Deseret News | Reader comments: 4-day school week a hit in Rich

Reader comments
4-day school week a hit in Rich

Anonymous | 3:34 a.m. July 25, 2008

To say it wouldn't work in urban districts because of child care issues is equivalent to saying that our urban schools = babysitting services.

Of course it would work in urban areas. Just like it does in summer. Parents have to adjust but it would work.

Babysitting should not be the focus of the decision.

Just Some Guy | 4:58 a.m. July 25, 2008

This sounds like a bad idea. I am self employed and this kind of schedule would never work for me or anyone I know who is employed with their own business. This is just another way for teachers to get more money for less work.(again) Kinda looks like the goal here. Another thing - If the state keeps giving more money and benefits for less work, then how is the real American dream supposed to compete. Maybe we should just have the government take over everything like my construction company and then we can all have 4 day work weeks with all benefits and donï¿½t forget summers off. I think itï¿½s a problem when you can make more money in less time working for the government than being employed for yourself or private company. ( It's cool to stay in school - you can do it government workers - we all do. )/

GQ | 5:18 a.m. July 25, 2008

I can think of a few better ways to save money than this. How about booting the lazy employees for starters. Wait, this is an opportunity for government to spend more money, we should all be celebrating.

Comments continue below

Boblog | 7:50 a.m. July 25, 2008

To Just Some Guy:
Some in the construction industry are already doing the four 10's, and like it. Others in the oil industry are doing 7 days on and 7 off, 8 days on, 6 off, and 14 days on and 14 days off, etc.

There's no reason to criticize an employer (in this case, the State) for trying to be more efficient and doing what may work.

maybe a good idea | 7:48 a.m. July 25, 2008

I find it interesting the comments about teachers getting paid the same and only having to work four days. Wow they are really raking in the big bucks now! The teachers I know bring work home many nights as they have to check, correct, and grade their student's homework. All of this without extra pay. One thing the article doesn't mention is if the school day has been lengthened to make up for the fifth day. At first read I assumed we were looking at 10 hour days as there were also references to the states 4-day work week.

great idea | 7:57 a.m. July 25, 2008

I think it would work in urban areas, too. It seems like the savings in gasoline alone, from cutting 20% of the bus routes each year, would be worth it--but it would also save on utilities and the staff needed for food services in all the schools. We need to find ways to cut costs since the state budget gets tighter each year. The extra day off could be used to offer services to support students who are behind or those who want to get ahead.

Phil | 8:19 a.m. July 25, 2008

I'm unclear--do these Rich County school days last longer? If not, how can they say the students are getting what they need by cutting out 20 percent of class time?

To: Just Some Guy | 8:23 a.m. July 25, 2008

Well it looks like you have hit an all-time low! YOU ARE JEALOUS OF A SCHOOL TEACHER!!! Haha, how can you be jealous, and take shots at people who make a whopping $35k a year. I'm sorry your privately owned business must be in the tank, but if your that desperate school districts hire year round!!!! Or is the real truth your in a privately owned business because you knew to much to go to college?? fact or fiction? probably fact! Does "im self-employed" really mean im unemployed but i don't want anyone to know? And the truth is shown!

NLN | 8:31 a.m. July 25, 2008

When I was in school 15 years ago we did the 4 day week. I think it was a good idea. Kids were in school more we all got better grades. If kids needed a little bit of extra help they were able to go in on Friday from 8-11 and get the one-on-one. All sports were scheduled on Fridays, but I think it also helped the parents because if they were going out of town they planned it for Friday and the kids did not have to make up any work. A 4 day school week if benificial in every way possible

justthinking | 8:45 a.m. July 25, 2008

About 4 months ago the local paper (Nephi Times) printed out a list of teachers and administrators yearly incomes MANY MANY were way OVER 35k so possibly your 35k earners are working for the wrong school district. Personally I think a 4 day school week would work well for my son he would be more likely to attend regularly and yes attendance is a problem for him and me.

Observer | 9:03 a.m. July 25, 2008

The school days are lengthened a half hour or more to make up for the time of Fridays. Also there is a period of 3 hours 8-11 in which teachers are expected to be at school either helping those students who need additional help or preparing for the next week. Students really are in class more when all the activities are scheduled for the weekend. It is not uncommon in the little schools to have 3 or 4 days in a row where students miss a couple of hours to attend activities. It is difficult for the school and students. By moving activities to only 2 days districts could schedule both boys and girls activities together to save on transportation cost. Just a thought.

ChristineKnee | 9:06 a.m. July 25, 2008

I would support a 4 day school week for my children. I think it would be an adjustment for childcare, but I like the idea of 4 longer days and no short day! I think short day is a waste of a day anyway. I remember being in school and all of our class periods were shortened and we treated short day like a party day.

handlebar in Wyoming | 9:04 a.m. July 25, 2008

It is plain to see that most of previous comments don't know diddly squat about what they are commenting on. Here in Wyoming we have at least one district that has been running a four day week for year with great success. And to you cry babies whining because you have to work 5 days aweek, I'm not sure how Rich's schedule runs, but here the teachers work the 5 days. They are either having inservice training, grading papers, or tudoring students that need extra help on fridays. Maybe before you all start complaining you should go into a regular class room on a friday and see how many students are gone because of sports and other extra curricular activities. I have been married to an English Teach for over 30 years and during that time I wish I had a dollar for every evening she spent at home grading papers for your students that can't write and in alot of cases have no interest in learning. And by the way when did school become baby sitters?

Anonymous | 9:10 a.m. July 25, 2008

Of course the day is longer if they only go 4 days.

I think the requirement used to be 990 hours or 180 days.

It would be great for the kids and I'd love the extra time I could spend with my kids with a 3 day weekend every week!

Been There Done That | 9:14 a.m. July 25, 2008

I taught on a four day week for several years and there are benefits, the greatest being that when school was in session the kids were there as opposed to being on a bus traveling to some extracurricular activity 200 miles away. The state mandates 990 hours of classroom time. This means that the school day must be lengthened in order to meet the needed number of hours. Under the traditional 5 day system students could miss, in some cases, as much as 10-15% of class time engaging in sports, drama, and other activities. The 4 day week mandates that all activities be held on Friday and Saturday, eliminating this missed class time. Since urban schools tend to travel shorter distances, the benefit would not be as great for them.

To just some guy: The hours work out the same down to the minute. In fact I can honestly say from my experience that the 5 day week was far less taxing on me physically and mentally that the longer days of the four day week. I needed every minute of the long weekend just to get ready for Monday morning. But, yes the extra day off was nice.

Babysitter | 9:22 a.m. July 25, 2008

Let's see: My daughter gets $3 per hour per kid for babysitting. Average class size in Utah is around 32 students most years and they go to school for 990 hours. 32x3x990= $95,040/yr. Thanks to my public education I can do the Math. Where can I sign up?

Cheap Babysitter | 9:49 a.m. July 25, 2008

Wow, where I live (in CA), kids get $7 to $10 an hour for babysitting. You Utah parents are cheap!

Kindergarten Teacher | 9:57 a.m. July 25, 2008

I think that a 4 day school week would work well in the secondary schools, but not for elementary schools. I teach an extended day kindergarten class and have 5 and 6 year olds who really struggle with being at school for 8 hours. I couldn't imagine keeping them there for an additional 2! Young children don't have the attention span to sit in a classroom for that long. Keep the 4 day school week in the secondary system.

As for all of you ragging on all us poor school teachers who get the summers off, you try being a teacher! It isn't an easy job working on average 60 hours a week (with all the take home grading and lesson prep) for 36 weeks! We are very deserving of our summers off! We also have to work very hard to increase our salaries, money is rarely just handed to us. New teachers in my district start just under 36K a year, and have to work very hard taking professional development courses and graduate school classes to increase their yearly pay, which is also very time consuming.

Visit your child's school. You might learn to appreciate their teachers hard work!

Sharron | 9:59 a.m. July 25, 2008

I haven't worked a 5 day work week for years. Sometimes it was 3 12 hour shifts, now I work a 24 and a 16 hour shift. It's great to have 5 days off in my work week. I've always learned to adjust and I had a child. If you haven't figured out all the costs for having children, and that includes day care or being a stay-at-home parent, then you shouldn't be having children. If I've had to pay for child care, I budgeted it in. At one point I quit my job because it was more expensive to work than to stay home. Learning to adjust is the best way to keep a job. I predict that in a year most people will really like the four day work weeks and find them much more productive.

Friday Activities | 10:04 a.m. July 25, 2008

Who do you think takes the long bus rides with the kids from rural schools on Fridays and Saturdays? Who coaches the kids? Teachers do. With a longer school day Mon-Th, all practices just start later every day.

This is all just to save fuel and utility costs. Many teachers will hate a 4 day week because they will have to work harder to stay caught up. They will end up working on Fridays anyway. You can bet the heat or air conditioning won't be turned on on Fridays for teachers that need the day to stay prepared and check assignments.

The hours are the same. | 10:08 a.m. July 25, 2008

Some fools here seem to think this is a way of getting out of work. Wrong!!! The state mandates how many hours each child must spend in the classroom each year (for public schools). There would be no fewer hours spent in the classroom. There would be HUGE savings in fuel costs! A 20% reduction per year sounds pretty good to my tax dollar right now, especially with the current fuel prices that aren't coming down any time soon.

Don't forget about school staff | 10:22 a.m. July 25, 2008

This isn't just about teachers, by the way. There are many office workers and staff workers that must work year round, whether school is in session or not.

Daughter of Two Teachers | 10:28 a.m. July 25, 2008

To everyone thinking that teachers get paid more than they are worth. Combined my parents barely make enough to pay their bills, let alone All the school supplies that they Have to provide for their own classroom. It's all out-of-pocket. And this coming year my Mom said that her school isn't going to be able to pay for air conditioning because they've switched from being a year round school to going tradition.
Don't say that teachers are getting paid more for less work either. I don't go visit my parents a lot because they are either too busy correcting papers, preparing the next week/months lessons, entering grades onto the computer, AND trying to do housework all at the same time. And this is after they get home from school from "babysitting" the kids there. That's all the kids think of school. Another place to be babysat. Too many kids are being put in child care services that to them school is just another place to be babied.
I'm sure my parents would welcome the four-day work week just so they can stay on top of all that they are required to do. And maybe even get a second job.

Ilandra | 10:46 a.m. July 25, 2008

This would be a great idea. Heck it might even work in a place like I live in. My daughter goes to school 5 days a week and 8 hours a day. Then on the weekends they have their school plays and stuff no wonder the kids have so many absences. They are just as tired as the adults who have pretty much the same schedual

Daughter of Two Teachers cont.. | 10:51 a.m. July 25, 2008

Switching to a four-day work week would only help those teachers who are not also coaches. My dad is a track coach. AND as mentioned above- both my parents also have to take continued education classes just so they can have teaching jobs.
So on top of teaching, grading, entering (putting everything onto the school's website), preparing, and Buying supplies my parents also have their Own schoolwork and time spent as a student. When are they supposed to be able to do housework? During the summer my parents continue to take classes and still are in the classroom more than the kids. Who's getting the better deal?

Bill from South Dakota | 11:05 a.m. July 25, 2008

As far as teachers making too much for too little work goes... most of that is hog wash! Granted you will always have a few slackers but for the most part teachers put in far more hours than they are compensated for. Our society has its priorities all screwed up.......

Now as for the original premise of this story, we have several rural school districts here in western South Dakota that run on a 4 day school week. Fridays are typically used for teacher inservice or training of some type. I would like to see our urban area school look into this also however most of our urban school do not provide bussing to school so that opportunity to cut costs substantially does not exist.

How about this idea... | 11:39 a.m. July 25, 2008

Forget about the 4 day school week. How about a system where a semesters ends before Christmas and Memorial Day? Ever since I was a kid we always had two weeks worth of school to come back to after the Christmas break. My kids have to do it now. I never understood why the calendar had to work this way.

I live in Orem and our kids start school on August 18th this year. I personally hate school starting this early; however, as long as we are doing this, let's start it a week earlier, cut out any unneccessary days off, and finish the the semester the week before Christmas. Then start school again a week after New Year's and end it the week before Memorial day. Schools in Austin, Texas do this and according to our family members who live there, it works great. And the kids in Austin aren't suffering poor education either (not saying ours do, because I actually feel the Alpine School District does well in this area).

If we are looking for ways to reform our school calendars, let's do it from the ground up with a system that really works!

All of this | 11:49 a.m. July 25, 2008

4 day a week stuff might work to save money and energy for that particular state, county, city or school, but it does nothing for the overall energy crisis. If you are not working on Friday you will be out playing or running errands. So if most of the state is not working or in school, they will be out burning up fuel. In the long run, this does nothing to help the overall energy crunch.

Anonymous Who? | 12:21 p.m. July 25, 2008

Spoken like a true single person or stay at home parent. Plain and simple. Retaliate as you will, Anonymous, but unless you have CC issues and CARE where your children are at, you wouldn't understand the dilemma.

Rich Alumni | 1:05 p.m. July 25, 2008

When I attended Rich about 10 years ago we had a 4-day week some of the years that I was in school. It is necessary for those who participated in sports in order to not miss classes and tests. We had to travel to Moab, Monticello, and San Juan for football and to all of the schools in the Uintah basin for basketball. All of the other sports had long many long trips as well. Getting on a bus at 5 AM to play a 7 PM game does not mesh well with school attendance. School was about 40 min longer per day with no short days that other districts had. My education was great, I began college just as prepared as any other student.

Livin' in Rich | 1:44 p.m. July 25, 2008

My kids are in elementary school in Rich County. The 4 day week was a little stressful at first, but it is nice having friday's to plan dr. visits, dentists, etc. because everything is 2 hours away from us. This way we don't have to miss any school work to make these appointments. I am sure when my kids are older and participating in sports we will appreciate it more.

re: Just some guy | 2:02 p.m. July 25, 2008

Must be some "going venture" your big construction company is when you feel teachers are making more than you? Teachers might have the summers off but in my experience most need a second job to make ends meet.

As for inner city schools, yes many of the kids and parents just see it as child care, I taught at some that were a joke, no fault of the teachers.

Love Four Day Weeks | 2:00 p.m. July 25, 2008

I attended Beaver High School in the 1990s and we had a four day school week. It gave those of us from farm families and with financial obligations of our own the chance to work Friday and Saturday. Also, if we needed to we could go in on Fridays for a 1/2 day and get tutoring or one-on-one help from one of the teachers. It was the best of both worlds. This was all done BEFORE there was an energy crisis (gas was at one time .89 cents a gallon. I remembering dragging main just to burn more expensive gas so I could fill up with the cheaper gas -- go figure, the mind of a pubescent teenager!) Go for the four day weeks. You'll have no regrets.

Teacherteacher | 2:23 p.m. July 25, 2008

I am a teacher, an athletic director, and a coach. A 4 day week would actually increase productivity across the board in my opinion. All extracurriculars could be scheduled for weekends, absenteeism would be down, hiring subs for teachers in workshops would be down because workshops could be scheduled on Fridays. etc.. As for those of you who think teachers make a lot of money...that is a joke. I am at school by 7am at the latest, don't get home until 7pm most nights, I bring home work, call parents, answer emails, take continuing education classes, raise my own family, etc... all in the few remaining hours each night. Summer break you say? I have been at school or doing something related to school almost every day of the break. I closed out last year just in time to get to work on this year. Teachers EARN every cent of our insulting salaries. Did I mention I have a master's degree, as do most teachers? I am still paying for it as I continue to pay for recertification courses and continuing ed courses and school supplies. We do it because we love it and YOUR kids.

Orem Parent | 3:02 p.m. July 25, 2008

I love the idea of ending the first semester before Christmas. I've noticed that in 7th grade the science classes are only one semester. The kids take two weeks off for Christmas then come back and take an end of level test. Right after having two weeks off!!!!

That can't be good for test scores. Just start a week earlier and get the kids out before Memorial day.

I would bet that parents would support that calendar by a huge majority!

I'm sure teachers would as well.

Dixie | 3:36 p.m. July 25, 2008

Washington County set their schedule for several years so that 1st quarter ended at UEA break, 2nd quarter ended at Christmas, 3rd at Spring break and 4th obviously at Summer break. All that and out before Memorial Day. It was absolutely, without a doubt, hands down the best calendar I ever taught under.

Sandie | 3:42 p.m. July 25, 2008

I am not a teacher nor have I ever been. I like the idea of a 4 day week with less out of school time for athletics etc. I would hope the school districts, in Utah, would look into this program.

Meeteetse Parent | 3:58 p.m. July 25, 2008

I have lived in rural Wyoming for the last 2 years where my children attend a 4 day school week. My husband also teaches at the same K-12 school. My kids are getting a better education than they have in the past on a 5 day week because no extracurricular activities are scheduled. If they want to have a field trip, they go on Friday. All sports and other curricular activities are on Thursday evening or on the weekend.

All teachers work a five day week and with rare exception get time off to go to Dr. appts etc. As a former teacher I have seen the morale of the staff and students at this school excel, along with the kids doing better than their peers in an academic setting.

This 4 day school could work on an urban basis, but only if there is community and parental support like there is here. Don't asssume what the 4 day school week is like unless you have been there and lived it.

Former teacher | 4:11 p.m. July 25, 2008

I taught in Coalville when they had a four-day school week in the early 90s. Yes, their days were longer. I felt it was very productive and worked well for all involved.

LoveToTeach | 6:34 p.m. July 25, 2008

Teacherteacher I appreciated your comments! I too ended the school year and immediately began prep for this upcoming one. I have taught over 20 years, have a Masters and work as hard for my students during the summer as I do during the school year. I love what I do but have held second and third jobs over the years to make ends meet as well as work all summer at another job. A 4 day work week would allow for parent meetings, grading, mounds of paper work, teaming and a catch up day for some students. i wish our district would consider this.

Anonymous | 7:18 p.m. July 25, 2008

End the first semester BEFORE Christmas like the universities do.

PLEASE!!!!

Moms Need to Be Moms | 8:52 p.m. July 25, 2008

If moms would just stay at home and raise their kids like they are supposed to, "child care" wouldn't have been discussed in this article.

I'm a teacher | 12:17 a.m. July 26, 2008

I can't say whether I'm for or against a four day work week but I'd be willing to give it a try. No, teachers would not work less - we're REQUIRED to work a certain number of hours per year. If we eliminate school on Fridays we'd have to split up the "Friday" time and put the hours into the other four days. I'd personally love a "prep" day - where I can enter grades, write worksheets, quizzes and tests. Grade homework, update my website, research ways to help my students and if students have the ability/motivation to come to school on their day off - TUTOR (I'm math).

Starting school in early August and ending first semester before Christmas - great idea IF you can talk Davis County into air conditioning all their schools. Currently, only the year round schools are air conditioned and I'm in a traditionally scheduled school. My classroom is consistantly 90+ degrees until the end of September. If we started two weeks earlier I'm pretty sure my class would hover around 95 degrees. I know people are thinking "She's got to be lying!" - but I'm not. I have a thermometer in my room.

Anonymous | 7:50 a.m. July 26, 2008

Call OSHA they can put a little pressure on the school district if you classroom is really that hot...

Now in MD | 11:20 a.m. July 27, 2008

We lived in Summit County about 12 years ago where they were forced to STOP having 4-day school weeks. It worked really well for us, we never understood why the state forced it to end.

San Juan | 12:03 p.m. July 28, 2008

Hey San Juan! Lets go to a four-day week! I am tired of my student wasting Fridays playing games or sitting. Most students are gone on Fridays to sporting activities and teachers don't want to introduce new material or give tests that day because of the need to re do on Monday! Let's do it!

Proud Mary | 9:57 p.m. July 29, 2008

RE:justthinking | 8:45 a.m. July 25, 2008

If teachers are making over 35K on average that means that they have taught for nearly six years. They do not start at that rate. While salaries have improved over the years, veterans will tell you that it took many of them over ten years to make that amount, which is rather sad when you think of the years of college teachers must have in order to get into the profession. Research this fact, why is there a record teacher shortage across the nation? Hint: $$$$$$, among many other things. Once again a person who knows nothing about education believing the media instead of seeking the truth and getting the facts on average teacher salaries. Consequently, you make ignorant rants and raves and as you state you cannnot even maintain good attendance for yourself and your son...pathetic!!! Just send him to school and let them there teachers baby-sit for ya but you will have to watch him on those off days, you good parent you!! Yeah, that's the ticket!!

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