A North College Hill City, Ohio, school district has implemented a four-day school week for students and staff to help reduce stress.
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The district has decided to switch from the five-day school week to a four-day week, including in-person instructional days for four days and one day of guided learning. The new schedule will begin in the next school after the decision was made unanimously by the board of education. District Superintendent Eugene Blalock said the new schedule could help reduce stress among staff.
“I think this could be a model that could save the profession of education. Teachers are leaving the profession at alarming rates, and the idea of being able to have some time, some quality time dedicated time to just get some collaboration, some planning is something that is intriguing to the teachers.”
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Raven Jackson, a third-grade teacher, said the five-day school week is causing her students and colleagues to experience burnout.
“We are all worn out — like the kids are even worn out … I think this Monday will help with that. Having doctors’ appointments, not having to use our sick time to take those days off. At least we know Mondays we wouldn’t have to worry about having a sub, splitting our classrooms, putting that extra work on our teammates and I think having that Monday for those set times and set appointments would definitely help out.”
Blalock said the district is working on accommodations for younger families, as Mondays could be the guided learning day. This district is not the only school district in the country to make a move to a four-day school week. However, some social media users are against the idea since most parents work almost five days a week. Educators argued that a four-day school week will make lesson planning and prepping more effective for teachers.