Students usually go to school from Monday to Friday. But some schools in the USA are getting shorter weeks. Classes go for four days instead of five.
There are some reasons for this change. School leaders hope longer weekends may give teachers a good rest. And schools could spend less money on buses or electricity.
But is a four-day school week better for students and parents?
Some experts did research to find out the effects. They talked to people about the change. “Some people really like it,” said Christopher Doss, an expert. “Parents get to spend more time with their kids. And they think everyone can be less stressed and sleep more.”
The experts didn’t just want opinions though. They looked at the data. “In fact, we could not find a lot of data to support the parents,” Doss said. Parents did spend more time with their kids. But the study didn’t find that they were less stressed.
The experts also discovered a problem. “We found that kids probably learned a little less every year,” Doss said. “That can add up to a lot less.” So the question is while the change is welcomed, is it worth having kids learn less?
Many students have their own ideas about the change. “I think weeks should be four days,” Chris said. “Every Sunday, I wish for just one more day to prepare for school.” Maya is more in the middle. “I don’t mind a four-day week, but I still like school,” she said. “The bad side is that Tuesday will feel like Monday!”
Are you for a four-day week? Or are you OK with five?
12. What are the reasons that some schools in the USA are getting shorter weeks?
①To save money.
②To give teachers a good rest.
③To make parents less stressed.
④To help kids get better prepared for school.
13. What kind of data did the experts fail to find?
A.Those to support students’ ideas. |
B.Those to support school leaders ‘ideas. |
C.Those to show parents were less stressed. |
D.Those to show parents spent more time with their children. |
14. What problem did the experts find about the four-day school week?
A.Students learned less. |
B.Students had busier weekends. |
C.Parents had less time to care for their kids. |
D.Parents had to learn to teach their kids by themselves. |
15. In which part of a website can we read the text?
A.Travel. | B.Culture. | C.History. | D.Education. |