Not everyone likes four-day weeks

Another front-pager... this one caused a bunch of controversy and some phone calls... guess I'm doing my job...!

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

With the deadline for the Carbon County District 2 schedule surveys nearing, the battle over four- and five-day weeks rages on in the Hanna, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow schools.

Hanna Elementary School educators Kim Besel, a first-grade teacher, and Nancy Allen, a second-grade teacher, both dislike the four-day school week. They stand with virtually all of their colleagues — kindergarten, first-, second-, third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade teachers — who all oppose the four-day week, Besel said.

Zack Scott, the physical education and computers teacher at Hanna Elementary School who also acts as assistant coach to the high school basketball team, admitted that he stands alone in his personal enjoyment of the shorter week. “In the classrooms, I’m guessing it would be better to have the five day. That’s what my colleagues tell me anyway,” he said.

Besel said that both of the Elk Mountain Elementary School teachers are against the four-day schedule. Her colleagues at Medicine Bow Elementary School “are flexible,” she said.

The major concerns of those opposing the four-day week include the time crunch in delivering curriculum, the idea of sports taking precedence over academics and schedules that are not cohesive between elementary and secondary schools. The teachers added to the list the fact that, despite promises to the contrary, some scheduled events still take students out of class on days other than Fridays. Besel also said she worries “about kids who do not have parents around to spend time with them.”

When the rest of the country is increasing instructional time, according to Besel, she finds it strange that District 2 schools are reducing it. She said the four-and-a-half-day week the elementary schools currently functions under is acceptable, but curriculum modifications still must be made. The elementary math teachers have adopted a new curriculum that is adapted to a five-day week and find it difficult to squeeze it into the four and a half days they are provided.

What about teachers who are accountable to the state to reach certain proficiency levels? Hanna Elk Mountain Medicine Bow High School boys basketball coach Clif Jones, also a social studies teacher at HEM, said he is still on target. “I have been able to adapt,” he said.

When asked about the remedial help and enrichment time offered on Fridays in place of class time, Besel said there is none at the elementary level. “And my understanding is that few do take advantage of that Friday help in the high school,” she said.

HEM girls basketball coach and special education instructor Jackie Jones said the high school’s “Lights On” remedial help and enrichment program is well attended.

As a coach, Jones encourages her team to attend Friday programs when they are not traveling. “I’ve had 100-percent turnout each time I’ve asked them to show up,” she said. “It has helped some of the girls stay eligible.” Some students take part in peer tutoring, some work with teachers and others use it as homework time or for study groups, she said.

On the other hand, Douglas Allen, an HEM math teacher who is also accountable to the state, feels he needs the class time. According to him, the Friday remediation has largely turned into field trips such as ice fishing, bowling and skiing among other activities. Admittedly a minority amongst his colleagues at the high school, he stands firm in his dislike of the four-day week.

“Something’s got to give,” Allen said. “I do the best with the time I’ve got.” Admitting the negative impact on students who miss class time due to activities, Allen believes the school board should have picked high-impact Fridays as the days off. Under this plan, school could continue on the Fridays when most students are available.

Jackie Jones spoke of the benefit to her special education students who tire easily both mentally and physically. “Having one more day for them to recuperate is truly beneficial,” she said.

Yet on the elementary level, Brandi Silas, president of the Hanna Elementary School parent-teacher association, spoke of the difficulty of getting young children back on track after three days off. “It’s already hard enough to get them back after two,” she said.

The consensus among the elementary school teachers is that the younger children shouldn’t be taken away from academics because high school sports are being made a priority. “I’m not against sports,” Silas said, “but I am against losing out on education for sports.”

Clif Jones believes the four-day schedule is best for students right now, especially those active in sports and activities.

He mentioned one of his players, Justin Palm, who participates in three sports as well as various activities. “I could not guess how many days he missed last year,” Clif Jones said. “But this year he has not missed any for athletics.” Jones said he would have missed six days already this year, but with the new schedule, Palm has missed none.

Scott likes the idea of the four-day week so he does not have to miss as much class time to join Clif Jones on basketball road trips. “I have been gone from the classroom,” he said. With the travel, he has been forced to modify his curriculum. His counselor regularly teaches health class on Fridays when Scott is not in attendance. “We have not lost contact hours; we have just squeezed it all together,” Scott said.

Regardless of their opinions of what school week should be adopted, most of those interviewed agreed that the school schedule should be the same in each town, if not across the district.