A school district in Virginia is toying with the idea of 4 day school weeks to reduce operating costs and environmental impact. They are envisioning lower utility bills, less school buses and commuting students/teachers on the road among other benefits. Detractors say that 4 days would be too little time to get needed school work done. Some say 5 is barely enough. Alternatives have also been suggested, such as more efficient, eco friendly heating and cooling at the schools along with alternate power for buses.
Although this is being framed as an ecological issue, maybe 4 days would actually make for a higher quality learning experience. Perhaps streamlining into a shorter period would get rid of unnecessary busy work, with the added bonus of 3 day weekends all year. Software company 37 Signals implemented a 4 day work week at the beginning of 2008, and the results have been nothing but positive.
From the 37 Signals blog:
So far our four-day work week experiment is working. We haven’t found ourselves collectively wishing we had an extra work day a week. We haven’t found ourselves gasping for extra hours. Instead I feel like we’ve been more focused and working better together. …
Could we have gotten more good work done if we worked those extra five Fridays? I seriously doubt it. Would we have been happier working five extra days over the last 30? I seriously doubt it. Is a four-day work week better for morale and productivity than a typical five-day work week? I seriously believe it.
One thing I’ve come to realize is that urgency is overrated. In fact, I’ve come to believe urgency is poisonous. Urgency may get things done a few days sooner, but what does it cost in morale? Few things burn morale like urgency. Urgency is acidic.
[via Treehugger and 37 Signals]
i think this is a fantastic movement & love the green focus behind it.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I could not agree with this quote more:
One thing I’ve come to realize is that urgency is overrated. In fact, I’ve come to believe urgency is poisonous. Urgency may get things done a few days sooner, but what does it cost in morale? Few things burn morale like urgency. Urgency is acidic.
I can say from personal experience this is true. Service agencies are inevitably “under the gun” to meet deadlines and that’s not going to change. But all too often you find out the deadline you’re working against is false or arbitrarily imposed.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I love the idea! 4 day school weeks would soooooooo make us like the school better, it would give the teachers more time for themselves, and to come up with a good plan on how to fit the most into a lesson. We’d have more time to study, finish papers, extra curriculars, etc. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
July 25th, 2008 at 5:47 am
i think its a good idea being read but once you start to actually do it… it will stink!!! we still have to have 180 days in a school year that makes go year round! i dont know about all other school kids but i enjoy my summer… therefore i do not like this idea so much
September 15th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I’m neutral; whatever if they do have a four-day week, I’m fine, but I’m leaning a little towards leaving it to a 5 school day week.
I’m actually debating this for school. =) While researching, I found this website. It’s good. :)
September 16th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
BOOO U SUCK
September 17th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Sarah i am debating this in school as well and i also found this while researching ia agree it is cool.
September 18th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I HEART the 4 day school week!!!!!!
October 7th, 2008 at 1:28 pm