By: Mercedes Alejandre
Many progressive and innovative companies and schools are moving to a four-day week; Neuwirth should too
Do you think that a four-day school week would be beneficial to students and teachers? A four-day school week would mean longer days, but a shorter week. This would give students and teachers an extra day added to their weekend. Research proves that a four-day school week would be beneficial to students and teachers and for the school’s financial gain. Research from the article, "Focus on the School Calendar: The Four Day School Week'' states "As savings were realized, they were able to redirect the money to support efforts," which gives students an extra opportunity to get extra help for them to be able to raise their grades. Mr. Stempel, a 9th grade STEM teacher at Neuwirth, says that “it helps them get stuff done that they need to do and it is more flexible. That attendance rate has increased when schools go to a 4 day school week. It gives families extra time to get work done and students don’t have to miss school to help their parents out. It also helps the school districts to save money as well as help teachers jobs more manageable. This also helps because it will be easier for the school districts to hire new people.”
There are concerns about the effect a four-day school week would have on academics. Studies show that in ”Oregon State University,” high schoolers that participated in a four-day school week performed worse on math standardized tests than those that stayed to a typical five-day schedule. Even though the performance in the math test is different on a four-day or five-day school week, the reading scores are roughly the same.
I believe that Neuwirth should have a four-day school week because it can help students and teachers get more time with their families. Furthermore, it can help students finish work and homework, get more rest, and participate in clubs and sports while not getting stressed over if they will have time to be able to participate because of all the hours spent in school. It will be able to help the teachers do their work and they won’t feel a lot of pressure to get everything done on time and they won’t be behind on work and won’t need to take a lot of work home.
The benefits of the four-day school week are obvious. It’s time for Alliance College Ready Public Schools to be leaders in education and be innovative to try a solution that will result in the health and happiness of students, teachers, families, and community partners.