School Should Start Later

40% of children do not get enough sleep each night. Schools should start later, because children and teens don’t get enough rest as it is, and they do not need the extra struggle of getting out of bed. For instance melatonin messes with teens sleep patterns. Schools that start later statistically do better as a whole. If schools started later, it would give students a chance to have a proper breakfast. Here are the reasons why schools should start later.

Most teens stay up late doing their last minute homework, watching netflix, or lying down trying to sleep. But they can’t. Not because they’re being stubborn, but because they physically do not feel tired enough. Teenagers melatonin levels rise much later than children and adults, which makes teens sleepy around midnight. Children and adults also find it easier to wake up in the mornings, while teens find it much more difficult. Teens need at least eight to nine hours of sleep to fully function for another day, but most adolescents only get six, if they’re lucky. (“Why Do Most Young People Naturally Stay up Late and Sleep in Late? Is It Biological or Psychological?”)(2014)
But when schools start earlier, students have a far less chance to do well in life. “My attendance has been better. I’m not as tired. I have time to eat breakfast… I’m more awake. I’m more ready to learn than I was before.” said the grade 11 student, Amber Henstridge who attends Red Lake District High School.(“Delaying School Start Times Gives Students Better Chance of Success: Study”)(2017) Since the night before, students were most likely up late because of homework, extra-curricular activities,