Proposed four-day school week
Almost everyone is affected in one way or another by the swirling currents of economic troubles. Within these economic perplexities, there are so many proposed fix-it-all programs and ideas. One might wonder whether it is just manipulative propaganda from the government or that the leaders in today’s America are afflicted with a serious case of ego-based cancer that prohibits logical thinking.
This archived article was written by: Devin Bybee
Almost everyone is affected in one way or another by the swirling currents of economic troubles. Within these economic perplexities, there are so many proposed fix-it-all programs and ideas. One might wonder whether it is just manipulative propaganda from the government or that the leaders in today’s America are afflicted with a serious case of ego-based cancer that prohibits logical thinking.
At CEU, one such idea has been circulating as a result of the major budget cuts the school has to make. This idea consists of going to a four-day school week. Although this would assist the school’s budget by terminating a day of pay for some of the school staff, nothing else about it makes much sense. I might venture to say that the teachers wouldn’t exactly be thrilled by a cut in their pay. It’s not like they are “well to do” anyway.
Rightfully so, CEU usually does not rank among the top-five schools that students want to attend coming out of high school. This could be due, in large part, by the minimal amount of entertainment and activities that Price has to offer. A large amount of CEU’s activities and income deals primarily with the athletic programs. This brings me to my next point.
A large number of students are here for athletic purposes which encompass most of the activities that students attend. Also, the athletes bring a much higher enrollment rate which helps the school substantially. Most of the games are on the weekends. If the school goes to a four-day week, a large majority of the students would go home on the weekend thus decreasing the fan support of CEU’s biggest contributor.
Let’s just think hypothetically for a second. Even with the five-day school week, students who live within driving distance usually, except when there is a big event, go home for the weekend seeking “something to do.” The only thing that could reverse this would be by bringing that entertainment to CEU. So to keep the students here on the weekend, CEU should use some of the money they would be saving by the four-day school week and use it to stimulate CEU’s activity venue. Who knows, maybe if CEU students had a more enjoyable time here and told their friends that, it would increase the enrollment rate? This is the only idea that seems logical to me with the proposed four-day week. Maybe this is just another proposed idea that just doesn’t make sense, you decide.
Before CEU’s administration jumps to conclusions and continues to offer fix-it-all solutions, they need to remember the most important aspect of CEU, the students. In all reality all the focus and attention, even in these difficult times, needs to be placed in the students. After all we are the ones that keep the school running. It is our money that makes it possible for the school to operate. I trust that the right decisions will be made.
