Since 2019, more than 600 schools have transitioned to a four-day school week. The western side of the United States has been switching up an old tradition for multiple reasons. These reasons include increasing teacher attraction to work and student health. While there have been complaints, all schools should fully implement a four-day school week since the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
Not all people see the benefits right away. Specifically, the schedule change concerns parents for all different kinds of reasons. One of the greatest arguments against the four-day week is that kids would not learn as much as they would with a fifth day. However, most schools that have implemented this new four-day week have added around 50 minutes to the other four school days. The addition of time allows the students to learn the same amount with a day off. Besides, by the time Friday comes around, most students mentally check out from school. School burnout is a real thing, even if it’s just short of a week of learning. It’s heartbreaking to know that young students are already beyond stressed out and struggling to the point where they’d rather skip school altogether. According to attendanceworks.org, “chronic absenteeism” is present in one out of three students. In the status quo, students are not learning as it is. Research from attendanceworks.org also shows that “missing 18 days of school” affects students’ academic performance.
Adding a day off would allow those students the freedom to take a day off without affecting their education. Why have school on a day when most students are absent and aren’t learning already? Another reason for complaints from low-income and working parents is the argument that families are being affected for two reasons: childcare options for younger kids and food. According to nea.org, they added that in order to prevent issues, schools in the 27J district in Denver have a supportive childcare program and are putting their resources in order to help. The same article also mentions that local YMCAs and the Boys and Girls Clubs have been stepping up for their communities. These programs also provide food and activities to keep children active and learning even though they are having fun and taking a break from typical school.
In addition to those programs, Education Week adds that there is no “apparent effect” on food insecurity, proving that it has not been an issue so far. There have also been schools like Bishop McCort Catholic High School, who have made Fridays optional, allowing for students to come in if needed or if they would like to. The school partnered with local colleges to come in and provide enrichment activities such as drone flying. The school adds that they’ve gained 30 transfer students. These schools show that it’s possible to give students a day off without potentially hurting their education. BMCHS is a direct example of the success a four-day week can have.
On the other hand, it’s safe to say that both groups of children and school district employees appreciate the schedule change. Adults, specifically school employees, find that they have more time for their personal lives to destress from the work that is teaching or being an administrator. An extra day off would be rather helpful since teacher satisfaction rates have reached an all-time low. Education Week finds that since 2022, “just 12 percent of U.S. teachers are very satisfied with their jobs.” Take Wyoming’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, Amy Pierson, who explains that being a teacher is beyond time-consuming. Pierson adds, “Most weekends I spend one day working at school to catch up.” and that she “[needs] the gift of time, or something taken off my plate.” A four-day weekend would be an extra day for all teachers to spend more time with family, catch up, or take a well-deserved break. Teachers don’t have enough time to spend time with their families. If teachers are beyond stressed out, then what does this mean for the future of children’s education? It means fewer people are willing to work as educators, and staffing issues are happening. However, a four-day weekend successfully attracts more teachers. Recently, within 2023, the Waco community school district in Wayland, Iowa “has hired 12 new staff for next year and only has two open positions left to fill.” The increase in staff is thanks to the four-day shift where employees find more time for themselves, and in turn, providing a better education for students.
Moving forward into the future, complaints from parents alike will keep coming. Yet, the four-day week has proved and will continue to prove that it works for the better of all people involved. With all the benefits added up, students will go forward into their academic life with better health and less stress. A four-day week seems to be the savior for the education of future generations.
