Later Start Times Essay
The Effects of Later Start Times in Middle and High Schools
A study shows that over half of all high schoolers get no more than seven hours of sleep per night. In fact, this is the average amount of sleep most teenagers get, yet they need over nine hours of sleep in order to get a complete rest. This problem is common among most teenagers and is mainly due to schools. About 40,000 middle and high schools nationwide start before 8:30 a.m. (Wheaton) This means that middle and high school students are going to sleep late and waking up early which has become a problem for schools. The early start time in schools doesn’t allow teenagers to get the rest they need, but a later start time would both allow teens to sleep in later, and give them the time they need to get ready in the morning. A later start time in middle and high schools would benefit …show more content…
One study studied the effects of later start times in a high school and how it affected crashes. It showed that after two years, the amount of crashes in the county decreased by about 17%. (Danner) This is how much just a one hour change in time can affect teenagers. Dr. Nathaniel Watson says “Early school start times make it difficult for adolescents to get sufficient sleep on school nights, and chronic sleep loss among teens is associated with a host of problems, including poor school performance, increased depressive symptoms, and motor vehicle accidents. Starting school at 8:30 a.m. or later gives teens a better opportunity to get the sufficient sleep they need to learn and function at their highest level.” When teens wake up tired day after day and drive to school, they are not only risking themselves, but also everyone else on the road. In addition to that, it also increases a students learning ability as Dr Watson said. Now when schools start later, they are both increasing their students academic performance and health, but also decreasing the risk for a motor vehicle
A study shows that over half of all high schoolers get no more than seven hours of sleep per night. In fact, this is the average amount of sleep most teenagers get, yet they need over nine hours of sleep in order to get a complete rest. This problem is common among most teenagers and is mainly due to schools. About 40,000 middle and high schools nationwide start before 8:30 a.m. (Wheaton) This means that middle and high school students are going to sleep late and waking up early which has become a problem for schools. The early start time in schools doesn’t allow teenagers to get the rest they need, but a later start time would both allow teens to sleep in later, and give them the time they need to get ready in the morning. A later start time in middle and high schools would benefit …show more content…
One study studied the effects of later start times in a high school and how it affected crashes. It showed that after two years, the amount of crashes in the county decreased by about 17%. (Danner) This is how much just a one hour change in time can affect teenagers. Dr. Nathaniel Watson says “Early school start times make it difficult for adolescents to get sufficient sleep on school nights, and chronic sleep loss among teens is associated with a host of problems, including poor school performance, increased depressive symptoms, and motor vehicle accidents. Starting school at 8:30 a.m. or later gives teens a better opportunity to get the sufficient sleep they need to learn and function at their highest level.” When teens wake up tired day after day and drive to school, they are not only risking themselves, but also everyone else on the road. In addition to that, it also increases a students learning ability as Dr Watson said. Now when schools start later, they are both increasing their students academic performance and health, but also decreasing the risk for a motor vehicle