Should Schools Start Later?

Were you aware that teens tend to have irregular sleeping patterns that can harm their body and the way it functions? When it comes to sleep, teens are inclined to stay up very late during the week and wake up very early in the morning. On the weekends, they seem to gravitate more towards waking up very late to catch up on the sleep that they missed earlier in the week. Now that you know what the causes of having irregular sleeping patterns can do to a teenager’s body, you will be able to see the positive and negative effects of what not having enough sleep can do to one’s self. These facts will be explored through the articles “Should Schools Start Later” by Justin O’Neill and “Why Schools Should Start Later in the Morning” by Emily Richmond.

Many schools all over America start before 7:20 am, and it is taking a toll on the way that student’s react and how they are performing in school. Schools have been put into a dilemma on whether to start later to improve the quality of teenagers’ lives, and to higher their personal health. Personally, I have been a student in public schools for many years, and it is time to take a stand against early school start times. There are many reasons why schools should start later in the morning. Although some people say schools should not start later, I believe that they should because seventy percent of teens do not get enough sleep every night, tired teens are more prone to illnesses, and teens that get more sleep receive higher test scores.

First of all, schools should start later because roughly seventy percent of teens are not getting enough sleep at night. Due to the fact that kids receive a great deal of homework every night and on top of that they also have extra-curricular activities after school, they are not getting enough time to sleep and to rest their bodies for the following day. One article reads, “Across America, nearly 70 percent of teens are not getting enough sleep” (O’Neill 20). This quote demonstrates that studies have been completed to prove the fact that children are not getting enough sleep at night, and it is not benefiting them or their lives in any way possible. Another source says, “Early school start times, however, are preventing many adolescents from getting the sleep they need” (Richmond 1). This signifies that on top of kids not getting enough sleep at night because of homework and after-school activities, they have to wake up early in the morning to get to school on time. If school times were pushed later in the day, kids would be allowed the correct amount of sleep they need, and they would no longer be tired in the morning for the start of the school day. Many schools should consider starting later in the morning due to the seventy percent of teens that are not getting the precise amount of sleep each night that they should receive, and teenagers can also become ill from not getting enough sleep.

Secondly, schools should regard starting later in the morning because tired teens are more prone to specific illnesses. Since teenagers are not getting enough sleep at night, they can easily get sicknesses that they would not get if they slept enough at night. One article shows, “Tired teens have an increased risk of depression, anxiety, obesity, and illness” (O’Neill 20). This quote demonstrates that teens that do not get a sustainable amount of sleep at night can be more prone to illnesses that can hurt their bodies and be unbeneficial when it comes to their physical health, and it can cause an overall lower length of life. Another reference states, “Both the CDC and the pediatricians’ group cited significant risks that come with lack of sleep, including higher rates of obesity and depression and motor-vehicle accidents among teens as well as an overall lower quality of life” (Richmond 1). This shows that studies have been completed and scientists have found that these specific illnesses were more common in teens that did not get enough sleep at night. These studies also showed that teenagers that did not get enough sleep were more prone to getting into car accidents, which was caused by the lack of reaction time that they have while tired. Schools should begin later in the morning because tired teens are more prone to specific illnesses that can harm their bodies and their health, and because getting more sleep at night can allow teenagers to receive higher test scores.

Lastly, schools should consider starting later in the morning because studies have shown that teenagers that get more sleep at night have higher test scores. When teens complete graded assignments when they are sluggish and lagging, they are more prone to making mistakes. Teens are more vulnerable to make errors while they are tired because their minds are not fully aware of what is going on, and they cannot completely comprehend what is being inputted into their brains. O’Neill says, “One 2012 study showed that middle schoolers’ test scores rose in reading and math” (O’Neill 20). This shows that scientists have come to the conclusion that students who get more sleep at night were presented with higher test scores, and they were physically more apt to making better choices in life. Another source reads, “Researchers analyzed data from more than 9,000 students at eight high schools in Minnesota, Colorado, and Wyoming and found that shifting the school day later in the morning resulted in a boost in attendance, test scores, and grades in math, English, science, and social studies” (Richmond 1). This demonstrates that scientists have not only discovered that getting more sleep at night improved test scores in various subjects, but they also found that getting a higher amount of sleep can improve a student’s attendance, and overall grade averages in several classes. Schools should commence later in the day because teenagers that got longer amounts of sleep at night had improved test scores.

Although some people say that school times should not start later in the day, they are not looking at the correct side of the issue.

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

reasons.

Did you know that when teens do not get enough sleep, it can make it hard for them to get along with their families, and it makes them perform poorly on tests and quizzes? It can also make them look like a bear after hibernating for the winter and can hurt their performances on assignments and on the field. Although some people believe that schools should not start later in the morning, I think they should for countless reasons that would improve the lives of teenagers all around the world. First, schools should start later in the morning because nearly seventy percents of teens around the country are not getting enough sleep at night. Next, teens that do not get enough sleep are more prone to getting illnesses that would not originally occur if they got enough sleep. Finally, test scores seemed to rise after teenagers got more sleep at night. Not only would starting schools later in the day affect the way that teenagers acted and performed in their everyday life, but it would change the way that teenagers consider and regard their lives and the way that they view school.