![According to the The National Summer Learning Association, three-month summer
vacations set students 8-to-13 weeks behind academically. In fact, I have personally witnessed
this so called “summer slide” as a Sunday Schoolteacher. When students start the new year
schoolyear, they often forget what they learned the previous year, so we spend the first few
weeks reviewing what they learned back in the spring. However, when students continue their
learning year-round, through summer Bible Camp, they are ready to dive into the material
without review when the new schoolyear starts.
Also, students in poverty reap the rewards of this schedule by having consistent
instructional time throughout the year, which results in more learning making them more
academically competitive.
Then there’s burnout. Having a 5-day week schedule, just does not allow us as students
enough time to complete everything: homework, projects, and sports, let alone have a social
life. Personally, burnout prevents me from fulfilling aspects ofmy life; from socializing to
getting work done on time. One instance is when I promised to help volunteer at a community
service, but because of how burnt out I couldn’t pull myself from my bed. Additionally, I
noticed this burnout with students that I tutored; they struggled to keep up with assignments and
noted how it prevented them from fully enjoying other aspects of their life.
One girl I tutored claimed how, “[She’s]brain-dead, but there is still more to do.'' What
she needed was more time to complete assignments, recharge, and cement her learning before
diving into another week of school. Having an extra day off with the 4-day schoolschedule and
a 3-day weekend would give her the time she needs to do well in her classes.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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Zach's TED outline
- 1. How many of you endure or have endured a traditional schoolschedule? You know, Monday thru Friday, summers off. Do you find it exhausting? How about a change to the school schedule? Well, I have a new possibility, one that is efficient, less hectic, and more conducive for learning. It is a win-win for students, teachers, administrators, and parents! Where did this current, but antiquated schoolschedule come from? It was designed for American learners during a different era and culture, The Industrial Age. During this time people worked from sun up to sun down, for extremely low wages. Times were tough and people including children had to work all day, every day, for 10-18 hours. Therefore, New England mills decided to help the people by instituting a five-day week for Jewish workers to observe the Saturday Sabbath and also have Sunday to catch up on work. Schools mirrored this new five-day week. However, the five-day week and summer vacation schoolschedule is a schedule for the past. Unlike in the past, where summer vacations are a time for kids to help their parents on the farm, we live in a time of technology where everything is streamlined and readily available, 24 x 7. Many of our jobs are nomadic, virtual, and flexible. That’s why our schoolschedule should change to reflect the new times. My proposed schoolschedule would be year-round, 4 days a week, with one-week vacation equally distributed throughout the year. Students would still attend schoolfor the same, legal 185 days. This new schedule would be beneficial to students, teachers, and families. Once you hear my proposal, I hope you’ll agree.
- 2. According to the The National Summer Learning Association, three-month summer vacations set students 8-to-13 weeks behind academically. In fact, I have personally witnessed this so called “summer slide” as a Sunday Schoolteacher. When students start the new year schoolyear, they often forget what they learned the previous year, so we spend the first few weeks reviewing what they learned back in the spring. However, when students continue their learning year-round, through summer Bible Camp, they are ready to dive into the material without review when the new schoolyear starts. Also, students in poverty reap the rewards of this schedule by having consistent instructional time throughout the year, which results in more learning making them more academically competitive. Then there’s burnout. Having a 5-day week schedule, just does not allow us as students enough time to complete everything: homework, projects, and sports, let alone have a social life. Personally, burnout prevents me from fulfilling aspects ofmy life; from socializing to getting work done on time. One instance is when I promised to help volunteer at a community service, but because of how burnt out I couldn’t pull myself from my bed. Additionally, I noticed this burnout with students that I tutored; they struggled to keep up with assignments and noted how it prevented them from fully enjoying other aspects of their life. One girl I tutored claimed how, “[She’s]brain-dead, but there is still more to do.'' What she needed was more time to complete assignments, recharge, and cement her learning before diving into another week of school. Having an extra day off with the 4-day schoolschedule and a 3-day weekend would give her the time she needs to do well in her classes.
- 3. Students are not the only people susceptible to burnout from the current schoolschedule. Teachers face the same hectic routine. Teachers have commented that they spend most of their weekends getting caught up on instructional and professional duties. One teacher I interviewed shared how, “That third day off would make a difference in my emotional and professional preparedness.”If teachers had an extra day to relax every weekend, they would be more energized and both students and teachers would benefit from that. A 4-day schedule would help prevent teachers and students from taking Fridays or Mondays off in order to extend their vacation. Additionally, when Melstone SchoolDistrict in Montana shifted to a 4-day schoolweek they reported a 20% increase in student attendance, as well as staff. We all know that everyone learns differently. But did you know that all students learn better when they get breaks. Studies found that rest time was crucial for solidifying memories. In other words, breaks keep our brains healthy, which helps with comprehension, productivity, and creativity and social skills. Giving learners a third day to rest each week will solidify their learning. We all love summers. It’s my favorite time of year. I get to spend time outside, and catch up with friends. But, our current schoolschedule gives students over 8 consecutive weeks off each summer. That is a lot of time; time that parents need to fill with activities for their kids because most parents still have to work. These activities take planning, organizing, logistics,
- 4. taking time off, and of course, a lot of money. This hustling to fill the summer off does not sound like it is enjoyable for parents; it is time-consuming and expensive. However with one week vacations parents don’thave to schedule 3 months of summer activities and have numerous other options like taking one week vacations therefore being more effective for parents. And yes, even students tire of the extended summer vacations. Once the novelty of free time wears off, students feel lonely and bored. Believe it or not, they seek structure. I have an answer for the outdated schoolschedule. I suggest that we alter the traditional schoolschedule by replacing the summer vacation with seven, evenly distributed, one-week breaks. Additionally, the schoolschedule would be a four-day week, and we’ll still have traditional holidays off. The length of the schoolday would remain the same. This revised schedule would have the same amount of learning time, just spread out differently to encourage a better work/life balance.
- 5. Daycare for working parents is another concern. But if we implement my plan, daycare programs, community centers, and schools would compensatefor the schoolschedule by offering enrichment programs for students on Fridays and for the one-week vacations throughout the year. Therefore daycare could supportmy new schoolschedule. Low-income families that are concerned about missed meals on Fridays would benefit from the Backpack program. Instead of getting just two days of food for the weekend they would get 3 days. As an added benefit with my proposed schedule, students would receive meals throughout the entire year, including the summer becausethey’ll be in schoolyear round. As with any change, there will be challenges. But it is important to explore the options. That’s why I am proposing this schoolschedule change.
- 6. I created a petition to get public supportfor my schoolschedule change proposalon Change.org, tinyurl.com/tedxeducation. It would be amazing if I could get your pledge through change.org. I am sure that many people would have concerns and I would address them through schoolboard meetings and the like. With adopting my new schedule, students will benefit by not losing academic momentum during the summer, having a consistent and supportive schedule, experiencing less burnout, and increasing their schoolattendance. My schedule will be advantageous to teachers becausethey will have extra time to plan more quality lessons, have increased attendance, and have less teacher burnout. Parents will be thrilled with this schedule because they will not have the burden of planning more than two months of expensive activities. Most importantly, all parties will be satisfied, especially administrators, because my schedule will increase the quality of student learning through year-long instruction. How many of you are exhausted and tired of the current schoolschedule? Well, we could either continue with that or we could make a change that will benefit the lives of both students and teachers. I vote for taking a chance on something new.
- 8. Sources Documented; not formatted. https://www.weareteachers.com/4-day-school-weeks/ https://greengaregeblog.org/15-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-the-4-day-school-week https://www.theedadvocate.org/top-3-reasons-the-us-should-switch-to-year-round- schooling/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/08/where-the-five-day-workweek-came- from/378870/
- 10. https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2015/06/do-teachers-really-get-summers-off https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/education_futures/2013/11/year- round_schooling_how_it_affects_teachers.html ● https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/much-more-common-core/201702/the- teacher-burnout-epidemic-part-2-2 ○ https://www.thoughtco.com/pros-cons-four-day-school-week-4046198 https://www.fnu.edu/tips-preventing-student-burnout/ http://www.startribune.com/schools-return-to-five-day-week/262466431/?refresh=true By Shannon Prather Star Tribune JUNE 10, 2014 — 10:39AM ● https://www.thoughtco.com/pros-cons-four-day-school-week-4046198 https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/5528954/hump-day-meaning-memes-quotes- wednesday/ https://www.thoughtco.com/tips-to-be-an-amazing-and-successful-substitute-teacher- 3194687 https://vittana.org/12-pros-and-cons-of-a-4-day-school-week. https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/5528954/hump-day-meaning-memes-quotes- wednesday/ ● https://www.thoughtco.com/pros-cons-four-day-school-week-4046198 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/12/well/how-parents-solve-summer.html