If you ask any child if less school days are better than more, obviously, the answer is going to be Yes! But for many parents and educators, the question is starting to be raised on whether the typical 5-day school week is actually effective or not.
The Open Debate
In more recent years, there has been an increase in changes to the traditional school system. With the hit of Covid in 2020, schools had no other options than to completely change how they operate and teach their students, for years to come. Before that, there were schools starting the process of re-evaluating how they teach and what could be changed. For many schools, nothing has changed since their doors first opened thirty, fifty, or even more years previously. With current students struggling more and more with their studies and the current school system, educators are taking another look and deciding on changes to help combat these lower test scores, and more importantly, low learning and school morale.
The Pros
The most obvious pro to reduced school days would be the potential for increased morale and reduced stress levels of both the students and teachers. With less time spent at school and then completing homework after that, this would free up student’s time tremendously. Spending two days at school and then limited time during the rest of the week completing assignments and homework, this would still lighten the load of students to be able to have more free time and participate in more extra-curricular activities. Students would be able to breathe a little easier and focus better on the schoolwork when it’s not every day for five days.
Less days spent at the school would mean less money being put into the school building itself, meaning less utility usage, less food, less gas for buses, and much more. The extra funds made available from a shorter school week could be allocated to different resources needed within the school, whether it is in raises, upgrades to the school buildings or upgrades to the equipment and tech being used in schools.
The Cons
It would seem like teachers would have an easier work load if they only teach for two days, but that may not always be the case. With more focused and condensed learning plans, some teachers may have more work to do to ensure they are teaching enough during the shortened week and getting their point across. And as parents, it would be a juggle trying to figure out childcare for the off days if both parents work. And for students in a low-income school, they may be at a disadvantage if they do not have the available tech or resources to complete the schoolwork.
There are still debates and talk going on with transforming the current school systems, and who knows what the future will bring!
Katie Kyzivat