Growing popularity for a 4 day school week? Is your area doing this?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (38702)
August 10, 2023 10:55pm CST
I did not realize this was growing in popularity until recently. The idea being it would cut costs to only hold in-person class for 4 days per week, instead of 5. It seems in some areas, talk about this is like opening a can of worms--many parents are not for this idea.
There are always pros and cons, and two sides to the story, as well as many people's needs are different than others. I understand that. A 4 day school week might put a hardship on working parents who don't have the option to change their work schedule, which would mean for that other day, they may have to find additional childcare for the younger ones. The school days themselves would have to be a bit longer each day, as a certain number of hours per week are required, and I suppose some children as well as adults would not appreciate a longer day.
There are pros as well. If running on a 4 day week, that would mean 3 days of the buildings not being used, rather than 2. Would no doubt cut down on utility costs, and would eliminate some trash, some water usage and a day of staff cleaning, and so on.
Evidently, Missouri has really gone for this. Being mostly rural, they feel it will be more than beneficial to them, cut down on absenteeism, and above all, ,attract more teachers to teach there with the shortened (day-wise, not hour-wise) aspect off this.
Will it really work? I have no opinion. I would have liked to have that option for myself and my kids, but that ship has sailed, my kids are all grown.
Would you support a 4 day school week for your area?
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/4-day-school-week-impact-nationwide/
12 people like this
12 responses
@AmbiePam (93883)
• United States
11 Aug 23
I don’t think it would benefit most of the children here overall. I could be wrong, but the biggest things to me are the childcare that fifth day is going to require for most parents, and the fact that I don’t think a lot of the kids are going to adjust well to those longer four days of school. Obviously, almost everyone eventually adjusts, but thinking back to when I was in school from 8am to 3pm, that was about all I could handle. I don’t know that the teachers could have kept the attention of the kids much longer, especially the poorly behaved children. But that is just my opinion, and I don’t have children. 
5 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
11 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle The average requirement for K-8 is 5.5 hours per day. To make that up over 4 days would mean an hour and twenty minutes longer a day the other 4 days. For high school, it would be 6 hours to make up, or 90 minutes a day.
And I haven't seen any attention given to the microscopic attention spans of today's elementary and middle-school-aged kids. By lunch time, I can tell from experience, most of them are done thinking for the day.
6 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
True, it would be a longer day. The estimates I read of that, were about 35 minutes longer for all 4 days to meet the state requirements for attendance and class time. That wouldn't really be terrible, but yes, I know, some kids might not like staying one more minute than they have to!
5 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
@DWDavis
I cannot remember what states and districts were quoting 35-40 minutes, but I did read that and heard it as well.
If you can get kids to think clearly until lunchtime, you are doing a great job!
3 people like this
@Anqaya (3033)
• United States
11 Aug 23
As far as I know, this has not been done here. But they could do this for the older kids, not the younger kids, as u mentioned extra child care would be necessary. But the older kids can handle this schedule.
I am a college student and I would be very happy if they do this for colleges. I would love an extra day off. But that also means I would have one day less work and money since I work on-campus as an intern. So, yes both pros and cons are present.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
I think it might depend on the student, and what they were involved in. So many college students work and go to school, so this might give them a break if they needed it, or give them more time to work. I do think it wouldn't take long to get used to it, and I know I would have loved this for my kids. Oh, and for me, too!
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
@Anqaya
Yes, thaat is true. I do know when my sons were in college, they tended to try to get their classes crammed into 3-4 days per week instead of 5, whenever they could. They wanted the extra day to be able to work and study. It worked for them for a time, until school got too intense.
4 people like this
@Anqaya (3033)
• United States
11 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle i know, but most college students in their upper years have an internship or an on campus jobs alongside cvs mcdonalds jobs. And if college is 4 days, so is internship. We would get paid less. 
But i like the idea of sleeping till noon another day haha.
But i like the idea of sleeping till noon another day haha.4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
11 Aug 23
Europe is also considering a 4 days working week. It seems that in Japan many companies already adopted the shorter working weeks and it seems a lot better. IF the parents can stay with the children is good, if they are left alone in the street is a horrible idea.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472074)
• Switzerland
12 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle If parents have to work longer hours they can be free when also kids are not in school.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
I agree that a 4 day work week would just be wonderful. Even if the 4 days were longer, it would be the same amount of working time. And yes, in many cases proper child care would have to be arranged.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50525)
• United States
11 Aug 23
I haven’t heard of any of our schools doing this. I no longer have a school age child. It might be okay.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
I had heard it being discussed a time or two but did not realize it was spreading as quickly as it is. I think I would have truly enjoyed it back when the kids were young--I myself opted for 4 day work week, with the 5th day being paperwork I did at home. I loved having the kids around, I always took a chunk of my vacation during their Christmas break, so we could have more time together. I realize it might not work for everyone, but I think I would have loved it.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108126)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Aug 23
As mine are grown it don't matter. But it could help
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108126)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle That would depend on the parents.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
I think it would be nice, might even help to build some family time in some cases.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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12 Aug 23
@wolfgirl569
Yes, it would. I would hope some would take advantage of it, but who knows?
1 person likes this
@Chellezhere (5742)
• United States
11 Aug 23
The moment I saw Philly in the link, I knew I had to read the article. No, I don't support a shortened week. They (students, faculty, administration, and staff) would have an extended workday. That would not be conducive to homework, getting proper rest and sleep, etc. DW Davis lives and works in NC. I lived there in Bethlehem when my son was in middle school and high school. So, I don't know how it is in Pikeville, but my son had to catch the school bus at about 6:00 a.m. to get to school by 8:00. With no extracurricular activities, he didn't get home until about 6:00 p.m. It was a nightmare for him because he has a sleeping disorder and barely got any rest, let alone sleep.
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (5742)
• United States
11 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle Years ago, many districts tried year-round schooling, and later stopped. Florida used to start school earlier until places like Disney World spoke up because of a loss of employees during the heightened tourist season.
Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) paraphrases the "best-laid schemes" line from the poet Robert Burns this way. "However carefully you plan a particular undertaking, something nevertheless often goes wrong with it along the way."
There will be unintended consequences for all.
https://interestingliterature.com/2023/04/best-laid-schemes-of-mice-and-men-meaning-origin/
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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12 Aug 23
@Chellezhere
When I was in high school, I had family in St. Louis. There schools did this wacked out thing for about 2 years, you could pick your shift--go to school from 6am until 2pm, or go from 2pm until 10pm. They tried but it ended up being a huge snarl. My cousins hated it. Plus, even then they did not feel safe going home from school after 10pm. I wouldn't have, either. Not there, anyway.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
Oh, that must have been so hard for him, and for you as well. I can see pros and cons to all of it. I wonder how it will all turn out since so many school districts all over the US are trying it. I guess time will tell.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
The time we get with our children flies by so fast, any break we can get to enjoy them while they are little people is more than welcome, at least it always was to me.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139974)
• Roseburg, Oregon
11 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle I worked lots of over time and holidays just to have money to do fun things with my kids.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
@jstory07
I did the same, Judy. It was worth it to have time together and make some memories.
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@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
11 Aug 23
I oppose this for two reasons. The first is that kids already have enough trouble with retention over a two-day weekend. The second is that every GOP-led legislature in the country will try to cut teacher pay by 20% regardless of if the school day is made longer to make up for not being in school on the 5th day.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
11 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle I just retired from 21 years in the classroom, so anything affecting teachers will affect my friends and former colleagues. I can see the GOP using the 4 day week to drive more teachers out of the profession in their long-term goal to end public education and turn the entire process over to their select parochial and for-profit benefactors.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
I thought of the teacher pay issue, as well. But to be fair, they would be teaching the same amount of time, and most of us are well aware that teachers give a LOT of extra time to students. I have teacher friends and family--they are constantly buying school supplies, shoes, coats, etc. for a child without. I will back the teachers, every single time.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
@DWDavis
And if that happens, it will not end well. We need public education, and we need our teachers!
Congrats on your retirement, and I hope you enjoy it a lot!
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
It was said by several news sources that it would only really lengthen the school days by 35-40 minutes. Surely that could be tolerated. My kids would have loved this.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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12 Aug 23
My area is considering it but maybe in the future as schools start here next Friday and they cannot do that type of major change in such a short time.
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
I know everyone is different, some might enjoy it and it could be a big hardship for others.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181721)
• United States
11 Aug 23
For some families a day of childcare expense would be very difficult. I just hope that the children will be getting a FULL education. So many kids today can't read or do simple math.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38702)
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11 Aug 23
The 4 day arrangement is not cutting any class time. The states all have mandatory amounts of time that the students have to be in class, and they have to comply. It lengthens the school days by about 35-40 minutes.
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@LindaOHio (181721)
• United States
12 Aug 23
@MarieCoyle That's good to hear; but there is still the problem of finding childcare.
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@MarieCoyle (38702)
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12 Aug 23
@LindaOHio
And childcare is at a premium, now. It is so very expensive. Many, many communities are like mine--there is not a good number of day care centers, etc. for parents to use. If they can't find someone to care for their children, they can't work. An endless circle.
1 person likes this
