Charting the Course of Teaching and Learning in a Networked World

FOUR DAY SCHOOLS...NO! NO!

EDUCATION IN TROUBLE

The move is on to create a four day school week. The idea is to increase the school day by one hour and reduce the number of days to four in an effort to save money and reduce more damaging cost cutting measures.

BAD IDEA.

Many parents in effect use school as a baby sitting measure. They have to work. Now if you do not have school on a Monday or Friday what will happen? Parents who work and can’t afford a daytime baby sitter will have a problem, the size of which will increase with the age of the child.

Older children can just be left at home. What do think will happen with this idleness?
I predict trouble. I predict an increase in teen pregnancy. I predict increase in underage crime.

So is there a solution?

Many years ago the Memphis City School System integrated the public schools. The same day NO whites attended the schools. They all went to Church schools. It was amazing. In one day all the churches had established schools. Black students were bussed from all black schools to all white schools that had no white students. It stayed that way for four years.

ACTION STEP:
Churches can spring in action. I know it is possible. All churched black, white, whatever should start one day exploratory classes to keep students off the streets. Churches should particularly set up classes for younger kids.

What are poor parents who can’t afford sitters to do.

ACTION STEP:

Form TEAMS. Work together. If a twenty person TEAM can de formed, A parent baby sitter can work.
There is a way.

Four day school week is a bad idea. We need an increase from a 180 day school year to a 220 day school year. We need a school life span to increase from 12 years to 14 years. There is so much more to learn.

Stimulus money is needed for education not CEO bonuses.

ACTION STEP: I am asking teachers to volunteer ONE day a week to keep the schools open.

0 members like this

Comment

You need to be a member of The Future of Education to add comments!

Join The Future of Education

Comment by William Lambert on March 10, 2010 at 9:08am: I agree with you
I do not like the four day week idea either

Comment by Jeffrey Fuller on March 10, 2010 at 8:19am: Sorry, That will never work. Civil Liberties will be all over it. In my own opinion cutting the school week to four days will have no cost cutting effects what so ever. Because there are children that can't be left home alone, public schools would be forced into remaining open on their off days to give kids some place to go. Real cost saving would be effective if states were more supportive of online learning and give students a choice. I believe the on campus population could be reduced, therefore reducing over all operating costs. Less electricity, less transportation, less fuel costs, etc. Too, think of the positive effects this could have on the environment, cost of living expenses, road etc.

RSS

Welcome to
The Future of Education

Sign Up
or Sign In

Reviews

"The depth of your observations from last night is still resonating with me. I'm trying to think of another interview I've given where the questioner understood the material so well that he/she so regularly (and fluidly) went into new intellectual territory. I can't think of any. Pretty amazing. Thank you."

-David Shenk

"Steve is one of the most influential yet understated individuals in the world of Education. He gives thought leaders a widely attended global platform to voice their ideas to transform Education, and he does so with tremendous respect and intelligence."

-Charles Fadel

"Steve conducted the most in-depth interview I've ever been through and I enjoyed it to boot!"
-Doc Searls

"Steve is the Oprah of education."

-Monika Hardy's Students

"The nicest guy in ed tech."

-Rushton Hurley

"Steve is a national treasure."

-Leonard Waks

"Steve Hargadon is one of the most important change-makers of our time!"

-Connie Weber