What are the negative effects of a 4 day school week?

One study found that the four-day week may hurt reading scores more than math scores. A large study released last year found that the shorter schedule held back student achievement in small-town and suburban districts but had little or no effect in rural districts.

What are the disadvantages of a 4 day school week?

The Cons. THE SCHEDULE IS INEQUITABLE. THE COST SAVINGS IS MINIMAL FOR MOST. LONGER DAYS ARE TOUGH ON YOUNGER STUDENTS.

Why is it bad to go to school for 4 days?

Fewer hours mean lower grades, research shows

Students on a four-day schedule, especially those with the least hours in school, have lower English language arts and math scores than students on a five-day schedule.

How would a 4 day school week affect students mental health?

Parents repeatedly emphasize its effect on childrens' mental health and overall well-being. Many Life School students and parents report reduced feelings of stress and burnout. A shorter school week means fewer days of intense academics, allowing everyone to recharge over the long weekend.

What are the cons of shorter school days?

Why School Should Only Be 4 Days A Week

Should school be 4 days a week pros and cons?

Researchers found that Oklahoma high schools saw less fighting and bullying among students after switching from a five-day-a-week schedule to a four-day schedule. However, the researchers also found that a four-day schedule had “no detectable effect” on student attendance or scores on the ACT college entrance exam.

Why would shorter school days be bad?

Our children could end up losing large amounts of classroom learning - and then they would need even more private lessons to close the education gap. There is no possible way to reduce the day by even one hour without a negative effect on how much and how well our children learn.

Does a 4 day school week improve sleep?

A 2021 study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that 4-day/week elementary kids got more sleep during the school week than 5-day/week kids, but middle and high school sleep remained the same. Call this one a draw.

Does a 4 day school week reduce stress?

A four day school week will help alleviate some of the rising stress levels in our students, while aiming to enhance student, teacher, and parent mental health. It will help provide better opportunities, allow for time to strengthen families, and shift towards student-centered learning.

Does a 4 day school week improves attendance?

The researchers found that student attendance may have improved slightly at the four-day schools, but the difference was not statistically meaningful. They found that younger students reported getting more sleep, but not students in middle or high school.

Why should school be 5 days a week and not 4?

Coming to school five days per week provides the best consistency and routine for children, which we believe is fundamental to strong development at this early, formative age.

Why 5 day school weeks are bad?

The long school days are hard on students and staff. They struggle to get through the day and if they have activities, these kids are working 10-12 hour days. It's too much for our kids. Another teacher, however, said the 4-day week gives them more time to plan, so they like it more than they thought they would.

Are long school days bad?

With such long hours, the students are often left with little to no time to complete their homework and this can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety. Moreover, the long hours can take away from the quality of education that students are getting.

Is a 4-day work week better?

Engagement, Wellbeing and Burnout by Number of Days Worked

Overall, employees who work four days a week have 56% thriving wellbeing. For fully on-site employees, those who work four days a week have 57% thriving wellbeing, versus only 49% when working five days a week.

Why is a school year 180 days?

The American school year is 180 days to follow the agrarian calender. The idea being that your long summer would allow your school children to tend to the family farm during the harvesting season.

Should school days be shorter pros?

One of the arguments in favor of shorter school days is that they could increase the efficiency and effectiveness of instructional time, as teachers and students would be more focused and motivated during the limited hours of class. It could also reduce the associated cost of childcare.

How does a four day work week affect mental health?

It Reduces Stress and Burnout

The primary mental health benefit of a 4-day work week is the reduction in continuous work pressure. The UK's Four-Day Week Pilot, a 2022 trial program involving 61 companies and around 2,900 employees, assessed the benefits of a 4-day work week.

Are mental health days from school good?

Mental health days are important because they give kids time at home to recharge. Whether your child is struggling with a mental health challenge or just a rough week, a day off to recuperate can reduce stress and help them get back on track.

How does school affect mental health?

When facing academic stress, adolescents and young adults are more likely to develop anxiety or depression. They also experience less well-being and tend to do poorly in school. When given a better academic situation, or academic support, research suggests that students experience improved mental health.

Why is 4 days of school good?

Students are more rested and focused and therefore less likely to disrupt class, be off task or engage in other behaviors requiring discipline. Fewer class disruptions result in more engaged teaching and learning.

Is 3 hours of sleep enough for a school day?

How much sleep someone needs depends on their age. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours per 24 hours and teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours.

How many hours of sleep does a 4 year old need for school?

Preschool: Preschool-aged children who are 3 to 5 years old should get around 10 to 13 total hours of sleep per day . During this time, naps may get shorter, or a preschooler may stop napping on a regular basis. School-Age: School-age children should sleep for a total of 9 to 12 hours every day.

How do 4 day school weeks affect teachers?

Teachers reported feeling less burned out and missing fewer instructional days due to illness or exhaustion. And while they spent time working on school tasks like grading and lesson planning over the weekend, they had more time to prepare for the coming week.

What countries have shorter school days?

Finland and Brazil, known for their progressive educational systems, average a 5-hour school day, focusing on efficiency and student well-being. Germany presents the shortest average school day, with students spending only 4 hours and 30 minutes in school.

Are shorter school hours better?

Shorter school days gives the student more time outside of school to accommodate other aspects of their life. This means a student finally has the time to maintain and work on their mental health. Whether this is in the form of getting restful sleep, decompressing, or pursuing hobbies!