We high school teens nowadays are being forced to get up at an early hour to go to school each and every morning. Mass amounts of accidents happen daily due to the young students that drive way too early in the morning and we cannot do anything about it. How can we control these accidents? Recently, some have been given the idea for early start times and take no consideration for it at all because it would greatly outweigh the annual cost of implementing the policy change. Although some people believe that it will cost too much or be difficult to change routines around, we should use information and real-life experiences that happen to us to realize that sleep is a need for teens and in the long run keep students alive. So why don’t we push …show more content…
Some differences in agreement to earlier school start times are allowable. It is very accurate to say that many people would have to adjust part of their everyday routine in order for the effects to take place. Parental concerns are increasing and some are creating petitions to avoid the possibility of earlier start times. Judith Keeler, a parent in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, raised a huge fraught issue in any school district which is cost. “Is this the best way to spend taxpayer dollars?,” said Keeler (Sifferlin 8). However, in defiance of these disagreements, pushing school start times back and starting at a later time could improve the performance of young teens and could prevent the many accidents that happen often. According to Judith Owens, “Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn” (Hanes 3). Those who have constantly pushed for school start times say they hope this recommendation from the widely respected AAP will put new pressure on school districts, (Hanes
cases, this cycle can lead to depression and even suicide.” Therefore, it is crucial that schools prioritize the well-being of their students and adjust their schedules accordingly. The article titled "Despite Research on Teens' Sleep, Change to School Start Times Difficult" states that some argue against later school start times, claiming that "students will have less time later in the day to spend with their families if school starts later" (Blad). While this may seem like a valid concern, it is not always the case.
In the two articles, “High Schools Starting Later to Help Sleepy Teens” by Michelle Trudeau and “High Schools Will Keep Starting Too Early. Here’s why” by Dan Weissman. Each author uses different evidence to support his or her claim about school starting times. According to “High School Starting Later to Help Sleepy Teens”, most teenagers are not getting the proper rest at night and is causing a severe consequence to their everyday experiences. Students need sleep because it can prevent a child from falling asleep in class and helping the child focus. “students reported less depression when there was a later starting time.”
Throughout the United States, students tend to complain about how early school starts in the morning. A few schools in the U.S. are beginning to move their start times later in the morning. However, not everyone is on the same side of these decisions. Some say that later school start times will have benefits on student performance and student health. Others say that later school start times would have negative affects on what time school will end and the schedules of the community. What times schools start is a very controversial topic.
Researchers have proven that teenager’s brains don’t start working until ten in the morning, also that an average teenager is supposed to get eight to nine hours of sleep each night. These are a few reasons that school starting times are negatively affecting students learning abilities at school. I believe that schools should have later starting times. An average teenager is supposed to get eight to nine hours of sleep each night, however in reality most teens only get about seven hours. A lack of sleep is causing students to do worse on homework and tests. Our school starts at seven twenty-five, if it started two hours later, then students would be getting the exact amount of sleep that they need each night. A study shows that the brain doesn’t
Jane E. Brody, a well-respected columnist for The New York Times’s Health section, wrote an interesting article, Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers, in 2014 on the importance of sleep for teenagers, as well as the risks of deprivation of sleep. In the article Brody states, that a poll done in 2006, demonstrated that an average adolescent sleeps less than 20 percent of what the recommended average of eight to nine hours of sleep. Brody then goes on to explain that, while interviewing Dr. Judith A Owens, adolescents who drive while sleep deprived are just as dangerous as adolescents who drive drunk. Brody then explains the advantages to not starting school too early. One advantage she discussed, from a study done by Kyla Wahlstorm, supports the idea of starting school later because of the increase in students’ grade point averages in
Some people say that school times should not start later in the morning because there would be less time to complete other activities that they enjoy doing. One source says, “Starting school later means dismissing school later, which leaves fewer daylight hours for after-school activities” (O’Neill 21). This indicates that some believe that starting school later would be an unbeneficial sacrifice to take, just because they do not want to miss out on their favored extra-curricular activities. Another incorrect reason why people are convinced that schools should not begin later is because school districts would have to pay for more bus drivers, and they do not want to have to pay for these unnecessary expenses. O’Neill writes, “Later start times would mean some districts’ might have to invest in additional buses and drivers, which can be expensive” (O’Neill 21). This demonstrates that many school districts would rather keep the same start times for school than have to pay more for bus drivers. One final reason why people falsely believe that schools should not start later in the morning is because it helps teens learn life skills that they can put into use later in their existence. An excerpt from an article reads, “Being on time, managing a busy schedule, and getting enough sleep are important skills teens will need when they enter the workforce” (O’Neill 21). This quote reassures the fact that some people believe that learning important life skills is more relevant than getting enough sleep, even though a lack of sleep can cause teens to get unnecessary illnesses. Despite the fact that some people say that keeping school start times early in the morning is more advantageous than pushing the start times later, they are erroneous for numerous
If the start time of schools is pushed back, then the end time of school would likely be pushed back in order to make up for lost class time. If the end time of school is pushed back, then after school activities would need to be pushed back as well, leaving teenagers getting to their homes later in the evening which would to lead them going to sleep later. This argument undeniably valid, and there is no easy way around it. In order to not lose academic time, a compromise must be implemented. The start times of schools must be pushed back in order to allow teens to live healthy lifestyles, but the end time of schools does not have to be. Instead of pushing the whole day back an hour or two to compensate for losing the first hour or two, just push the start time back. This may seem counterintuitive because it would lead to schools losing class time. To make up for the lost time, schools should extend their year. Schools should add on an extra week or so, depending on how much school time was lost to the later start time, so that no class time would actually be lost. This compromise allows for better mental health of students as well as increased safety on the roads. It also allows teenagers to participate in all of their extracurricular activities while still getting all of their
Boergers, who is also co-director of the Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, said these finding have important implications for public policy. “The result of the study add to a growing body of research demonstrating important health benefits of later school start times for adolescents,” she said. “If we more closely align school schedules with adolescents circadian rhythms and sleep needs, we will have students who are more happier, alert, and better prepared to learn.”
Judith Owens, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Sleep Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center stated that, “There’s no question that later [school] start times pose significant challenges and barriers, … but [making a change to the these start times] is something within our control, something we can change to make a significant impact on the long-term health of children” (Clarkson para. 29) The issue regarding when the start to the school day should begin may not seem like a threatening topic that drastically affects our lives, but as Owens stated it has a “long-term” effect on the generations of tomorrow. In order words, the school start times do affect many individuals, not only in the present, but carries it out throughout their lives. These long-term effects may come from the result of sleep deprivation and stress piled upon students during the school year. These issues may not seem rather insignificant at its moment, but they can and will negatively affect the children. Therefore, the starting times for schools should be pushed back a least an hour to not only to benefit the students physically and mentally, but also academically, and although there are some conflicts in doing so, the overall outcome results in giving adolescents a healthier future, with a chance of reaching greater opportunities.
Critique of a Scientific Investigation The article “Adolescent Sleep, School Start Times, and Teen Motor Vehicle Crashes” is presented by Dr. Fred Danner and Dr. Barbara Phillips in the Journal of Clinical Sleep and Medicine to convince the reader that early school start times across the country are affecting the ability of high school students to function properly, specifically while driving. The argument is presented through a study conducted over a two-year period in a single school district. The first year of the study had early school start times of 7:30 and 8:00 AM and the second had the altered late start time of 8:30 and 9:00 AM. During these two years, middle and high school students were polled on their sleeping habits.
“BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!” The teenage student slams on the snooze button and struggles to get out of bed for the early school day. Teens on average need 9 ¼ hours of sleep (Backgrounder: Later School Start Times). Teens currently average fewer than 7 hours of sleep (Backgrounder: Later School Start Times). Hectic schedules, poor sleep habits, homework, and family obligations are the problem (Backgrounder: Later School Start Times). Schools are considering starting their school days later in the morning. For example, one Minneapolis school considered pushing back their start time from 7:15 to 8:30. Another Seattle school considers pushing back the school day start reported Jean Enersen. Would this benefit the students or harm the students? Is this for the better or for the worse? These are questions many superintendents and school board members are asking themselves. They all want to do what is best for their students, so the topic takes a lot of thinking, planning, and conversations. School starting later can be a very controversial issue.
There is multiple facts and reasons to have later start times help students get through the school day. BY helping students get better grades, test scores, and overall better. And teens these days aren't getting the sleep they need to wake up early and go to school. SO that is why school should have later start times. IF schools started later we wouldn't have all these tired and groggy students coming to school we would have students that are refreshed and ready to learn. We will have students that have good grades. We will have students who have better test scores. And we will have students with overall better performance.I what you right now pick up your phone and call your district and say we want later start
An advantage to starting school later would be that students would be less drowsy at school; thus, being forced to pay attention and -- in the long run -- improve grades. According to a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, “28 percent of students [fall] asleep” during f...
This is the perfect equilibrium between too early and too late. A start time at 8:30 allows for a hypothetical extra hour of sleep for a student but also ensures that the school day will not drag on too long in the afternoon. This shift in start time will have a resounding impact on students’ performance in school as well as their personal well-being. A recent study conducted with the cooperation of eight schools affirms this proclamation concluding, “In a recent study of eight U.S. high schools that delayed their start times, researchers found improvements in kids ' grades, attendance and car crash rates”. (Norton). If Brookwood is truly committed to the tradition of excellence they claim, then this statistic alone should be enough persuasion to make the change. Students who get adequate sleep are in turn healthier, more enthusiastic learners which any high school should strive to have. Another reason that shifting the initial start time of Brookwood High School would be beneficial centers around the concept that there are particular hours in the day that students are proven to be
"Should Schools Start Later in the Day?" Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication 30 Apr. 1999: 3. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2012.