Vsion of School in the Future

School normally runs 5 days out of the week and 7 hours a day. While this is the traditional method we have based school's schedule on, we see changes being made in the schedule as a whole. Schools in Colorado are now experimenting with a new method of school, they are having class 7.5 hours every day instead of the traditional 8 and are limiting it to 4 days instead of the normal 5 days a week.
The effect that is given to the students is somewhat positive in every way! Test scores have risen over the period ever since they decide to make the change."Our high school staff in particular said they saw students coming to school better prepared, with a better attitude about grades and wanting to excel," says Vern Hagen, superintendent of the Hot Springs, S.D., school district that just completed its second year on a four day schedule.
Joshua Carty, a high school who moved to the East Grand district in August, says the switch to a four day routine is fine with him, even if he doesn't get home until 7 p.m. from soccer practice. He gets more time on the weekends, and longer class periods can mean getting a head start on homework. But while the switch seems to be a success, there are still those who oppose.
Tim Koepke, a mechanical engineer on the Indian Peaks Charter School board says, "Our feeling was that the students lose a full day of instruction if they don't go to school on the fifth day and that the three day weekend was disruptive to the continuity of the learning process."
The fact of the matter is that "the jury is out." the general feeling is that students do no worse on the four day week than the traditional schedule. "At this point it looks like a great success," says Bruce Bradberry.