Each week, Wednesdays inevitably roll around, and yet each time, I complain more and more about the dreaded day. Even though I wake up the same time as I do for the days prior and after, my eyes hang heavier than other weekdays. Maybe it’s the quiz I take on Thursday that I stayed up late studying for, because I have no excess time to waste. It could also be that I was assigned 40 pages that I haven’t started yet and a discussion looming on Wednesday afternoon, or even the fact Wednesday is spelled so oddly. Either way, Wednesday drags on and drains me. With studies showing a four day school week would be beneficial to students, it would only make sense to erase Wednesday from the school week.
Students all have lives outside of school, and half the time, those are swamped with homework, especially when it piles up. As the workload increases, the motivation and willingness to complete it dwindles. Teachers have multiple classes a day and have little down time, spending time creating lesson plans and grading work. The weekend is only so long, the normal schedule is one day of bliss, then the next is merely spent trying to complete homework and mentally preparing for the week ahead. While a continuous three day weekend would be nice, it wouldn’t benefit the straight days of school to follow. Therefore, Wednesdays off would help both teachers and students. A Wednesday off would be the perfect time for rejuvenation, catching up on work, studying for that upcoming test, or even regaining the lack of sleep from the days prior. This day off would be the perfect for a midweek break with resting from the days prior and preparing for the days to come.
A majority of the time, the week days aren’t even completely used by teachers. Almost every day in school, I find myself with free time during the day. Some teachers block out days to simply study or catch up on work. Either way, I haven’t experienced a week that every hour was completely dedicated to a lecture or lesson. I personally work better from home, so days that are blocked out for studying at school don’t help me. I find myself talking with friends or working on work that isn’t connected to the class blocked out. However, if a midday break was available, I could schedule the day out best fit to me. That means sleeping in, cooking breakfast, and then working on my work for the upcoming week, and concluding my day with a movie or series. Two days off before diving head on back into school isn’t beneficial and only makes the week feel longer.
The lack of sleep within teens has increased over the years, resulting in lower performance rates in school and mental issues. Even if a student slept for only four hours the night before, a Wednesday off would grant them the ability to regain the missed time, instead being forced to attend school and function normally. The National Institute of Mental Health states, “In adolescence, melatonin levels stay high later at night and drop later in the morning, which may explain why teens may stay up late and struggle with waking up early. Many teens do not get enough sleep, making it harder to pay attention, control impulses, and do well at school. Getting good sleep at night can help support mental health.” It would benefit students in both the short and long run, providing the proper assistance in school.
During the times of quarantine, most schools shortened to four day weeks, as it was easier to work with due to the conditions of the world. However, some schools have switched to four day weeks as of now, since the positive attributes from the past have shown through. States like Arkansas, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and various school districts started reintroducing the concept of a four day school week, yet these schools either have Friday or Monday off. Even though they don’t imply the midweek break, these schools have seen positive impacts with their students’ attendance and performance rates in addition to a reduction in bullying and student anxiety.
Students and teachers alike put in hours of work a week into school and are only rewarded with a brief two day break that is mostly spent working or catching up on assignments. A Wednesday off would help everyone, giving a necessary moment of peace during a busy week.