An Inconvenient Truth?

Today's Commercial Appeal reports that teachers in Memphis City Schools are expected to ask for a four-day week in their union negotiations this year, setting up a scenario that could change tens of thousands of daily lives.

Stephanie Fitzgerald, president of the 6,400-member Memphis Education Association, says that the biggest opposition will likely come from working parents. I can certainly see that since the majority of working parents will not have a four-day work week and will have to find childcare for the extra day. However, from the comments on the article, it seems that a lot of people have objections, including concern over the ability of children to weather such a long day, increased crime from bored teenagers, etc.

As a working parent, my immediate response was, "No way!" After letting the idea sink in and reading the comments of some of the CA's more optimistic respondents, I could change my tune.

The four-day week, Fitzgerald said, represents a more efficient way to use time and deliver services, saving the district diesel fuel, utility costs and even substitute pay.

Pros
Four-day weeks year round could eliminate the need for extra childcare in the summer, thus offsetting those costs. Also, I imagine that the schools, which would now not need Aftercare, would start providing Friday Care (assuming that is the day off). Friday Care could include community service, field trips, sports and other extra-curricular activities, etc.

I certainly don't fully understand the elaborate busing system in our fine city, but I would definitely like to see a return to neighborhood schools, where everyone can walk or ride a bike if they want.

Cons
Four-day weeks year round would, I assume, negate the proposed energy/gas savings. Four-day weeks with the current school calendar might be a bit much for a school system that is already struggling with test scores, illiteracy, college preparedness, etc.

What would happen to after school sports? Today's kids already don't get enough exercise.

It's an interesting proposal. One that has the potential to possibly improve, or further hurt, our school system. I'll be interested to see what happens.

What do you think?