School hours should be cut
By Linda I.
What if shorter school days could help students do better in class, feel less stressed, and have more time to relax or do things they enjoy? Reducing school hours might be a simple change that makes a big difference in how students learn and feel. Long school days are tiring and stressful for many students, making them feel pressured to do well in school, after school curriculums, and having to stay healthy in their personal life with not much time. Opinions on this topic do vary, likely because some people believe that less hours can help students mentally and physically while others believe that shortening hours will take time away from students being able to learn everything that is needed. What I’m basically saying is that shortening school hours would enhance student focus, better grades, and students would have more time to focus on their personal life after school. It's time to consider shorter hours to help improve focus and reduce stress.
To begin, a reason is that shorter days can help students not want to skip as much and attend school since they don't have to sit in a classroom as long. Plus, the evidence suggests that length of school day has nothing to do with academic outcomes. Some information from JuniLearning.com explains that when comparing a 5.5 hour school day and a 6.5-7 hour school days more students showed up everyday at the school with less hours. For example, “Singapore has shorter school days (5.5 hours/day) than most countries, including the US (6.8 hours/day). Still, the number of days students study is slightly higher than in American schools - 193 days compared to 180 days in the US [but at least the individual school days are shorter] This example shows us that shorter days in terms of daily school hours positively affect the students' performance.” Countries like Singapore score higher on the PISA standardized test than any other country. If they are in school for shorter amounts of time each day, clearly the length of time one is in school on a given day does not impact student performance. This begs the question: Why are we forced to be in school eight hours a day. Who made this rule?
Furthermore, Students would be able to get better sleep if they were able to have more time after school/school activities to do things such as homework and hygienic necessities without having to be up all night. Evidence that can backup my claim is from losalamosreporter.com, explaining that most teens have trouble focusing in class because of lack of sleep, “A majority of teens and adolescents report having trouble focusing in class due to sleep deficiency. According to Idaho State University (ISU), "A good night's sleep is crucial to our cognitive abilities, including memory, focus, and attention, all of which are necessary for successful academic careers." This shows the importance of sufficient sleep for studies and overall focus across all teenagers. Schools have begun to shorten school hours to ensure the best learning ability for students in class.”
As a final reason, if school hours were shorter, students would have more time for extracurriculars and personal life. Some information from Youngwonks.com backs up my claim by saying, “A truncated school day allows more time for extracurricular activities. These activities are crucial for a child's holistic development, helping to cultivate social skills, creative abilities, and physical well-being. They also provide opportunities for discovering and nurturing talents outside the classroom setting.” With extra time, students could do things like sports, music, or hobbies that help them learn new skills and relax. These activities can also help students feel better and make friends, giving them a healthier balance between school and life. Plus, having more free time would give students a chance to unwind, rest, and focus on things that are important to them, like spending time with family or pursuing personal interests. All of this would help students feel less stressed and more ready to learn when they're back in school.
Most people argue that shortening the school day could lead to less time for important lessons, making it harder to cover everything students need to know. This could negatively affect their academic performance, because they might not fully understand the material. However, I believe my opinion is stronger because it focuses on students' well being and how effective they can be. Kids’ lives should not revolve so much around school. There is more to life that studying and learning, and it’s important to have a well-rounded, balanced, mentally healthy life. Shorter school days can help students stay more focused and reduce stress, which could lead to better mental health and improved learning.
Quotes that I got from students at AHS are showing different opinions and perspectives on how they feel if school hours were to be cut.
My first quote was from Janiyah S., a senior. After asking how she would feel if school hours were cut she responded with, “I think shorter school days would actually help me rest more since I wouldn't have to be here as long giving me time to be able to relax before having to go to work”.
In response to that another student Isabella G., a freshman and AHS, stated her opinion saying, "I think less school hours would be better because when I was taking cheer I wouldn't have time to do important things like eat and do my homework straight after school. I would have to wait after practice and I would get out at a late time, I think most athletes can relate to what I'm saying.”
My final opinion was from Jamari J., a senior, who disagrees with my opinion saying,” I think school hours being cut would be a bad idea because less time for school means less or no time for the cate center, i think that's bad because the cate center teaches students the fundamentals of working and getting certified in the profession, without it students would have more trouble finding a way to get started in their dream profession.”
To conclude, shortening school hours gives an opportunity to improve students’ focus, mental health, and overall well being. With less time spent in class, students could benefit from better sleep, reduced stress, and more time for extracurricular activities, leading to a more balanced lifestyle. The evidence suggests that shorter school days do not negatively impact academic performance, and in some cases, they can even improve student engagement and attendance. While there are concerns about covering all the necessary material, the benefits of reducing school hours overcome the disadvantages. Ultimately, making this change could lead to happier, healthier, and more productive students, ready to excel both inside and outside the classroom. It’s time to rethink the length of the school day for the betterment of students' futures.