Four-Day Legislative Work Week -- Less Is More

The South Dakota Legislature will be working a tighter schedule this year: the Legislature's Executive Board has set a session calendar that includes six four-day work weeks (out of eight total) and no working Saturdays. (Slight discrepancy: the PDF-format calendar posted on the Legislature's website shows five four-day weeks -- perhaps just not updated yet?)

The Legislature is perhaps taking a cue from the Stanley County School District, just across the river, which was in the news in November for considering a four-day school week. Stanley County already has its rural schools on a four-day schedule, and kids, parents, and teachers apparently like it. Custer and Bon Homme schools also follow a four-day schedule. Says Stanley County school board member John Duffy, "Everybody that does it -- test scores go up, attendance goes way up and discipline problems go way down" [Rebecca Cruse, "SC Teachers to Learn Merits of Four-Day Week," Pierre Capitol Journal, 2007.11.26].

We anticipate similar improvements in performance among our legislators. No word yet, though, on how we'll arrange daycare for those guys on Fridays....

Seriously, the four-day work week sounds like a good idea. Less time in Pierre means less time for monkey business, like futile debates about abortion. Legislators will get to spend more time at home listening to their constituents, keeping up with their day jobs, and spending time with their families. They'll save a little money on lodging and enjoy a few more home-cooked meals. James Fry of the Legislative Research Council suggests the four-day schedule might even encourage more people to run for the Legislature [AP, "SD Legislature Goes to Mostly Four-Day Week," KELOLand.com, 2007.12.24]. Best of all, Lake Madison will be all the safer for boaters and ice-fishermen, as Representative Olson will be home more often to moonlight as vigilant protector of daters and dogs alike.

Four-day work weeks: good for kids, good for legislators, good for South Dakota.