All of the Responsibility Without Any of the Control- Why Classroom Teachers Should Have All Control Over Scheduling - Draft 1

It did not take long when I discovered that I had very little control over the day-to-day schedule of my students. This has not changed at any point. I come to this realization and frustration every Fall, thinking that maybe one of these years it might change so that the hierarchy of a school building would be principal first and then general classroom teachers clearly 2nd in command.

Every year, as a regular classroom teacher, it feels as if I am being dictated to by factors and people who shouldn't be telling me how to do my job.

I will teach my reading block when I think it is the most conducive for all of my students. I should not have Title I telling me that I am teaching reading from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. if I think maximum benefit takes place from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

I lock in my schedule for when I teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and health. IEP caseload students and ELL grammar pullout students are scheduled after I set my schedule- no expections. If scheduling conflicts arise, Special Education and English Language Learner teachers modify their work schedule so that they meet with groups before and after school.

How do specialists schedule students before and after school? You add buses. You schedule buses to pick up students at various times. Yes, you will have some students arriving sooner and leaving later, but this eliminates the disruptions to the regular classroom day.

So what work schedule will ELL and IEP specialists work? Different than the regular day, obviously. If the work day for a regular classroom teacher is 8-4, then ELL teachers work 6-2 and IEP specialists work 10-6, for example. ELL teachers front-end their ELL groups while IEP specialists back-end their pull out groups.

How do you pay for the extra transportation costs for busing more students at different times? You just do it. More money goes into the budget to purchase more buses and fuel.

What about fuel costs? Offset that by going to a four nine-day workweeks and a four hour day on Fridays without students.

When do you have staff meetings and staff development? On Fridays- one hour staff meeting, one hour staff development, and two hours of teacher prep time.

What happens to teacher prep time on Monday through Thursday with the longer student days? You reallocate time to Friday. The amount of prep time does not change, it just comes at different times.

More refinement on this topic at a later time.

Four Day School Week Provides Unanticipated Benefits?

As more school districts across the nation implement or consider a four day school week due to rising operating costs, one has to ponder if there are more intrinsic benefits to such a move than expected.

My internet article searches on the topic proved to be limited in depth and currency, but we are moving into some uncharted territory with the issue. More businesses are moving to a four day workweek. People are making an effort to consolidate travel trips in their vehicles.

Here is one link that touches on some of the pros and cons of moving to a four day school week:

http://www.principalspartnership.com/fourdayschoolweek.pdf

From a teacher's perspective, I see a tremendous upside beyond the cost savings of building maintenance, dining services, and bus transportation.

First of all, let me arch my argument with a premise that what is good for teachers is often what is good for kids. If you set teachers up with optimal working conditions you will have optimal learning from students. After all, what makes for effective schools, regardless of socioeconomics? Effective teachers.

Benefits for a four day school week are numerous, some not previously published from what I have seen:

20% reduction in transportation costs
20% reduction in building maintenance costs
20% reduction in dining service costs
Continuity in instruction (able to extend lessons without interruption)
Eliminates parents who pull their kids on a Friday for extended weekends
Solves some childcare issues on school days since days are extended close to 5pm
Allows families to take care of appointments on additional day off without loss of instructional time
Gives teachers some respite during a draining school year.
Frees up sports game scheduling for Thursday nights and all day Friday and Saturday
Gives parents extended time on a three day weekend to get caught up on helping their kids with their homework
Balanced, consistent block scheduling with Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday
Allows you to extend lunch periods so kids can eat slowly
Allows you to extend recess periods for more student activity
Allows you to extend PE/music/elective periods for greater interest and enrichment
Allows teachers another day to get their cars serviced and take care of medical appointments not on student contact days
Opens Fridays for paid staff development days, inservice, workshops, conferences, grading, and planning
Gives teachers an opportunity to attend student music recitals and sporting events on a leisurely pace on Fridays

In general, I picture four 10 hour days as a teacher being more efficient than five 8 hour days. Just make sure every school building has air conditioning for those afternoons.