Persuasive Essay: Should School Start Later?

Should School Start Later?

Have you ever woken up feeling groggy and not wanting to go to school or do anything at all? As a result, many students go to school late or do not academically progress and participate in class. According to the Scholastic Scope article “Should School Start Later?” by Justin O’Neil and the article “Sleepy Teens: High School Should Start Later in the Morning” by Mark Fischetti, many schools are considering starting school later to help students succeed academically. Students have more trouble concentrating in class because they are not getting enough sleep. Some students arrive at school later because they oversleep. To make sure that there is less tardiness and the academic growth increases, schools are looking
at the idea of starting school later. Although kids need to wake up in the morning, school needs to start later because teens are not getting enough sleep, the body’s sense of time shifts, and teens will develop mental and physical problems without enough sleep.

First, teens in America are not getting enough sleep because of the early start times for school. A large population of teens are not getting enough sleep. For example, the Scholastic article states “Across America, nearly 70 percent of teens are not getting enough sleep” (O’Neil 20). Going to sleep late at night and waking up early in the morning for school is causing teens to lose sleep time. Losing sleep is causing many students to arrive at school late. Specifically, the article explains “The teens also need more general sleep, so forcing them to be up early for school for school cuts into their sleep time as well as their sleep rhythm, making them less ready to learn during those first-period classes” (Fischetti). Starting school later would help students get to school on time and do better in their classes. Later start time would help students get enough sleep and arrive at school on time.

Second, without enough sleep, the body’s sense of time shifts. Losing sleep can cause young people to lose the ability to keep track of time in a day. To illustrate, the article states “Plus, the body's circadian rhythm-that is, its natural sense of time shifts during adolescence” (O’Neil 20). Without sleep, a person could lose the ability to keep track of time using their body. Starting school later will help students get enough sleep without missing school. For example the article explains “Doing so will align school schedules to the biological sleep rhythms of adolescents” (Fischetti). If school started later, students would be able to get enough sleep and stay awake during class without sitting in a why-are-we-here posture. Kids would get the needed amount of sleep to keep track of time if school started later.

Third, teens with less sleep develop mental and physical problems. Without sleep, teens develop depression and illness. For instance, the article says “Studies show that tired teens have an increased risk of depression, anxiety, obesity, and illness” (O’Neil 20). Teens with a lack of sleep can develop anxiety and depression. If school starts later, less student drivers would get into car accidents. To illustrate, the article states “The later classes begin, the more academic performance improves. Bonus points: attendance goes up, teen depression goes down, and fewer student drivers get into car crashes” (Fischetti). Starting school later would help students become as smart as an owl and stay healthy mentally and physically. Children would be healthier physically and mentally if school started later.

Although some people may say that starting school later is a bad idea, they fail to realize the positive effects of starting school later.
Certainly it could be said that if school starts later, then it will end later; while this is a good point, it fails to account for the loss of sleep caused by early start times. The Scholastic Scope article explains “For one thing starting school late means dismissing school later, which leaves fewer daylight hours for after school activities like sports” (O’Neil 21). Although this is true, many students arrive at school later because they do not get enough sleep. While some might argue that starting school later means that districts will have to invest in busses and drivers, they forget that starting school later will help align school schedules with sleep schedules. For instance, the article explains “School bus schedules are arranged to meet the needs of not just one school but all schools in the district” (O’Neil 21). Even though there would need to be more buses to meet the needs for all schools, kids would be more alert in class. Some people may argue that starting school later brings the wrong message to kids. The Scholastic Scope article says “Being on time, managing a busy schedule, and getting enough sleep are important skills teens will need to know when they enter the workforce” (O’Neil 21). In contrast, starting school later would help kids stay physically and mentally healthy. Starting school later will help students academically succeed and stay mentally
fit.

Starting school early makes students feel groggy in the morning because they do not get enough sleep. Despite the fact that many people believe school that it is a bad idea to start school later, I strongly believe that starting school later will benefit students in many ways. Students can get more sleep and come to school on time if school started later. In addition, starting school later will align sleep schedules with school schedules. Lastly, students would be mentally and physically healthier if school start times were later. Do you think that school is about students getting a good education? Well, starting school later will help students academically do better and succeed.