Persuasive Essay On Four Day School Week
Have you ever wondered if there was a way for you to have four days of school every week, but still get in the state-required hours? The four-day school week plan is a plan that can satisfy your school’s needs. You might ask, “what is it, exactly?” The four-day school week plan is pretty self-explanatory, but it basically is a plan for a school district to only have school for four days a week, but with longer hours to compensate for the fifth day. Schools should use the four-day school week plan because it can lower outgoing costs, improve the school’s overall mood/attitude, and impact the students’ test scores in a very positive way. The first reason as to why schools should implement this plan is because schools, especially ones in less fortunate communities, would save tons of money on costs. For example, “...if facilities are used only four days per week instead of five, there is a significant
…show more content…
reduction in utility costs to the system.” Schools would not have to worry about funding school breakfast and lunch programs on the extra day, so the money spent on that would be reduced by 20%. In addition, costs associated with transportation like buses, fuel, and driver payment would be less than the five-day system (Bradley). In schools like Peach County in Georgia, “substitute costs are down 78%,” and, “transportation costs [are] down 35%,” plus, “utility costs are down by 8%” (Hadfield). It certainly seems as though the four-day school week plan is a feasible solution to any school’s financial struggles.
Another reason schools should carry out the four-day school week plan is because there is a better teacher and student morale. The school week would give “...an opportunity for extra rest and a less stressful environment.” This extra day could also be used for students to help out their community, which would, in turn, make them feel good about themselves and have a better attitude when they're at school overall (Bradley). The week could also provide improved learning for students. “This means that students seem to be focusing more in the classroom and increasing the amount of knowledge that is retained.” Also, attendance has risen in schools studied that have the four-day school week. This is because “...parents will schedule doctor’s appointments on off days,” plus, “students simply improve their attendance when there are less days that are accounted for.” (Editor) The last reason that schools should make use of the four-day school week is because in most studies, students are shown to have improved test scores.
In a study done with 14 schools, researchers noticed that the schools’ 4th and 5th graders had improved math scores. They were expecting the opposite, since the elementary schoolers’ attention spans are shorter, but in the study, the 4th and 5th graders showed that they could handle it (Dawn). In addition to this, other schools, like Oak Ridge School District in Oregon, and Peach County in Georgia, also experienced their students achieving higher test scores (Bradley). These children getting higher test scores could not have been a coincidence. These scores come from the students retaining more information and focusing more in the classroom, which is what a four-day school week would bring to all schools that adopted this system. In fact, “The longer days might give teachers an opportunity to use different kinds of instructional processes,” says a teacher from a school that practices the four-day school week
(Schouten).
Some people who are contrary to this system might argue that this plan could result in higher costs toward parents, for child care services on the off day. In response to this, children that are not trusted home alone (such as elementary schoolers) should not have the four-day school plan, and instead only have the plan for middle and high schools in their district. Also, they might argue that the longer school days are too much for children because they have to focus for a longer amount of time. In response to this, it is not true that kids will not be able to focus for a longer amount of time. As shown in this paper, 4th and 5th graders achieved higher test scores with this four-day school week. This means that middle and high schoolers should have no problem achieving this same thing that 4th and 5th graders achieved. In conclusion, the four-day school week is a fair solution to all schools’ financial struggles and test scores, as well as overall mood. The plan lowers costs for the school, improves the attitude/mood overall, and strengthens students’ test scores. The week would give students higher average test scores, as shown in studies, and would give them an opportunity to help out their community, family or themselves with homework. Lots of studies done can support the information presented, and lots of schools already use this system every day, so it is proven as a feasible idea that can strongly impact the community in a positive way.This plan would be wonderful for any district, and just think, who wouldn’t want a three-day weekend?
reduction in utility costs to the system.” Schools would not have to worry about funding school breakfast and lunch programs on the extra day, so the money spent on that would be reduced by 20%. In addition, costs associated with transportation like buses, fuel, and driver payment would be less than the five-day system (Bradley). In schools like Peach County in Georgia, “substitute costs are down 78%,” and, “transportation costs [are] down 35%,” plus, “utility costs are down by 8%” (Hadfield). It certainly seems as though the four-day school week plan is a feasible solution to any school’s financial struggles.
Another reason schools should carry out the four-day school week plan is because there is a better teacher and student morale. The school week would give “...an opportunity for extra rest and a less stressful environment.” This extra day could also be used for students to help out their community, which would, in turn, make them feel good about themselves and have a better attitude when they're at school overall (Bradley). The week could also provide improved learning for students. “This means that students seem to be focusing more in the classroom and increasing the amount of knowledge that is retained.” Also, attendance has risen in schools studied that have the four-day school week. This is because “...parents will schedule doctor’s appointments on off days,” plus, “students simply improve their attendance when there are less days that are accounted for.” (Editor) The last reason that schools should make use of the four-day school week is because in most studies, students are shown to have improved test scores.
In a study done with 14 schools, researchers noticed that the schools’ 4th and 5th graders had improved math scores. They were expecting the opposite, since the elementary schoolers’ attention spans are shorter, but in the study, the 4th and 5th graders showed that they could handle it (Dawn). In addition to this, other schools, like Oak Ridge School District in Oregon, and Peach County in Georgia, also experienced their students achieving higher test scores (Bradley). These children getting higher test scores could not have been a coincidence. These scores come from the students retaining more information and focusing more in the classroom, which is what a four-day school week would bring to all schools that adopted this system. In fact, “The longer days might give teachers an opportunity to use different kinds of instructional processes,” says a teacher from a school that practices the four-day school week
(Schouten).
Some people who are contrary to this system might argue that this plan could result in higher costs toward parents, for child care services on the off day. In response to this, children that are not trusted home alone (such as elementary schoolers) should not have the four-day school plan, and instead only have the plan for middle and high schools in their district. Also, they might argue that the longer school days are too much for children because they have to focus for a longer amount of time. In response to this, it is not true that kids will not be able to focus for a longer amount of time. As shown in this paper, 4th and 5th graders achieved higher test scores with this four-day school week. This means that middle and high schoolers should have no problem achieving this same thing that 4th and 5th graders achieved. In conclusion, the four-day school week is a fair solution to all schools’ financial struggles and test scores, as well as overall mood. The plan lowers costs for the school, improves the attitude/mood overall, and strengthens students’ test scores. The week would give students higher average test scores, as shown in studies, and would give them an opportunity to help out their community, family or themselves with homework. Lots of studies done can support the information presented, and lots of schools already use this system every day, so it is proven as a feasible idea that can strongly impact the community in a positive way.This plan would be wonderful for any district, and just think, who wouldn’t want a three-day weekend?