Comments on: Minnesota Schools Move to Four-Day Week

By: Jai

Jai — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:18:00 +0000

I definitely think a ten hour learning day would be brutal. Just to go home and get homework done! That’s a lot. I do understand they are trying to save some money but I don’t think this is the way to do it. There must be other ways to go around this. Between the brutal long day and possible needs of daycare this would be doing more harm than good.

By: Mommie

Mommie — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:32:31 +0000

I think this is a horrid idea, not only for kids but for parents as well. A ten hour work day is long a an adult, it’s murder on a kid. They aren’t going to pay attention or absorb for that amount of time. I honestly don’t care if the adults are moving to a 4 day work week, adults are just that, adults, and can handle that amount of time. There is no way that you can equate the ability of a 50 year old man to deal with the long work day to that of a 7 year old 1st grader. I see it as ridiculous.

By: Jules

Jules — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:54:37 +0000

Hey Erica,

I started to comment on this earlier but kept changing my mind. I decided that your points about the long hours and the extra day out of school being a problem for parents are compelling.

I have no children so I can only reflect back on how it was when I was in school. A 10 hr day would have been brutal. I would however love to see some sort of voluntary after hours programs available for children. If there were more physical activities and health related education I think that would be great.

It amazes me how many children today have weight problems. The story of Brook the murdered 12 year old just kills me. If only. There are a million “If only’s” that plague me. If only the internet wasn’t such a huge part of a child’s day in lieu of playing outside. That’s a whole new topic tho.

Great thought provoking post!

By: Matt Urdan

Matt Urdan — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:34:52 +0000

Thanks for voting for Circles on EntreCard! I really appreciate it. I voted for a few of y our posts as well.

Now that I’ve found you, I’ll favorite you on EntreCard and should drop rather regularly.

Have an awesome rest of your 4th of July!

By: vulcanhammer

vulcanhammer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:36:21 +0000

Erica, I agree with you. I also think the school year should be longer with a shorter summer vacation.

By: Kathy@brazoscowgirl

Kathy@brazoscowgirl — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:11:38 +0000

This is a trend nationwide. I am watching other bigger school districts try to make it work. I have public schooled kids and homeschooled. I see both sides of this issue. So I waiting to see long term what may happen next year we could be doing the same schedule.

By: francetales.com

francetales.com — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:00:49 +0000

As I former teacher I think I would have wanted the 4 day workweek, selfish reasons only, 3 day weekends each week. Seriously though year round schools try to do the same. They divide themselves up into 4 different tracks, 5 sets of students enrolled, 4 on at a time, 1 on vacation, every 45 school days 4 more on one other off, this way they can cram more students into a school. I don’t live in the US anymore so I hadn’t heard about this in response to the energy crisis but it’s not surprising.

By: Allen Taylor

Allen Taylor — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:00:25 +0000

Nice writing. You are on my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.

Allen Taylor

By: Troy

Troy — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:56:17 +0000

With the move to 4/10 work weeks by many corporations, I think this might be a good tool, My company recently switched to it and I find I actually get more work done, since the first hour of my day is usually just me being tired, i waste only 10% of my day now, instead of 12.5% lol. But honestly, imagine if you had your first period class longer to make sure they digest everything that was taught(eyes of a teacher).