Sleep deprivation causes physical and psychological problems in teenagers. Teenagers need an average of eight to nine hours of sleep every night. If those hours are reduced then it causes health issues. These issues can range from suicidal tendencies to obesity. It has been proven “Insufficient sleep in teens is associated with obesity, migraines, and immune system disruption”. Since teenagers are not getting enough sleep, these dangerous effects occur. A solution to eliminating these effects is starting school time later. Homework, work, and social events
restrict students from getting to bed at a decent hour. Doctors and scientists also say that there is a sleep phase that teenagers go through which makes them stay up later and wake up later. Sleep deprivation is also shown to cause other behaviors such as violence, substance abuse, such as drinking or smoking, and depression. Starting school later can also improve academic performance. Getting up at such an early hour can cause lack of concentration and poor performance. Students are unable to maximize their education at such a groggy state. “The three-year research project, using data from more than 9,000 students attending eight high schools in three states, found that when switching to a later start time: school attendance, standardized test scores, and academic performance in math, English, science and social studies improved.”() This data shows that starting school times later can help with schoolwork. Students can process information more efficiently at a later time.
The early start time now can possess safety risks. The time of school leaves kids tired, which impacts their driving. Not only are teenagers inexperienced with driving, they’re also tired and drowsy. “In Wyoming, Jackson High School delayed start times and saw a 70% drop in car crashes involving teenagers.” Students getting up at 5 or 6 in the morning, and then operating a car is not a good idea. It causes a safety risk to them and the community.