By: Marcus Lund
Let’s be real. School can sometimes feel way too long. Especially after returning from online learning and 4 period days; students are getting burnt out. A four day school week would be an amazing way to take off some of the pressure and offer an additional 24 hours of rest.
Or would it?
The four day school week is starting to be implemented in different school districts across the nation, with both positive and negative results. Four day school weeks would probably mean longer school days to make up for lost hours, which was shown to be difficult for some students, especially younger ones.
The transition to a four day system has also caused a temporary decrease in test scores and grades as students get used to the system. One study even showed the four day school week leading to an increase in juvenile crime.
However, the four day school week also offers numerous positives that I, as a high school student, am tempted to favor. The four day school system reliably attracted new teacher hiring in almost all schools it was implemented in. It also caused some minor, but visible cost cuts.
Additionally, the four day week also decreased student absences. Stress relief and mental health have also shown positive improvement with the implementation. Students can spend more time with their families and friends, and both teachers and students can have a more even work-life balance.
Reliable academic benefits for the system have not been studied deeply yet, and conflicting information has been surfacing on the topic for some time.
The four day school week is becoming more and more popular across the U.S., and with
good reason. With around 560 school districts in 25 states containing schools testing the four
day school week, could Highland Park be next? Let’s wait and see.
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