Comments about ‘4-day school week won't work for all, ed officials say’

It has always been my opinion that public education is used as, and treated like it is a "Baby Sitter". The rational from those opposed to this issue seem to strengthen that belief.
Study after study show that our education methods are weak and ineffective but does that change what we do? No! Lets keep doing the same things that we've done in the past and HOPE it gets better.
Sounds like the definition of insanity to me.

The purpose of education should be to "EDUCATE" not to pamper, over see, or babysit. Fix problems and come up with solutions that work for the objective (to educate) and quit worrying about baby sitting!

This is no way to save money in education. Education is about learning and applying what they learn.

No one is willing to say why we have the established hours of school and education. No one even seems to care and are more concerned about money than educating.

There is a simple and proven reason for a 6 hour class time in a school day, the ability to teach a subject and the student to retain that information. Any continuous class time longer than an hour defeats educating students and this is where we have lost children and their ability to learn. This is why we don't have an educated public, it went over their heads in excessive class time and boredom.

Retention and learning is very closely related to class time. Longer hours inhibits learning and creates a less educated student. Most high schools have 2 hour classes and we have less educated graduates now who have difficulty with basic skills. They were bored to death in class.

You can have all the high tech equipment and toys that schools have in the name of education and its all useless if its not used right.

A four day school week does not fit most families schedules. They do not want to pay for child care on Fridays.

Our kids aren't in school enough as it is. Between professional development days, parent-teacher comp days, holidays, and early outs on Fridays -- seems like my kids aren't in school as much as they should be! Our kids more school time, not less!

So much easier to spend it than save it, isn't it.

Schools are not daycare people!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough said.

Please refer to 1st comment above! Day Care seems to be more of the priority, not the education!

Why does a group decide that 900+ hours is the right amount in the school?

Why do we have a State Board that DICTATES what LOCAL schools must do.

Come up with solutions for educating our children, don't use child care as a guide, lose out-dated requirements and do whats best for the child's education!

Think, people think! (that's what education should teach, thinking skills)

Just wondering if anyone knows if there are any studies that prove that there are significant problems or higher crime rates during school holidays or summer vacation? I work hard to be a responsible parent and know where my children are and what they are doing when school is not is session. I believe other parents in Utah would do the same!

Parents who have young children who would need a babysitter on Friday's would have lots of options. How about hiring a trusted highschool student to care for younger children. Parents with young children are already making arrangments for there kids in the summer and during school breaks.

Our School Districts have been asked to make significant cuts to their budgets. I believe they should have the option of a 4 day week. If it works for them--Go for it!

They are not daycare centers but most parent's do work Mon - Friday and are unavailable on Friday to watch their children. Thus, many of those children will be unsupervised.

since when is sports more important than education?
Most people do work a 5 day week.
It's not "baby sitting" you are putting an undue financial burden on the parents who are trying to make a honest living. The dude from Hawaii said it best when he ssid more kids get in trouble with so much adle time.

You said "Study after study show that our education methods are weak and ineffective but does that change what we do? No! Lets keep doing the same things that we've done in the past and HOPE it gets better.
Sounds like the definition of insanity to me."

So many people are taken in by the critics who make these claims. It simply isn't true.

Our education system has given us the best educated population in the history of the world. We are constantly adopting new and better teaching methods. There are a handful who don't succeed, and the critics use that to declare our system to be failing. There are fewer of those failing students than ever before in history.

We hear that we are falling behind other countries in education. All we have to do is wash out all but the top 10% of our students at age 13 like they do. Then we wouldn't have to test them like they don't.

Can we expect even better. Of course, and we will get it because we continue to improve.

Its time for some honesty from the critics of our public education system.

I thought they were already on a 4-Day schedule. My kids go to Granite School District and it seems that every other week since the beginning of the school year they are off on Fridays for things such as; end of simester, career planning day, fall break (okay didn't they just back from summer break), UEA convention and ect.

I am already not working 2 months. I was RIF from my job and not able to find a new one. Not medical insurance or other benefits for me and my children and I am not alone in this situation. There are thousands of families around the country and in UT in this situation. Thank god my children had not got sick yet. Now, you come up with 4 days not work are you out of your mind. We have families to take care. this is not an issue of political views or desires. It is an issue of surviving. Right, I am going to tell my children we don't have food and other important thing like medicine that you need because I am going to support this person idea to not work 4 days in order to protest against the passing of health care reform. When me and my family does not have medical insurance. By the way I have a college degree and I am a good productive and professional worker.

I am the parent of student athletes. My children miss a considerable amount of class instruction to participate on high school athletic teams. I am proud to say that they work hard to complete missed assignments and study hard to keep up there GPA.

As a parent I would be thrilled to have my children spend more time in class. Students who participate in Athletics would also welcome not having some much make up work! I believe a 4 day week is a great idea and lets schedule as many ballgames as possible on Friday!

What do you think it is? Night care? When the school has your kids, they are watching them. That too hard to understand? It is what it is. Now, perhaps school is school and day care. Get over it.

As a mother I would love to spend Friday with my children! I would also appreciate having Friday as an option when I schedule Dentist apointments etc. so that my kids do not have to miss school for those types of activities.

Aren't many businesses going to a 4 day week to save money? Schools should also have that option!

I'm sorry but I'm not sure of your point?

Ok parents, do you know how irresponsible it sounds to write things like "your children would be unsupervised" so we should not do it? Come on--find a way for them to be supervised! Thats what parents are supposed to do!

To "4 days not work"

Read the story you sound confused!