Four-day school weeks in Idaho Falls?

Now there’s a good one. Four day school week! So, should we extend the school year to year round to compensate for the reduced learning. Oh, that’s right — the schools only teach computer skills anyway.

Has anyone really listened or read what students speak and write today? We have lost!

I work a four-day work week, and rather enjoy it. It does make for long hours — ten hours of work a day, sandwiched by four hours on the bus.
A four-day work week would be murder on teachers. My wife used to teach high school English, yearbook and broadcasting. She quit after four years because she was tired of her regular, 14 to 16 hour days, five days a week, and sometimes six. Reducing the days kids are at school won’t reduce that — mostly unpaid — teacher workload.
Besides, I’d be very worried if my school district initiated a four-day week, for the sake of my kids. I’ve got a first-grader and a pre-schooler. I don’t like the idea of my kids having to spend more time a day at school. They need balance in their lives just like the rest of us.
Now, if for high school students, my district wanted a four-day week, I’d be more receptive. However, ask that high school kid who has an after-school job if a four-day week is a good idea. And the money-saving thing isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. I read in the Christian Science Monitor that the district in Orofino, Idaho, tried the four-day work week, thinking they’d save $150,000 on average a year in transportation costs. Their average savings, since making the switch in 2004? $12,000 a year. What we need to do in school is simply require more of the students. My wife got burned out on teaching because she got tired of all the parents coming to her, screaming about their little angel failing this class and that class, and not believing her when she said their kid is failing because they’re not doing the required work. And then she had administrators coming in with the parents, saying, in effect, hey, pass this guy’s kid or he won’t talk to me neighborly any more. Our education system — particularly some kids and their parents — needs a bigger kick in the pants than a four-day week will deliver. And this isn’t something that can be fixed with money, either. We need to get kids and parents back in school together to learn a little responsibility. When I was failing, when my wife was failing, our parents didn’t go screaming to the teacher. We got hollered at and got figuratively kicked in the butt to improve. And that’s what we’ll do with our kids.

Today’s Post Register reports Clark County is also switching to four-day school weeks. They cite the goal of increasing academic achievements as their primary reason.

They will extend each day 45 minutes (though that only makes up 3 hours from Friday, so I don’t know how that works out).

They report overwhelming public support for this move.

The PR also reported Challis School District changed to 4-day weeks in 2003, and they love it. They report higher test scores and happy parents.

The strange anomaly for 4-day school weeks has been Shelley school district, where they tried it and encountered increased academic success, but the parents hated it and torpedoed the idea. Who knows what they’re doing in Shelley, anyways?

What do you think of four-day school weeks for Idaho Falls-area schools?

It’s my understanding that another big reason for switching to 4 days a week is cost. For example, buses would run less, using less fuel, requiring less maintenence, and drivers would work less hours. (One Clark County driver stated on the channel 3 story that her salary will drop by about 200 a month)

In addition, there would be lower costs for electricity, maintenence, and heat of the buildings in the district. Also, student athletes would miss less classwork because they could schedule games on Fridays, when there are no classes.

It is true that some parents would be opposed to it, and it could cause problems with child supervision since the 5 day work week is pretty much the standard in the U.S. Personally, I don’t see a problem with it… Besides, money not spent on buses, heat, or electricity could be better spent on the educations of our kids, right?

As far as I know, most of the parents in Shelley loved the four day school week. It was a VERY vocal minority that convinced the school board to go back after one year.

in the rural Oregon community where my family resides we have a 4 day school week. The kids love it and so do most of the parents. I get 3 days with my kids every weekend to do things and if i want 5 days I just pull them out for thursday and monday and can take a nice trip. They do attend 50 minutes longer than they did in IF but that gives my wife more time without the kids during the week to get her stuff done. The teachers love the half day on Friday with or without kids. Friday school is optional for some kids and manatory if they have a D or F in any class and it is the parents responsibility to get them there and pick them up. All the more reson to make sure your child is doing his/her work and not falling behind. the annual savings to our school district is just over $230k. (saleries and benifits for almost 4 teachers) with the cost of fuel rising it is a little more each year. Sports are scheduled for Friday when possible. Most of our grounds maintenance is done by students working on fridays instead of hireing a full time person to do the job and having to pay full benefits. $8.00 per hour for a highschool kid only working on fridays is prety good around here and there is no shortage of applicants. My kids only complaint is they have about 2 hours of homework each weekend. (includeing one hour of reading). I don’t feel a bit sorry for them. I love the 4 day schoolweek and would strongly encourage it.