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There is nothing that fulfills more than the thought of having free time and space. As a student, and a work for that matter, getting a reprieve from the draining plans of studies and work can be so exhilarating. It is based on this approach that this study seeks to give an insight on why having a four day school and work schedule should be instituted for the betterment of the American family welfare.
The United States’ Community policy on education plays a rather unique role in the education sector. From an historical perspective, the community colleges and high schools have had many students going through their channels and who could not meet the admission requirements in other colleges as a result of their failure to prepare adequately or as a result of their failure to seek for a more affordable education. Besides, the aforesaid colleges also served those students who were not able to travel long distances in pursuit of education due to family and or work commitments. This study posits that the main mission of this publicly endorsed community education is to provide some kind of open access to education for all and sundry who has demonstrated the will and quench for studies (Lockley 28).
The community schools and colleges have in the recent times seen a remarkable cut in funding as an intervention to curb the global economic crisis. The shortfalls that come with State budget have often led to leaders of these schools calling for a reduction in school enrolment and thus low enrolment rates. Notably, the economic crisis in the United States hit an all-time low leading to corporate bankruptcy, and unemployment. The consequence of this was home foreclosures which is not something any would wish for. As a result of this, the country had to move swiftly and see to it that all was back to normal (Lockley 28).
The State and local authorities reviewed tax revenues so as to decrease them and called for demand of more affordable education. This notion should not however, be misinterpreted to mean that the struggles are no longer with us. The decreases in public funding of schools has also played a key role in leading the school stakeholders to come up with new mechanisms of reforming the schools to reduce on the operating costs and expenses. Such approaches have helped in balancing the school budget that has for a long time been challenged by the ever increasing energy bills. Additionally, the move has also helped employees, mostly parents and students in dealing with the ever rising bills of fuel. It is also of great benefit to note that such a reform should be embraced as it will help in cutting costs across all expenses from tuition to transport. This move is mainly targeted in transition of the calendar weeks from five days a week to four days a week (Papalexandris & Robin 18).
In an ideal situation, full time employees are often required to work 36 hours per week, and many of whom have a number of family duties and personal matters to juggle with.
Theoretical framework
Four groups of model can always be employed in any organizational change process a guide to the same. The first model proposes differences in terms of leadership strategies for the sake of introducing the intended change. Group two of the models brings about the classification of the changes into categories based on its contents. The contents in this regard include objectives, purpose and goals of the change. The third model consists of the step implementation as far as the change is concerned. Lastly, the forth model posits that any organizational change can come occur as a result of factors that come into play from both an external and internal environment of the organization.
The change recipients should always view transition or innovation as a rational thing as this is the only way to readily accept change. In order to effectively see a change in this process, the stakeholders must always remain assert6ive and persuasive in so far leading the quest for change is concerned. It is in order that the change leaders are reliably informed to sell their reasoning to the masses and the community for their tactic to succeed. They must also be able to demonstrate to their change agents that their proposal has more pros than cons and thus outweighs the negative impacts that would be associated with the change.
In 1700s, the American citizens commonly worked for between fourteen and sixteen hours a day for six days. Later in 1927, Ford Motor Company came up with an implementation program that would see people work in the company for forty hours per week in a five-day per week arrangement. This was later to be scrapped off by the Fair Labor Standards that saw employers in the United States adopt a schedule the forty day a week schedule. Some schools in the United States have also followed suit in adopting the same programs in a bid to improve on the welfare of the communities in and around the United States.
The transition of the new school calendar based on a weekly schedule can be implemented inn different forms. Some schools choose Monday through to Thursday plan while others prefer Tuesday to Friday schedule in a week (Papalexandris & Robin 13).
As a matter of fact, the four day school/work schedule per week brings with it more job satisfaction than can be demonstrated, both to school going students and the employees. The main thing that comes out clearly defined in this kind of arrangement is that parents can use the extra day granted to them to attend to other personal and family matters. In addition to this, both parents and students can make use of their free day in attending to their healthcare appointments or even taking part in recreational roles and activities.
The other helpful benefits that come as a result of this rather flexible work schedule is that teachers are more organized, given enough time to prepare and thus deliver fully baked content to the students. There is an obvious guarantee of satisfactory work, improved services, higher job satisfaction among students, high morale and productive rates, easier scheduling of programs and deliverables, and lower maintenance rates (Zedeck & Kathleen 31).
It is also apparent that should such a plan be implemented, families will have more than ample time in taking care of and discharging the family duties besides having time for leisure and adventure. On the part of students, this plan will make it easier for them to arrange for some side-hustles such as part-time jobs due to longer weekend hours. The parents are also great beneficiaries under this arrangement as most of them will attest to the fact that they are able to adequately attend to their family needs. Even the stakeholders would attest to the fact that the five-day per week schedule is tiresome, rigorous and draining to the students (Lockley 28).
In conclusion, based on the presented arguments, and for the sake of balance between work and family relations, a four-day school and work week schedule should be instituted to promote good health of among the American Families. With this, families will be able to stick together, get a boosted morale for work and also help in production rates.
Works Cited
Kanter, Rosabeth Moss. Work and Family in the United States: A Critical Review and Agenda for Research and Policy: A Critical Review and Agenda for Research and Policy. Russell Sage Foundation, 2007.
Lockley, Steven W., et al. "Effect of reducing interns' weekly work hours on sleep and attentional failures." New England Journal of Medicine 351.18 (2004): 1829-1837.
Papalexandris, Nancy, and Robin Kramar. "Flexible working patterns: towards reconciliation of family and work." Employee Relations 19.6 (2010): 581-595.
Zedeck, Sheldon, and Kathleen L. Mosier. "Work in the family and employing organization." American Psychologist 45.2 (2013): 240.
(Kanter 27)
