Posted by John Byrne at 3:25 p.m.
Mayor Richard Daley today came out against the idea of cutting the school week back to four days, calling it a step in the wrong direction as the city tries to find new organized activities for kids to keep them off the street.
"That is not the quick answer, to shorten the number of days," Daley said.
The mayor was reacting to Monday’s approval by the Illinois House of legislation to allow local school boards to set four-day weeks for students in an effort to help strapped
school districts save money. Students would still be required to go to school the same amount of
hours every year. That would mean school days could be longer or summer
vacation would be shorter.
Daley’s comments came as he appeared with city officials and clergy to announce a series of events for Chicago Public Schools students during spring break, which starts Friday.
"This is a welcome break for parents and students alike. But this extended period away from school gives our young people time on their hands, which can be dangerous," he said.
Likewise, the four-day week would force parents struggling to make ends meet to try to find the money to pay somebody to look after their children during the day to keep them safe, he said.
"What do parents then do on a Friday or a Monday or a Wednesday?" Daley asked. "Many of the parents are working. A single parent has to work, and so how do they afford then – what do they do with their child?"
The state’s dire financial situation demands spending cuts, he said, but called the four-day week "the easy way out."The bill passed the House on an 81-21 vote and goes to the Senate for
consideration.