The Four-Day Week: A Break for Students
- Theo Bonin
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Theo Bonin, Grade 9, Staff Writer
The many four-day weeks that students experienced over the first few months of school benefit them both mentally and academically. During October and November, six of the nine weeks of school had at least one day off, not including the half day for Fall Fest. Common Sense looks into the specific effects that one-day-breaks, and sometimes extended weekends, have on students.
These partial weeks provide students with much needed days off from school that do more for them than simply avoiding the long commute in the early morning to arrive on time.
For starters, days off give students a mental break.
Most students who attend the High School of American Studies (HSAS) would likely agree that when they take a glance at the school’s calendar, or hear Mr. Weiss’s voice over the PA announcing an upcoming holiday, a grin appears on their faces.
This makes sense; all students, regardless of if they “enjoy” school or not, appreciate any day they get where they can live without deadlines or strict time pressures. These days off especially help students when it comes to mental health.
Declan Olds (‘27) explains how it is “a relief to have a day off in the middle of the week.” Getting to stay at home, or just not be at school in the first place, gives students’ minds a rest from the constant pressure of the thinking, analyzing, and focusing that is usually a five-day-a-week commitment.
Similarly, Aiden Castro (‘26) believes that it is “helpful to have all of the breaks built into the calendar because we aren’t missing anything, but still have time off.” Instead of having to take a day off to give themselves a well deserved or needed break, the school calendar provides them with allotted days to relax.
Academically, four-day weeks can be controversial, but they benefit students – and even teachers – in the long run.
Many students agree that at times it can be frustrating to have an incomplete amount of education from each class, as most classes don’t meet five days a week. These days can disrupt the flow of learning.
For teachers, as long as they look at their calendars, they can see how they need to alter their curriculum. Mr. Holmes, the freshman biology teacher, explains how he “know[s] in advance, so [he] can plan accordingly,” leading these days off to “not [be] a big trouble.”
As for students, they can take advantage of four-day weeks by working ahead or catching up on assignments or lessons they didn't understand. Hayley Tong(‘29) believes that she doesn’t forget lessons when there are days off, and they provide her with “more time to work and boost [her] grades and make up work.”
Likewise, Dahlia Lief(‘28) says that it “helps to look over [her] notes during those breaks,” as it reminds her of what she may have forgotten or been falling behind on.
When viewed in full, these four-day weeks benefit students, and provide a break that is so desperately needed in more ways than one.
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