Is Four Days Enough?

The Lancaster School District, which is south of Dallas, is attempting to receive the Texas Education Agency's approval for a four-day school week. By doing so, they will save an immense amount of money, which will help make up for funding deficits in the budget. The district also believes this four-day school week will improve students' academics, as students will feel less mentally and physically drained than when enduring a five day week. I don't support this proposal, though, of the Lancaster School District because if would not be universal throughout all public schools in Texas, which I find hard to see as fair. From a student's perspective who just recently graduated high school, I know I would hate it if I was going to school five days a week and my friend only four. It also seems like it would be very hard to learn all of the required curriculum and beyond in a four-day week. Switching from five-day weeks to four days also presents problems for some parents as they will have to worry about childcare and what their children are up to on Fridays. I know as a student, I would love to have four-day weeks because it wouldn't be so draining and you'd have more free time, but I don't see how it could actually boost academics or how it's fair for one district to implement this new schedule and not all public districts in Texas. Yes, students would have more free time, but chances are it will be used for recreational purposes, not for studies. Some subjects, such as mathematics, require daily practice so one doesn't forget the material. Having school less days may also lead students to work more hours, pulling them further from academics. Lastly, if Lancaster were to go to a four-day week, would teachers in that district get paid similar amounts as those in other districts, or less since they will only work four-day weeks rather than five. Unless the district if lengthening the school year to make up for the days off from a four-day week, or having longer school days than those of a five-day week, I don't think it's fair for teachers in the Lancaster District to earn salaries as high as those in other Districts with the longer week. If we're concerned about no child being left behind, quality education for all students should be top priority, not saving a few bucks.

View the complete article at: http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/07/25/0725shortweek.html