer vacation. That's where the real learning is lost.
"Bad idea. when I was a kid you went to school. Now , I notice they are always off .No wonder kids don’t learn . Their never in school"
I guess you were never in school either. Can't even use the right they're.
Jack
Not a good idea. We need longer school time, and if the kid quits he is to be inducted into a military school , or if old enough into the military. I also think Kids need to have experience with dealing with the public.
Maybe for the older kids, but definitely not for the elementary students. We already have these 6 yr olds sitting in a classroom for 7 hours a day with no recess. These kids don't learn a thing like that. Try sitting a 6 yr old down and forcing him to learn and take tests for an even longer time. Sure it'll save some money, but when these kids are unable to pass these tests they're forced to take because their brains are fried from 9-10 hour school days and have to redo the same grade...are we really saving that much money?
And the teachers aren't making much of a salary either. Cutting back on their salaries will only increase the hardships that our education system already faces
Jack....Shortening the school week and extending the school day is not a good idea. The human brain cannot effectively absorb the information presented over a 9 or 10 hour day. It also allows less time for study. Extending the school week/year with shorter days permits more retention of what is presented.....Jones Stanley
We have the highest education spending in history, how much more money do people want to throw at the problem? There's a lack of discipline in many schools, teaching for testing purposes, not for learning, parents backing their kids no matter what they've done wrong instead of siding with the child's teacher, overpaid administrators and too powerful teachers' unions. They want everything under the sun and don't want to give a dime, unlike how it is in the private sector.
My mother's a teacher, my father works in the private sector and she's the first to tell you teachers are a whiny bunch who don't know how good they have it, which I find odd because you'd think many of the teachers' husbands work in the private sector where their health insurance costs go up on almost a yearly basis, yet their pay stays the same.
And to the people who think teachers don't work that much, that they teach, go home at 3 and do nothing, my mom spends half her Sunday doing lesson plans, plus some weeknights are spent grading papers. Yes, they have summers off, but most teachers aren't making the equivalent of a private sector salary, even when adjusted for summer break.
Getting back to Mr. Cafferty's article, a 4 day week will never fly. In most homes both parents work out of necessity, child care would be a nightmare. If it was 50 years ago when many women stayed home it may have been easier to implement. Of course, 50 years ago we didn't have the education problems we do today.
It's horrible idea. John Hopkins University sociologist and professor Karl Alexander did studies showing, The rich/poor education gap widens over the summer when there is no school, not because there's too much school. Additionally, US kids go to school 180 days. South Koreans go 220 days, while Japanese kids go 243 days. Want to know why poor kids fall by behind rich kids and U.S. students are falling behind foreign kids? It's the harsh reality that we don't go to enough school. We need many more days not less.
Bob from Iowa
Absolutely not. If anything the school year needs to be increased to 240 days. Part of the reason students from Asian countries excel is that they attend school 240 days a year compared with out 180. By the time they graduate this amounts to 2 additional years of education. Of course, another reason they excel is the importance attributed to education by their culture.
Stimulus money for education should be used to increase the lenght of the school year. There is NO reason to ever minimize the importance of education.
I'm a teacher and feel that a longer day will only add to more mediocre student achievement. We should strive to have in place our resources and best practices in all of our schools. We should not compromise our educational system.
What's the next step? If budgets get even more tighter then it's a three day week? This illustrates the stupid funding of education in the USA. Already our kids are way behind in this from the countries in Western Europe and China. It's obvious by his time that our kids need more time in school not less. Never mind those extended hours. Wearines sets in rapidly. Education in our USA needs to be thought through far more seriously and thoroughly to resume leadership at the global level. Typically it's on the cheap for us. We have to realize once and for all that education is an expensive proposition and must be funded accordingly at all levels to achieve national goals or else.
Research has shown over and over that the one single factor that impacts student learning is the number of students in a classroom. So, states cut the number of teachers which INCREASE the number of students in the classroom.
When will the citizens of this country quit acquiescing to the "dumbing of America" and realize that education is the key to maintaining our role as a world leader? And that a "good education" requires the correct tools – for ALL students. Remember, China and India's top 10 percent is larger than ALL our students combined.
As a teacher with 25+ years of experience, I'm really glad I can retire in 6 years.
And to the comment that kids only go to school for 180 days and teachers are paid for a year - teachers in the US are contract employees. We get no paid vacation, no paid holidays. My "contract salary" for 184 days is simply divided by 26 so I get a pay check all year round. This little device prevents teachers from collecting unemployment for the weeks school is not in session. Since we are contract employees, states are not required to ante-up for paid holidays and vacation time. In most states, the retirement conditions for teachers (considered state employees sometimes) is different than for state employees. As a teacher my age + my years of teaching must exceed 75 before I can retire at 66% of my salary. If I were a regular state employee, I could retire at full salary with 25 years of experience regardless of age. Even our military can receive full retirement plus benefits after 20 years.
And we wonder why fewer and fewer are entering the teaching field. In 6 years, America can lose up to 50% of the current classroom teachers to retirement. Check out the numbers of college teaching majors!
It should scare you!! It does me.
We have a district in Limon, Colorado that is on a four day week that claims it has improved morale, test scores, etc. I don't see how parents who are working can have a kid out of school one day a week though. I suggest we all get a four day work week and I bet most of us would rather have the time than the money.
This brings into question why America still, and continues to think it is the 'greatest' country on the earth. Crumbling cities, poverty, crime, the highest jail population in the world, racism, katrina debacle, illegal immigration coming out of its seams...shall i go on? yet, all foreigners hear about how great this country is. Yes, you have a the ultimate free capital system, but that is the only thing America is about- money. And the poor population is ever so naive in falling for the propaganda by the elite few in both parties. America lacks a stable social system, and have the nerve to call fellow democratic countries who arent as rich yet support their population, as 'socialists'. Now, go to a four day week where the rest of the world goes six, and who's children actually study. Import the best- that is what America does, they are not homegrown.
Four days will only work if unnecessary electives and athletics are cut. Students could learn a lot on a 4 day schedule if they were not distracted by extraneous activities.
It would cause problems for parents who work 5 days a week but I am afraid I do not feel all that much sympathy. Parents should not think of school as daycare anyway. They should always have accommodations available for their children. That is parental responsibility.
Teacher pay should not be cut. If you switch to a 4 day week then teachers will still be working the same number of hours per week as before. I know some people object to teachers getting paid for a 190 day contract but if they knew just how much work teachers do during the school year I doubt they would object so loudly. We get paid much less than most other professions requiring comparable education levels and training.
Jack,
Not sure if you are being an alarmist or a realist. Children, just as adults, have a limited ability to stay intellectually engaged for more than six hours a day. Unless we extend gym class for 2 hours I can't see how we could hold the attention of the kids as the afternoon turns to late afternoon. Tell me the rural counties contemplating this four day schedule and I'll send them some money.
with or children behind the rest of the world how can we consider reducing their school time. we should increase it if anything. maybe we shoulder consider consolidating administrative positions and applying some the savings to provide better education through teachers and inprover facilities.
Jack:
At a time in this country and throughout the world when future success is based so much on what is done today – when how well the next generation of workers is prepared for emerging technologies, jobs of the future, and the economy of tomorrow, will impact our effectiveness for generations to come – how could a shorter school day ensure anything for these children but failure?
Any and everything should be done to make sure that the school children of today are prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow – not just for their sake, but for our own. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.
This very topic was brought up in my developmental psychology class this morning. In my opinion, a longer day wouldn’t be too difficult for a middle school or high school student to handle. However, a longer day in our current educational system would be detrimental to younger children UNLESS we change the educational structure to follow Piaget’s child development models. It’s high time that we had an education shakedown in this country, the 1950’s “factory” model is outdated.
Lucas Wuebben
Perham, MN
As a former educator, I would not recommend a four day week. Not only because of the children but also the teachers. When I was teaching we had "Block Scheduling" -90 minutes of class in each subject. After the first half of the class the students were restless and teachers had to become very creative. The real problem in education is that the teacher no longer has authority to control the classroom, ie the students. That has been taken away from the teacher and the administration. The students and parents control the learning environment. MISTAKE! Take the classroom back to what it was in the late 60's or early 70's and students would learn. Teachers no longer teach because they are not in control.
I can't believe anyone is even considering this. The US's public school system is a joke compared to those of other developed countries. That is why immigrant children from developed countries out perform local children, and that is why international students do better than domestic ones in college.
I think it is a great idea to cut school funds. Just think about it. If we cut out the funds and put it to better use like roads or city improvements; we could have nicer cities and dumber kids. What could be better than cutting school funding of the future Present of the US, or teacher that will be teaching our grandkids.
We have all seen the current results from lowering funding for education, shorting school days and cutting out teachers. Are we already so dumb that we can't see this is affecting our children’s future? Our country’s future? I am not sure about the rest of the U.S., but I know I do not want my child being shorted on his education just because of a recession. If we do that now how will they be prepared to handle the next one? I believe we should invest in our future and spend the money on our kids. If we don't who will?
Just for a note the first paragraph was partly sarcasm.
3 days a week with 2 days online classes or online follow up days in between. People will have to work with neighbors and friends.
The problem we face is that many of you are thinking about QUANTITY and not the QUALITY. No matter how long you place a child in front of a teacher if you don't fix the real problems of quality and parents becoming more involved and active in their childs education and not leaving everything up to Government's Education system. However, since most parents work for companies who could care less about anything but their profit they won't be able to dedicate much time. Because of this reality we need things to change in our society in a more fundamental and comprehensive way.
Not a bad idea, but I would add at least 30 minutes of the time and cut summer to about 6 weeks off. An extra 30 minutes will allow the time to get to things like Science and HIstroy. Maybe PE can get thrown in there as well.
1st require parents to start talking to their kids and reading to their kids before they come to Kindergarten in ENGLISH. Then we might have something.
Students need more learning, not less. Longer days are not the answer. But, a longer school year is a good idea. Summer vacation is a total waste of time. Give students three weeks off (plenty) and extend the school year from 180 days to 220-240 (like Germany and Japan). Pay teachers double what they now make and you'll see better people getting into the teaching profession and students who will learn much more than they are currently.
Jack, I cannot keep students' on task for three quarters of a day, much less one and a quarter day. Four-day weeks are good for adults and "bean-counters".
Why is it that when there is a "budget crisis" , legislators always look to "low hanging fruit" (i.e., education) to protect their jobs?
The school day is 7 hrs – so you spread out the 7 hrs over the remaining four – we get out at 2:40 PM so there's plenty of time to add the odd bit of extra time.
BTW, Florida is not near the bottom in terms of education. They are soldily in the middle of the pack. They ARE at the bottom in terms of teacher pay. Unfortunately there was a "property tax revolt" that cut the tax base by expanding exemptions. Combined with the recession, this is promising to be a disaster since Florida is already doing a lot with a little budget.
The special education funding from lottery and gambling is illusory since there are 67 districts and the money contributed to education is only enough to run part of one of the larger districts.
The focus must be on quality, quantity being subservient to it. As well, cutting back on sports is a VERY poor idea, as children, especially at puberty, must not be idol, it only leads to trouble. Sports and creative pursuits are essential elements of childhood. The simile, "an idol mind is the Devil's workshop", has considerable meaning.
You know...it's amazing...it really is. All of you who shove your kids to "do better" "do more", "it's not enough to get a B, get an A" "Be Perfect in everything" "Go Far"....Give me a break already, in fact...give your children a break! I see so much of that in the school I attend...on Sundays of all days! I see these kids being forced...that's right...forced to do subjects just so that they'll "suceed" and while there is nothing wrong with having a sucessful child, it IS WRONG to push your child so much that he/she doesn't get to enjoy childhood. For Christ's sakes people, are you kidding me? What the heck is wrong with them going 4 days a week? I think we don't spend enough time with our children as it is and most children come home from their "successful" days and long hours at school (because you know it's so much more important to be successful than it is to have a childhood!) only to be placed in front of the television or a video game or for those way over the top parents with future children that will probably "break" one day from all the pressure, more homework and studying once home. You all wonder why we have a nation of unempathetic kids. Wow! It's truly amazing the way this society places a childs value so low on the totem pole but their "getting ahead in life" so high! There are no wise men and women left I fear. It is so much more to teach your child wisdom, empathy, and concern for others than it is to place top priority on so much "education." I know a lot of idiots...and they all have Masters Degrees but wisdom...now that's lacking and who would I want to have take care of me in a nursing home...the one who only has a high school education, can wipe my rear end with compassion or some snot nose high and mighty "go getter" with an attitude to match his/her ego and no empathy whatsoever? Take a guess...if indeed you are wise enough.
Our education system should do more with less money as other normal private business is doing. The idea of doing less with more paid is the root cause of budget problem.
Richard
SF, CA
4 days only?!
Considering the state of our educational system, raising the amount of days and getting rid of summer vacations seems better for the long run. It really shows how poor our countries education lvl is if we are even considering lowering the amount of days. That is just plain dumb.
How exactly is cutting the school week going to save money? Presumably by paying teachers less because they're working fewer hours? Perhaps a better way to save money would be to get rid of standardised tests and the ridiculous layers of bureaucracy at federal, state, district and school level. Not by treating teachers with even less respect than America already does. It's about the teachers, stupid!
I saw many comments about the 4 day weeks and how that is less time in school. It is NOT! We would have to extend our school days and have 40 hours in 4 days. 10 hour school days. Do you really want your child in school from 8am-6pm? Imagine little kids! The school day is already long enough for them as it is. I saw many comments bashing teachers. We do the best we can. Its the government that needs to chill! They expect us to teach more and more every year and cram as much into their brains as we can. Teaching is about TEACHING, not cramming. If we were able to spend more QUALITY time teaching the most important things then I think we would see more progress.
So many outstanding teachers have lost their jobs because of the mismanagement in California.
Get rid of the ridiculous entitlement programs before even thinking of compromising our education system which is already far behind many countries.
Don't sacrifice our children and the future of our country as a band-aid for current problems caused by past excesses.
Going to school one extra hour each day for 4 days in lieu of a regular 5 day week will do nothing to help schools, students, or parents in any way. The school would hardly be saving any money, the parents would have to spend more money finding someone to watch their children, and the students would have 1 extra weekend day to try to wash out any information that they learned with cartoons. It's a lose-lose-lose situation.
This is the price we all have to pay to for our freedom and to make this world a better place for everyone.
Dear Kristi in NM.
This is part of the funding problem in California. We can not afford to be the giver to everyone. Parents get these free and reduced lunches and they are dropping their kids off in new cars. Free lunches is a scam that no one looks over to see how the program is being taken advantage of.
What is wrong with people? School is not meant to be child-care...it is school. I work at an elementary school and my job is up to be cut as the school has to take $15 million of next years budget. All of the districts in our state and the state right next to us are cutting relatively the same abount. Teachers jobs are getting caught left and right!!! It's terrifying. The cost for transportation in schools is one of the biggest expense. Also the cost to keep a building open an extra day and food for a whole district amounts to millions of dollars. The children would have the same amount of education if you increased the day by 60-90 minutes. I think it's a great idea...and it would let me keep my job longer.
From a high student's point of view, I think school four days a week is not a good idea. I mean, it won't solve anything, it will create more problems. Besides, education should be a high prioity and not put aside like...well let's just say way before I was born. Use state funding for useful things unlike our school who used it's funding for $60,000 trash cans to "improve the school's image." Words can't express how disappointed I am of the public school system.
Given the nations poor ranking globally in K through 12 education, especially in Math and Science, the notion that a four day school week is even being considered to save dollars with is incomprehensible and, in my opinion, tantamount to child abuse and neglect. The Agrarian Calender that the majority of the nations schools still build their curriculum around served this country well 200 years ago, but reform is 100 years overdue. Now here's an idea, why don't we outsource our education to India and then our children could study online with a possible PHD who is currently working for a major U.S. company advising consumers what the O, N, switch and the O, FF switch do on their new made in China laptop.
Jack,
I'm a New York City public teacher in my 4th year. I'm surrounded by 25+ year veterans making twice, yes TWICE, my salary - yet they are not effective in the classroom. I hate to generalize, but many of these baby-boomers care about a paycheck and a steady job... A four day school week is not the answer - the achievement gap is too large. Until the union voice includes a new generation, I fear our values surrounding student achievement will not be heard.
The main idea behind a four-day week is to reduce costs to the district - less electricity use, lower heating costs in the winter, cooling costs in the near-summer months, etc. Federal mandates for technology are driving up costs but the feds are hardly providing the money to pay for what they demand...a tight economy is causing local districts to increasing reject increases in mill levies and bond issues that school districts need to bridge the gap and provide for students. If local taxpayers aren't willing to step to the plate, the last option districts have is to start cutting things...and if this board is an indication, folks don't like that idea either. It's great to pick apart an idea, but sit down in the seat of your local school board official that has to make the district operate within a set budget and see how quick your opinion changes.
A 4-day week gives parents a set day to schedule routine doctor/dentist appointments without the need to yank a kid out of school to accomplish the task. This alone could cut back on student absences.
It also gives a day for older students to work jobs, which sadly many more are being forced to do these days, either to save for college or to simply help their families make ends meet.
It certainly isn't a solution that would help EVERY district in the nation, but depending on your environment, it definitely is one that should be investigated by districts as a means of saving costs for local taxpayers.
I'm surprised that a lot of these comments are targeted at teachers. It's not about the teachers, but whatever gets cut affects the students and teachers the most. I would like to invite all of you who think teachers are overpaid and are not working hard enough to help me in my classroom. I will be there on Saturday morning from 7 to noon writing lessons and planning activities. Oh, I'll also be there on Sunday after chruch grading papers. I have to go in to my class, because my family gets in the way of my work, and I can't get work done at home. So, after 10 hours over a 50-hour work week, my salary averages about $12.00 an hour. Wow! maybe by the time I retire I can finally pay off my student loans that I took out for my Master's Degree.
Our small rural district changed to a 4 day week 4 or 5 years ago. We lengthened the school day and the total contact time between students and teachers increased by about 40 hours per year. In-service, teacher conferences and sports are scheduled on Fridays and four school days a week are held sacred. Most of the schools in our area have also changed.
Our school has consistently been ranked at or near the top in academic achievment for schools in our category.(First in the State two years in a row.) The biggest advantages are for high schoolers and my biggest concerns were for k-4 (A long day for young kids.) but, the teachers say the kids adjusted rather quickly and they feel it has been a positive change for our district.
Reducing the school week to 4 days would be an additional burden on the parents. It is already difficult enough to find adequate (but affordable) child care. This would make the problem even greater.
we should keep the 5 day school day so working parents don't need babysitters, HOWEVER, fridays should be used for community service and eco-projects.
kids should be out picking up litter, cleaning up grafitti, planting gardens, reading to younger kids, reading to old people in hospitals, walking dogs in shelters, cooking for homeless people, etc...
i work in urban schools. by fridays, kids are burned out...
the problem with students being "dumbed down" is not the fault of teachers. there is a problem but teachers aren't at fault...
If all of the bad grammar, incorrect punctuation, and poor spelling in these postings are any indication, we need MORE education, not less.
Yeah, right, We should save GM/Chrsyler but not save the younger generation. America must be the only country that kills off youngsters to save a few greedy pigs...
You need to get your facts straight. A small percentage of top level European and Asian students get to test while virtually every student here gets to test. The have nots in foreign countries are weeded out early in life and ours continue to get their education. Second, teachers do not have time to raise or take resposibility for your kids. Reality, the foundation of every education starts in the home. If you are not educating your child in the formative years then teachers can accomplish very little. Finally, if every child were retained that need to be held back the budget would balloon to excessive amounts. Teachers do not teach for free and desire to be paid for their work. If you, as a parent do not check your child's homework then do not blame the teacher. That is your fault. If you do not have conferences with your child's teachers because you are too busy working that is your fault and not the teachers. Yes, I teach. Yes, I scheduled parent conferences with every parent at any time of day. Out of 112 parents 21 actually showed up, 47 said they would show and did not. The remaining parents did not even bother to respond. When parents do not care don't expect the teacher to fix or educate your child. It takes a cillage to raise a child is a cop out for poor parenting. Read with your child. Turn off the computer and television. Stop the every child must have a cell phone mentality and have them write a letter. These are not the teacher's jobs – they are yours and if you are not willing to accept the responsibility then stop having sex.
You cannot have toddlers going to school only four days a week, and even with younger teens this is a problem. Many people who have sat through any K-12 class in the first couple of weeks of September recently, know this: They are reteaching what kids lost after the long summer holiday. The same things goes for Christmas break, 2 weeks off and the teachers have to refresh their students the first day back. Ok, so one extra day off a week is not a whole lot , many schools go through this with memorial day and labor day, but even after those small extra day weekends teachers have to refresh the class. College aside and Juniors in HS aside, the rest of the kids do all of their learning in the class room; and usually nothing is learned in the 7 am class or the classes after 1 pm. Look at most college students, most of the students start their day at 10 am, about the time they are fully awake, but these kids and Juniors in HS have one other thing about them, they do a good portion of their learning on their own and they don't need to be in school 5 days a week, but until K-10 can get the ir students to do a good portion of learning outside of the classroom 5 days a week is the bare minimum and schools should consider the idea of year round classes.
I think a 4 day school week may be a good idea. I can't speak for everyone but it seems to me like my kids are off of school more than they are in school the way it is. I don't believe they need off 2 weeks for Christmas and a week and a half for Easter along with the numerous days they get off for teacher planning days. They should also cut out all of the half days since they don't do anything because they day is too short. Parents should take some responsibility at home by helping to teach their children instead of using school as a day care.
I teach in an urban high school. Cutting our schedule to 4 days per week would hurt my students, many of whom are already far behind. When they come to me reading on a 3rd grade level and doing math on a 4th grade level (but placed in the freshman class because they're already 16), I already have my hands full trying to get them ready to do high school work. That extra day off would mean more time not thinking about school. They simply can't afford that. Some of my students transfer from countries where education must be paid for, and so they may have only attended for a few years-or not at all. They need many extra hours, not fewer, to have a chance.
The parents of my students all complain of the same things. He's lazy, I can't get him to do anything at home, either, she's disrespectful to me too...They lost control years ago due to their financial and family situations. School is where they learn manners, learn to develop a work ethic and learn to become responsible for themselves. Home is where you play video games or roam the streets. We need more programs to keep the kids in school, both for academic and social reasons.
If Obama is serious about making education a priority, then we need to stop looking at test scores and start looking at our students' lives. Where the students are coming from horrendous conditions, we need to invest more time and money, not less. We cannot combat poverty by calling schools "bad," but must instead work at the root problems. We need to make schools the place these children spend more time so that caring, positive role models can help them develop the skills to succeed. We are their last hope and we cannot let them down.
Japan, Korea and China all send their children to school at least 221 days a year while children in the US average 180 days a year. When comparing our children’s math and science aptitude scores to other industrial countries the answer is in the numbers.
Dear Jack,
I think you hit the nail right on the head when it comes to education in America. Too many people see school as a daycare. Maybe if we make parents pay for the extra day, we'll see more from not only teachers but from the parents. It's a shame how when the kids are droppped of at school it all becomes somebody elses problem. If we have to pay perhaps more parents will begin to show more of an interest their kids education.
Angelina
South Glens Falls , N.Y
I was in a district that was in session only 4 days a week from kindergarten through 8th grade. We spent an hour longer in school each day. I loved it and felt like it helped me really blow off steam and be a kid during the weekend. I don't really feel like it negatively impacted my education at all...it must not have been too bad since I just graduated from vet school this past year.
Jack I am a teacher and as much as I would love a shorter work week, this is a terrible idea! We can't short change our kids! There must be another way. America can't progress if we cut back on education. That must be priority #1. Education is what is going to keep us from relieving the pains of the past.
Keybi J.
NYC
As a second year teacher in a public school, I can honestly say that most of you spouting dogmatic falsities about teacher pay and dedication have no clue what you are talking about. Teachers barely make enough money to subsist. I go to work every day with teachers who work their buns off trying to break through to kids. Most of us head home at 5 or 6 even though the school day ends at 3 (it starts at 7, by the way). When we go home, we take papers to grade, lessons to plan, parents to call. We are paid on a 10 month contract (another myth of teaching is that teachers benefit from summers off; news flash: we're not paid for it!) When I see people who think they have all of the answers to education wrapped in politically bent axioms, it makes me angry. Angrier for my co-workers who have been doing this for 30+ years than for myself. My suggestion to people who think teachers are lazy or somehow have it easy is this: try it for 1 month. Try it with all of the legal restrictions, regulations, and parent interference that we deal with on a daily basis and see if you can simply manage to keep a classroom from the brink of oblivion, much less provide meaningful instruction. Then you should thank a teacher for making it a life's work to do so by spending time with your child that (honestly, admit it to yourself) you aren't willing to. If you were willing to spend that time with your child, they'd probably be able to read on level by the time they got to my senior lit. class. But they can't – and that's not a failure of the school system as much as it is absentee parents. You simply cannot expect a teacher with classes of 30+ students to hold the keys to the kingdom for every child without a parent or parents at home leading the way and promoting and educational lifestyle.
As for Jack's question: To me it doesn't make much difference to teach an extra 1 1/2 hours to spend an extra day at home with MY CHILD.
I'm amazed at all the people who think teachers are lazy. Have any of you actually been in an American classroom these days? I really think people who describe most teachers as lazy could never in a million years handle the job. Much of my day isn't spent teaching which I would love to do! – it is spent disciplining children who haven't been taught by their folks how to act in public.
I am a teacher in an urban middle school. My contracted 30 minute lunch is usually 18 minutes after getting my students where they need to be, plus I tutor kids during that 18 minutes. Then I get to take home papers to grade in the evening. My weekends are spent making lesson plans that adhere to the state standards and analyzing data from the latest round of testing.
Most teachers I talk to would love year-round school because it would make educating children so much easier. Teacher love to teach! Unfortunately is has become a pathetically small part of the actual work day.
As a high school teacher, I do not support a four day school week. While I realize the financial advantage for a district, it is not beneficial to the educational progress of the students. Unfortunately, American students spend less time in school and less time on homework compared to many other developed nations. We are not reaping the benefits of this system if you look at how far we lag behind other countries. This is a reflection of our cultural priorities and attitudes: trying to get more for less, no matter the cost.
Dianne
Arizona
Going for a four day school week is not a good idea. While many students will hail this and be most pleased, chances are the quality of the education will deteriorate as a result of this. Even less teachers will want to stick around and the future of this country has and always will be our children and if they are taught poorly then we can expect an equally poor future. Instead why not have higher end government officials take a pay cut; if they really care about this country or their state then it shouldn't matter how much they get paid and we won't have to compromise the education of our students.
Are you kidding me? Absolutely not! Frankly, California and the rest of the country should stop playing Russian roulette with our country's education and students. How can we possibly expect to raise the academic achievement of the students in our schools if we underfund our programs and place teachers in precarious occumational positions? While changes need to be made all around, a shorter 4-day week would only further send the message to our students that their education is not very important at all...if you look at the current state of things, it's not far off.
The children aren't that smart, I would venture to say that public schools are on the same level as developing countries. These children need school as much as possible. Have you heard their English? I understand foreigners better than I do the American youth.
I think it is appalling that we would even consider reducing the number of weekly school days. I graduated in 2003, and I don't feel like I got a quality education. I think we put too much focus on sports in the world of academia. I don't think we should cut money altogether for sports, but drastically reduce the amount of funding going towards sports programs, and channel that money into better resources: increased library sizes, increased variety of courses offered, increased levels of technology in schools, and other various resources that will help our future generations. And for Pete's sake: get rid of No Child Left Behind! Teaching to a standardized test does nothing to improve the quality of education. Essays and short answer tests are a better judge of student understanding.
What would happen with the college courses being taught in public high school in at least some parts of Texas? Would there still be time for them and the college prep track?
The rich kids are often in private or charter/religious schools would they be affected by this 4 day school week or just the poor and lower middle class? We have a multi tiered educational system. Which tiers would go to 4 day weeks and which would not?
Is this instead of raising taxes on the wealthy or in addition to raising taxes on the wealthy? Who pays for what now? Is it true that, as the Queen Of Mean is reputed to have said, only the little people pay taxes?
No, no, no.
I teach introductory physics to college students majoring in engineering. They're supposed to know differential equations and multivariable calculus before they get to my class, but they struggle with math that they should have learned as freshmen in high school.
The insane focus on standardized tests and NCLB has created a generation of students who study only for tests, and forget the material immediately after. They have no intellectual curiosity and no interest in learning for its own sake. They're not training themselves to be the problem-solvers and innovators of tomorrow. Their foreign counterparts, however, are.
The solution is NOT to reduce the amount of education they receive.
No, they need to be in school, we dont need those little demons out racing their cars around and doing drugs and sex..and the smaller ones will have one more day to torture the neighbors cat. NO Way..keep em in locked up.
First, to those who are whining about the "lazy teachers" who "don't want to work" and are already "overpaid," come live my "gravy" life where last week I spent 5 extra hours every night Sunday through Thursday–from 9 p.m. when my own kids went to bed until 2 a.m.–grading and lesson planning. That's, hrm, 25 extra hours of work on top of the 40 per week that I spend with your children in the classroom, so that you can blame me for all of their faults when you are the ones calling them in sick so they can go on senior camping trips, taking them out of school for weeks on end for family vacations during the school year, and the like. Tell me more about how I, and my colleagues, are the reason that your children are undereducated, irresponsible, lazy, and have a gross sense of entitlement.
As for the question on school days, no, I do not think shortening the week and adding hours to the weekdays is any better answer to out educational woes than I think adding days to the school year will solve our problems. Adding 20 more days to the year when a child has a crappy teacher will make no positive difference–if we add time, we have to make sure we are only keeping quality teachers in the classroom so it makes a difference. The bottom line is our education problems in this country have very little to do with how MUCh time is spent in the classroom and everything to do with WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THAT TIME.
And for those who are mad that I give your kids homework. well, fine. We won't assign any homework and then you can be ticked off that your kid doesn't read more than 2 books per year and that they don't master any math or science. It's called PRACTICE, and that's what homework is for, and that's what talented and successful people understand–that to master something one must practice consistently and several hours per day. Maybe if you find yourself spending too much time doing homework with your kid you need to back off and let them do their own dang homework!! You do them a terrible injustice by holding their hands every step of the way.
I think it's a very good idea. With the technology available today one or more days of school could be taught from home. I think the children would learn more instead of less, like some are implying. As a stay-at-home mom I have already contemplated home schooling because I feel school today is being taught according to some red tape instead of teachers being passionate and being able to really teach. The teachers have an agena...they aren't allowed to really teach. I suspect that those against it are mothers who work. Although some mothers have to work, most do not. They choose to have the children, but then choose to have someone else raise them so they can buy more things. This is what's wrong with America and our schools. I am all for the four day week, or even less, maybe this would force people to raise their own children, instead of expecting the school system to do it.
Cutting the school week, would only hurt us in the end. Having worked in the schools and run several classrooms, I can say that kids really cannot handle sitting for that long. Not to mention the financial strain for the parents involved, who likely cannot afford extra childcare nor should the older children be left to their devices for one whole day every week. I would much rather extend the school week to 6 days weeks like Russia.
There are plenty of other ways to cut costs, which is evident to anyone who has worked in the schools, than by cutting time in the classroom.
If Districts need to save money, central office administrators need to be cut first. There are entirely too many "cooks in the kitchen." Keep the kids in school and cut the fat in the offices!
yes it is a great idea and on the fifth day we could do sports to get the student back into a fit and healthy group