At the end of the school week, on a Friday afternoon, high school students worldwide wait eagerly for their last class to end so they can be released for the weekend. Some students might have a birthday party or a yearly camping trip. Others may use the weekend to take a break from the stresses of school or the social dynamics with their friends. No matter what, not going to school for a few days gives high schoolers a short time of relief and freedom compared to the chaos during the week. However, as soon as students get comfortable with their short break, they notice that Sunday evening is already here and look down in despair as they pack their bags for tomorrow morning.
One possible solution to the dreaded feeling is shortening the traditional five-day school week into a four-day cycle. To maintain the required hours in school, each of the four days would increase evenly to accommodate the loss of a day.
What effects would a shortened school week have on students and school districts?
Increased Resting Time & Reduced Long-Term Stress: An extended weekend may allow students to feel more rested for their upcoming school week, resulting in greater productivity during academic hours. From QHHS IB junior Emma Gov, “Many people have weekend responsibilities and family obligations to attend to, so having an extended weekend would not only give more time for that but also sufficient time to rest and finish homework.”
Cost Savings for School Districts: One less day of school would significantly decrease the costs of running transportation, student meals, and utilities. Despite the cost savings, students who rely on free school meals may lose a day of guaranteed meals.
Schedule Flexibility: Many students who work part-time jobs outside of school are limited to how many hours they can work during the school week. Having an extra non-school day can alleviate some of the hours they would need to work for the rest of their weekend. Similarly, students with internships or other out-of-school responsibilities will have additional time in their schedules.
Personal Time: In many school districts, the release time is already very late in the day, meaning that extending the four school days would only cause more issues. QHHS junior Adrian Madrid stated, “We’re already getting home so late. It’s already at the point where I hardly have any time for myself.” To set aside enough time to cover the time lost on Friday, students would get even less time during the week to do their homework, let alone explore their hobbies.
A four-day school week will not automatically bring about sudden improvement in an entire student body. For some, the change would be helpful for one’s flexibility and help manage stress. On the other hand, many quality-of-life privileges like meals and time for self-exploration are just not possible during an accelerated school week of four days.
