It’s no secret that one of the upsides of this terrible situation, would be the magical half days. These days are like Friday 2.0. It’s something else to look forward to earlier in the week, and it boosts morale. So yes, obviously half-days are nice, but how are they beneficial from a mental, social, educational, and logical standpoint, and why should we keep doing this?

They occur every Wednesday, except for if we have a day off sometime in that week. For example, if we have Monday off, then we’re not going to have a half-day on Wednesday. 

Students get to go home early and teachers get to stay for planning and grading, which sounds unfair, but from what I’ve heard from the teachers, they seem to be completely okay with that.

In fact, most teachers I spoke with a look forward to these days just as much as students. They have said they really value the time to prepare for the different platforms of learning this year.

There are so many benefits to these half days. They are just amazing. 

There’s nothing more refreshing than coming to school and hearing “we have a half-day today!” It improves students’ moods, which can improve motivation to work harder. If you’re tired and bored on a Monday, you have nothing to look forward to except Friday. But, if we have a half-day, that’s something to look forward to, which brings motivation and ultimately students work harder. 

While I think having half-days would be a greater alternative to the standard five days a week, I’m not ignorant to the drawbacks, too.

While my proposal brings up many positive things, I’m not ignorant of a few problems that can arise from the half days. An example would be the fact that one or both parents/guardians work during the day, leaving unattended children unsupervised for some time. 

While I don’t have all the solutions, this might be an opportunity to allow families to set up regular playdates or dedicated time with grandparents. Or there is already transportation in place for students to spend time at locally run childcare businesses, like Kidsville Junction.

Having students spend time with friends or family is really important for them and their growth. According to Pediatrics, a medical journal, playtime is so important that the United Nations recognizes it as a right. They go on to explore the fact that in a society that increasingly adds more work, harder classes, and pressure to succeed, we might be robbing children of valuable playtime. 

We already have schedules generated and bells set for these half days. Buses are already scheduled at all schools. There would be no extra work in the way of logistics for these days to occur. 

With just a little bit of extra off time every week, we create a positive domino effect for everyone involved: better learning plans and better preparation for the students’ work leads to students having a better education, which leads to students having a better future. 

So something as simple as having a half-day on Wednesdays can positively impact everyone greatly.