Benefits Of Later School Start Time

Imagine if teens were able to start school earlier and weren’t as sluggish in the morning. In
Kyla Wahlstrom’s article “Why teen brains need a later school start time” she discusses the benefits of starting school after eight-o-clock. There are benefits such as preventing teen car crashes, happiness and hopefulness, and alcohol/drug/cigarette decline. With these benefits, teens are more likely to succeed in the long run as their academic performance improves significantly with later start time. Schools should push back the school start time for teens as it enhances the overall performance.
As a matter of fact, teen car accidents are the primary cause of death for teenagers. However, it was found that the accidents significantly decline

when teens obtain more than eight hours of sleep per night. “For example, the crash rate for teens in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2013 dropped by 70 percent in the first year after the district adopted a later high school start” (Wahlstrom 2). This portrays the importance of sleep as it has prevented many further possible accidents that may occur with the lack of sleep. Sleep is a major key component for students to succeed.
In addition, with improved sleep schedules, teens are more likely to contain happiness and hopefulness. With more positivity, comes with more energy and willingness to learn the material being taught in school. In fact, “Feelings of sadness and hopelessness increase from 19 percent up to nearly 52 percent in teens who sleep four hours or less per night.” (Wahlsttrom 2). Which proves that if a teen obtains little to no sleep, they are more probable to be depressed. “The incidence of depression among teens significantly rises with less than nine hours of sleep” (Wahlstrom 2). Without the necessary dose of sleep per night, a teen student is less likely to thrive in anything he/she may aspire for. Which, can lead to many other negative paths down the road.
One of the few but serious negative consequences of inadequate sleep in teens is that teens are inclined to use cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. Along with the use of cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol comes with the repercussion of poor academic performance.