Keep 4 days of school; students need it

My name is Adalina from Alice King Community School, replying to you regarding the proposed new five-day school week rule.

Many students at my school love the idea of four days of school. Students should have the freedom and opportunity to have a life out of school without worrying about homework, grades, etc. Every student on Friday should have the opportunity to be free from school and have the definition of “Fun Friday.” At my school, most students on Thursdays make plans with their friends on Friday when they don’t have to worry about school.

Many students at my school have adjusted to the four days a week and would not be very used to five days. Three-day weekends also (allow) students from Indigenous tribes like me to participate in tribal traditions/ events.

In the middle-school classes, every student has to choose to do a Future City or STEM Fair project and every student does a National History Day project. Many students need these weekends to have time from their projects and have some fun. I am a seventh-grader at my school and have done both of the projects with four days in a week. I have managed to make my projects eligible for regionals in National History Day in 12 weeks with four days in each week.

I am sending this (letter) not to say that schools shouldn’t have five days a week, but to say that every school that has four days should have the chance to fight for four days. Many of our students have families in city services, the medical field and the police force. They work weekends, and Fridays give them a chance to be with family.

I’m not saying five days isn’t for anyone, but it isn’t for everyone.

ADALINA SANCHEZ Alice King Community School, Albuquerque