The Buffalo City School District's recent announcement of the possible implementation of a four-day school week is regrettable, though it may be necessary to secure the future of the district. The decision, reached by officials in the district on the heels of Gov. George E. Pataki's announced $30 million budget cuts to the city schools, will endanger kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs, after-school programs and many jobs in the community.
Buffalo's schools must find a way to meet an expected $60 million budget gap in the next year, and this plan, which would chip away $5 million per year, is likely the best they have. There are many risks, however, that must be addressed so a similar situation will not develop again in the future.
First, the potential sacrifice of kindergarten and other formative educational programs creates a void in a child's education that can have long-lasting effects. The adage that "all a person needs in life is learned in kindergarten" is amusing, but also true. Life lessons like sharing and cooperation are enduring, and often stem from experiences early in a child's social development. Academic lessons learned that early are crucial in the educational development of a young student, as well. The alphabet, basic numbers, colors and early reading skills are the building blocks of a solid scholastic foundation. To jeopardize the introduction of fundamental skills could have negative effects that may not be recognized until the child is older. Furthermore, children in the rest of the state will be learning these rudimentary skills, and, ultimately, the standardized test scores of Western New York's children will suffer, reflecting poorly on the students and the district.
In the short-term, the district's four-day school week, which will lengthen each school day by an hour and a half, will force eight-hour days on young students who have attention-span issues as it is. Currently, schools that run six-and-a-half hour days have trouble maintaining the students' interest for the duration of classes. Adding another 90 minutes could turn the classes into a waste of time for students and teachers.
The next thing to suffer will be after-school programs including athletics, clubs, activities and services. The value of these extra-curricular functions is undisputed in the educational community, as well-rounded students are sought-after commodities in colleges and the job market. In addition to the functional advantages of these programs, the intrinsic value of getting involved in school on a greater level than classes makes the educational experience fuller and more interesting. After an eight-hour school day, however, many students will be unable to participate in after-school activities.
Finally, the jobs that will be lost as a result of budgetary cuts and a reduction in the school week should not be overlooked. Librarians, guidance counselors and teachers may lose their positions as the district struggles to make ends meet. These are invaluable assets to the education process, and their colleagues and their charges on a personal and professional level will feel the absence.
The sorry financial state of the Buffalo School District makes cuts inevitable and even crucial to its survival. A guarantee of public education through 12th grade is an integral part of a child's life. It allows for the teaching of more than the ABCs or SATs; it instills discipline, work ethic, the values of teamwork and ambition.
Hopefully, this belt tightening is only temporary and as few children as possible will suffer from it. Both the district and state government must pay close attention to the sacrifices that will be made in Buffalo's public education. Once they see the consequences of massive budget cuts to education, perhaps they will be more careful in their long-term planning.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
