Yeah, color me skeptical.
Quote4-day school week gains momentum
Shorter week is seen as way for districts to save
updated 8:12 p.m. ET, Thurs., March. 12, 2009
TAMPA, Florida - With U.S. school districts strapped for cash, more are considering a schedule that delights students and makes working parents cringe: Class only four days a week.
By extending school hours and eliminating a day of classes each week, education officials say they could save busloads of money on transportation and utilities.
Introduced by New Mexico during the 1970s oil crisis, the abbreviated school week is gaining fresh momentum in states and districts hurt by the economic downturn. Select districts in about 17 states already follow a four-day week and legislators in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Missouri and Washington have introduced similar proposals.
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"It's happening primarily because of the economic situation," said Gale Gaines, vice president for state services at the Southern Regional Education Board. "Schools and districts are trying to work as efficiently as possible."
While there's still debate about how much districts will save, proponents say the shortened week can improve attendance and teacher retention. As for academics, studies have shown the four-day schedule does not hinder student achievement, and may even help improve test scores.
Change involves adding another hour
Some districts have even reported fewer disciplinary referrals and more classroom participation.
"It's hard to get to the why, of course, because so many things affect student achievement," said Andrea D. Beesley of Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning in Denver.
State laws govern how many days students must attend class each year. In places where four-day weeks are allowed, districts are required to hold an equivalent number of instructional hours. That typically means adding just over an hour of class each day.
Critics worry, however, about burdening working parents with extra child care costs, and question whether students — especially younger ones in elementary school — can handle a longer school day without getting tired.
Since the early 1970s, the four-day school week has primarily been adopted by small, rural districts that shuttle students long distances.
Many districts in Colorado already do
The idea has especially taken hold in the Mountain states; in Colorado alone, about 60 districts are on a four-day school week this year. A 2006 Colorado Department of Education report on the four-day week said the initial reason for making the switch has generally been financial.
These days, rural districts aren't the only one considering the switch.
In South Florida, the Broward County school district, just north of Miami, is considering the four-day week for its high schools.
Officials in districts that have four-day school weeks caution that it falls short of being a magic bullet for school budgets. For example, even though a school may be without students, utilities must be kept on because it's still a gathering place for the community and athletic competitions.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
I think they're in the pocket of the day care industry. :shifty:
Too late for me :(
And too Florida of course.
4 days work week :cool:
a 4 day week means you almost have time for two jobs!
They should cut busing instead. Kids these days don't appreciate the value of walking 5 miles to school in the snow anymore.
Quote from: Vince on March 13, 2009, 06:57:56 AM
They should cut busing instead. Kids these days don't appreciate the value of walking 5 miles to school in the snow anymore.
They should also make sure every time kids have to walk to and from school, it's always uphill (both ways) and during a snow storm.
Why not just cancel school altogether? The only school that American kids actually need is on Sunday anyways.
damn lazy teachers :p
On second thought, I think it's a smart move. The shorter the kids are exposed to the likes of Tim and grumbler, the better for their development.
Quote from: Martinus on March 13, 2009, 08:05:13 AM
On second thought, I think it's a smart move. The shorter the kids are exposed to the likes of Tim and grumbler, the better for their development.
What makes you say that? Tim and grumbler are good, dependable folks. Tim's Patriotardism is worrying, but because he lives within Boston's sportosphere, the kids he teaches are already fucked up in that respect.
My school is trying that out in the summer. Having Fridays off would be cool, but the downside is that I have to be here 10 and a half hours a day instead of 8 and a half.
As Fireblade says, more hours in each day. I know I wanted to spend 8+ hours in a school back when I was a teenager instead of 6.
Fucking school.
School is just a glorified day-care centre.
Quote from: Monoriu on March 13, 2009, 09:21:37 AM
School is just a glorified day-care centre.
But, thanks to the wonders of taxation, it's one that you pay for!
Quote from: Neil on March 13, 2009, 07:30:02 AM
Why not just cancel school altogether? The only school that American kids actually need is on Sunday anyways.
As Mono pointed out, we need someone to babysit them. And it feels better not to personally write out the checks.
Seems decent to me from an education point of view. Extend the school day so they end up in class the same amount of hours, who cares if it is only 4 days a week?
Of course the same economic conditions that make this move necessary will also make it hard to parents to pay for whatever activity their kids are going to be doing on that Friday. Tough break.
Quote from: Martinus on March 13, 2009, 08:05:13 AM
On second thought, I think it's a smart move. The shorter the kids are exposed to the likes of Tim and grumbler, the better for their development.
Mart it is the same length of time, just in larger chunks.
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 10:14:10 AM
As Mono pointed out, we need someone to babysit them. And it feels better not to personally write out the checks.
You know in Austin I got taught Calculus, Physics, Organic Chemistry, Differential Equations, European History and other subjects at a level that I felt was equal to, if not superior to, what I experienced in College. And my state is one of the worst in the nation. Somehow I felt it was a better use of my time than just being babysat but maybe that is just me.
Quote from: Valmy on March 13, 2009, 10:27:12 AM
Seems decent to me from an education point of view. Extend the school day so they end up in class the same amount of hours, who cares if it is only 4 days a week?
Yeah, because kids will really pay attention that whole time. Just like how I'd be much more productive if I worked 4, 10 hour days a week... ::)
Quote from: Valmy on March 13, 2009, 10:35:09 AM
You know in Austin I got taught Calculus, Physics, Organic Chemistry, Differential Equations, European History and other subjects at a level that I felt was equal to, if not superior to, what I experienced in College. And my state is one of the worst in the nation. Somehow I felt it was a better use of my time than just being babysat but maybe that is just me.
Well, I didn't go to a ghetto college, so I wouldn't know about that.
seems like a recipe for disaster to shorting the time to learn ever increasing amounts of stuff in.
How I would have welcomed it when I was young :-\
But my years of university often was something like 4-day school often even less. 8)
Quote from: Valmy on March 13, 2009, 10:27:12 AM
Of course the same economic conditions that make this move necessary will also make it hard to parents to pay for whatever activity their kids are going to be doing on that Friday.
I suppose they'll have to settle for crack instead of E.
beer and sex are always affordable. growth industries right now in fact.
Quote from: garbon on March 13, 2009, 12:03:53 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 13, 2009, 10:27:12 AM
Seems decent to me from an education point of view. Extend the school day so they end up in class the same amount of hours, who cares if it is only 4 days a week?
Yeah, because kids will really pay attention that whole time. Just like how I'd be much more productive if I worked 4, 10 hour days a week... ::)
Yup. Some people around here clearly don't remember their sixth period classes in high school.
Good idea, American kids can fall even further behind core skills development as opposed to Asians and Europeans.
Quote from: vinraith on March 13, 2009, 02:02:14 PM
Yup. Some people around here clearly don't remember their sixth period classes in high school.
I remember it. That was the one I skipped. It was amazing how many times I had to go pick up relatives at the airport...
Man, I work ten hours a day most of the time anyway. A four day week would rock.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on March 13, 2009, 02:15:36 PM
Man, I work ten hours a day most of the time anyway. A four day week would rock.
This.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on March 13, 2009, 02:15:36 PM
Man, I work ten hours a day most of the time anyway. A four day week would rock.
Then that wouldn't work. You'd need like 12.5 hour days. ;)
It went no where.
I miss Ed. :(
I miss TheLotus and Kainshinra. Or ITB Bitch and Kap.