All Things Rest

Maclay Students Enjoy a Four-Day Weekend

Photo by Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa on Unsplash

As students head into a long weekend, many are embracing the time to rest, recharge and step away from academic pressures. For some, the extended break offers breathing room that a standard two-day weekend does not. 

“I appreciate the long weekend because I get to sleep in,” Senior Priscilla Izuegbu said. 

Supporters of the break argue that the extra day allows students to catch up on classwork, spend time with their families and focus on self-care. With tightly packed schedules filled with homework, applications, extracurriculars and jobs, many say fall break offers a rare pause.

“I am so excited because I get to go to Halloween Horror Nights,” senior Anna Chuku said, “I think the longer weekends are better because I can rest and reset.” 

Long weekends allow for a balanced work load allowing students to socialize on Friday, run errands on Saturday and finish up schoolwork on Sunday. The long weekend is also beneficial to most teachers as it allows them time to plan ahead. 

“[Professional development] PD days give teachers the opportunity to work together on vertical and horizontal alignment, ensuring that skills build progressively from grade to grade and that expectations are consistent across departments,” English teacher Lauren Fantle said.  

However, other teachers raise concerns that long weekends may come with drawbacks, especially the requirement that teachers be at school Thursday and Friday. Shortening the instructional week can also lead to tighter lesson plans and rushed teaching when students return on Monday. 

“It’s difficult [teachers not having the long weekend],” science teacher William Perry said. “I’m starting to feel the run-downness of the continuous five day week schedule. For me it’s difficult because you guys [students] are refreshed and I'm not.” 

Teachers argue that time off for students but not faculty can be tiring and increase the need for rest. Attending workshops on Thursday and Friday after a week of teaching takes a toll on the mental health of teachers. It can also lead to condensed units or extra homework as teachers work to stay on track. However, the workshops prove beneficial for students and teachers. 

“We often learn about new tools, resources, or approaches but lack time to implement them, so PD days create the breathing room needed to design lessons, integrate technology, or create assessments aligned with new initiatives like [universal design for learning] UDL, Fantle said. “Although students aren’t on campus, they benefit indirectly. When teachers grow in expertise, coordination, and morale, student engagement, achievement, and school culture all improve.”

Although it might be tough to play catchup, many students and faculty believe the benefits outweigh the inconvenience, especially during a stressful point in the semester.

“It’s important to give everybody a break,” Perry said. “Having a long weekend as long as you plan for it is fine.”

The debate over whether extended weekends provide needed relief or simply push academic pressure down the road continues. For now, most students seem to be taking the opportunity to rest however they can.