Online Poll: Is A Four-Day School Week A Good Idea?
The Laramie County School District#1 Calendar Committee is asking district parents about the idea of going to a four-day school week.
The question is part of a survey asking about the district calendar.
The survey also covers topics such as Spring Break, Christmas Break, what time school should start and similar topics, but we found the idea of a four-day school week especially interesting.
The four-day week is not a new idea in education, or even in Laramie County. Laramie County School District#2 has been on a four-day week schedule for quite some time.
As with most ideas related to education, the concept has supporters and detractors as well as folks with mixed feelings.
Supporters of four-day weeks around the country typically point to such things as:
-it saves schools money, since they save some of the costs of operating five days a week.
-it works well for athletics and other extra-curricular activities, since they can be scheduled for Fridays, causing less conflict with scheduled classes.
-personal appointments for students and staffs can be scheduled for Fridays, again removing conflicts with class time.
-The longer class schedules four days a week saves working parents from having to arrange for child car between the time school gets out and the time parents get home from work.
But detractors critics of the four day week say the idea presents some issues as well. They include:
-working parents of younger kids may need to find childcare for a full day on Friday,
-some argue that a three-day weekend is interrupts learning and is especially challenging for at-risk students.
-a longer school day is too much for some younger children in particular.
-in the real world it saves schools little or no money, since buildings are still open on Friday, even if it's more for athletics and extra class help as opposed to regular classes.
So what do you think? Is a four-day school week a good idea? Take our poll and give us your opinion!