Sleep Deprivation in America's Students

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Sleep Deprivation in America's Students

One of the many arising problems of America’s students is they are becoming sleep deprived. The busy daily schedules of children and teens are not allowing them to get enough sleep. “Less sleep is unhealthy especially with the new research that as teenagers move through teenage years, they need increasing amounts of sleep. Nine hours per night is the necessary amount to avoid behaviors associated with sleep deprivation” (Final Report Summary, 2001). Among other things, sleep deprivation is causing students to sleep during class instead of being awake and aware. When the students are sleeping in class, they are not retaining information being taught to them. Researchers have now proven that the majority of adolescents retain more information later in the day. Contrary to this information, America’s school systems are programmed to begin early in the day, which according to the sleep rhythms of most teenagers, they should still be sleeping.

Lack of sleep of teens is not caused by choice. Many teens do not choose to stay up late at night because they are out or having fun. The body has circadian rhythms. “These rhythms are generated internally and develop without any social or environmental cues. Adolescents experience a natural circadian phase delay and, therefore, tend to stay up later and sleep in later than in preadolescents” (Final Report Summary, 2001). The opening and closing schedules of schools are not based on these rhythms but are based on the business world and what is best for it. “School schedules should be adapted to the unique needs of different sub-populations of pupils. The administrator must not bear the sole responsibility for planning class schedules” (...

... middle of paper ...

... Attention and Achievement.

Deighton, Lee, C. (1971). The Encyclopedia of Education.

Klein, Joseph. (September 2001). “Attention, Scholastic Achievement and Timing of Lessons.” Scandinavian Journal of Education Research. Vol. 45, Issue 3, p 301.

Lawton, M. (March 1999). “For Whom the School Bell Tolls.” The School Administrator Web Edition. Retrieved from http://www.aasa.org/publications/sa/1999_03/lawton.htm

Monroe, Paul, PhD. (1913). A Cyclopedia of Education.

School Start Time Study: Final Report Summary. (August 2001). Retrieved November 13, 2002, from http://education.umn.edu/carei/Programs/start_time/default.html

Schroth, Gwen. (1997, January 1). Fundamentals of School Scheduling.

Wahlstrom, K.L. (August 2001). Executive Summary. Retrieved November 14, 2002, from http://education.umn.edu/carei/Programs/start_time/2001exec_sum.html

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