Illinois, yay or nay for the 4 day school week?

[Handbag Lady]

Also, I worry about the kids to get their main nutrition at schools. Do they just go hungry on Friday?

Bingo. My mom is the lunch lady at her grammar school in a very poor area and most of kids eat heartily at lunch because it is the one warm meal of the day. I don't even want to think if it is their only meal of the day.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Our district is batting this idea around, too. On a totally selfish and personal level, I would love it. Only having to get my boys ready for school 4X /week would be wonderful. Having a long weekend every week would be heavenly-we could make a lot of short trips to WDW! I'm not working now, so them being at home on Fridays wouldn't affect us. In a couple of years I think I could trust them if I go back to work.

From a concerned citizen's standpoint, I'm not so sure it's a great idea. We already have enough kids skipping school and getting into trouble. I see school aged kids walking around during the day a lot -I know, not all of them are truant, but some are and they get into trouble. With a sanctioned day off every week and no one at home, I can imagine an increase in juvenile delinquency. I have no facts to back this up, just a guess. And the extra time added on to the already long day along with extra homework will be very hard for a lot of the students to keep up with. I guess you can pretty much put everything, and I mean EVERYTHING on hold during the 4 day school week. We don't have weekend homework now, I guess that would change, too. They will be going to school from 7:00-4, then home for immediate homework. Maybe time to eat, then bedtime. That's a pretty hard life for a kid.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I can't imagine what a nightmare it would be for parents who needed childcare. Ugh. Or what a bunch of tweens/teens will be getting up to all day while Mom & Dad are at work.

Also, I worry about the kids to get their main nutrition at schools. Do they just go hungry on Friday?

I hear what you are saying but it is not eh schools responsibility to be
A) childcare
B) Nutrition
C) babysitters for teens/tweens

Thats part of what I think has to change...the thoughts that many people seem to feel school is responsible for "raising" so many of these kids...its up to parents to make those decisions, though they are often tough ones to make, "parenting" is no piece of cake and a full time responsibility, IMHO.

As far as a 4 day week, I think back to when they gave us Micro classes (HS) , every 20 minutes we went to the next class, a total FLOP....my ds gets No lunch now (by choice) he chooses to take extra classes, both college level and languages, but I still think he'd be thrilled to be off for 3 day weekends....generally speaking he works 95% of each weekend anyway...but maybe thats just HS, cause I do not recall that in MS.

For the little kids.....our district was 1/2 day kindergarten for a long time and only in last few years went full day....many many parents were thrilled ( I was not one of those) it was not because kids were "learning more" but because it made for better/easier childcare issues I get that! Me, I was also one of those moms that did not send my baby off to nursery school, pre K and on and one for years before he started...though I do not judge those either its a choice...(and I have One Very smart cookie, if ya ask me ) So,
....I am not really sure what is in the BEST interest of the kids....long days are tough...for Kids, teachers, and Admin alike! Just my 2 cents

 

[themilesfamily]

I think a four-day school weeks sounds WONDERFUL! I would also vote for a four-day work week to become the new standard.

 

[wdwfan16]

Also, I worry about the kids to get their main nutrition at schools. Do they just go hungry on Friday?

You do realize their parent(a) get foodstamps. If the parent is not feeding the kid then the foodstamps should end and the state charge the parent with neglect.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

You do realize their parent(a) get foodstamps. If the parent is not feeding the kid then the foodstamps should end and the state charge the parent with neglect.

Not every kid getting food assistance in school has a family on food stamps. Beyond that, your "solution" is more likely to break a person than fix the problem. Foster care is not a solution to poverty.

 

[Becky2005]

Hmm...I haven't heard much on it. I doubt it would affect sports much. Our school practices nearly all the time. I know my DD made the cheer squad when she went to High School. In 8th grade, school ended something like June 1, the High School cheerleaders started practices June 2. The football team was out there practicing too.

Nearly ALL the sports practice year-round even though technically they aren't supposed to for IHSA (?) rules -- so they just call it a "summer camp", charge you a fee and you ARE expected to be there if you are on the team.

Now it might affect game times for when they can get played but considering my DD was also a gymnast and most the time those meets didn't seem to start until 6 pm and pick up time by the time they got back was around 10 - 10:30 pm.

Thankfully this year she went to theatre but that is just as time consuming and rehearsals were from 7 - 10 pm. So, they all went home & came back later.

I'm figuring they will work around it. I'm assuming IF they did the 4-day week school week, then it will be that they extend the school days. It stinks for working parents though. We don't have full day Kindergarten in our district yet & they didn't offer before/after school care. They just started offering before/after school care at the school last year but Kindergarten wasn't included (I think if you were AM Kindergarten you could or PM you could stay after but nothing before - they didn't have the space). It wasn't offered at all the schools either, the kids were bussed to a central grade school. This year it was extended to include all the grade schools so the kids don't have to leave. I think next year it also includes Kindergarteners. The park district runs it though. I'm not sure the park district would be willing to take on a full-day and it would be using the school building also.

 

[Becky2005]

Wow, IL got something right for a change!

Don't get too used to it.

I'm thinking since I have heard zilch about it, our school isn't planning it right at the moment. I know they are talking about whatever cuts they are planning for next year but haven't heard what those are. I'm sure I'll find out one way or another and they will just charge us more Registration fees for our kids to go to school to make up the difference.