Why School Should Start Later
Kelly Fellenzer
Mr.Kalin
English 9H
Period 6
33014
Sleep. A necessary part of life and a very popular activity for lazy teenagers.
However, it is much more important than we know, as the amount of sleep acquired can be directly associated with a student’s performance in school. The amount of sleep a pupil gets, can determine how easy or difficult it is for the student to get the grades they aspire. Many students don’t get the recommended amount of sleep in part because of their physiology, busy schedules, and how early their school day starts. To try and help scholars work to their optimum potential, many schools are switching their classroom start times to later in the day.
There are many reasons why this action is both beneficial and detrimental. If the transition …show more content…
Because of the release of melatonin in the body, “teenagers are developmentally driven to be late to bed and late to rise,”(Hoffman, Jan. ).
Along with the list of pros, there is a list of cons for switching GHS’s school starting time to later in the morning. The core problem of switching to a later start time is due to schedules. Athletic, family, transportation, and extra curricular activity schedules are all significantly affected by the slightest time change (Hartwell, Michael.). If the start time of GHS was put off later in the day, then athletics would have to occur before school or extend into the evening hours. However, research shows that students who practice sports before school are reported to have lower grades (Wahlstrom, L., Kyla). Additionally, major family lifestyles and community schedules would have to be significantly altered. Since pupils would spend a greater amount of time in the afternoon at school, chores would be left undone so that homework could be completed. Getting home later, because of the later start time, would mean greater fatigue, especially at the end of the year where much studying needs to be accomplished for big exams. This would result in less time to study, attend group study …show more content…
Because all students are not the same, this option would permit individuals to balance their school, home, transportation, and work schedules and give them the opportunity to obtain the necessary sleep they need to be able to succeed.
Works Cited
Hartwell, Michael. "School officials: changing start times would be logistical nightmare."
Sentinel & Enterprise. 19 03 2014: . Print.
Hoffman, Jan. "To Keep Teenagers Alert, Schools Let Them Sleep In." New York Times
[Columbia, MO.] 13 3 2014, Parenting. Print.
Pru , Laura. "Cons of Starting School Later in the Day."eHow. N.p., 19 03 2014. Web.
Wahlstrom, K., Dretzke, B., Gordon, M., Peterson, K., Edwards, K., & Gdula, J. (2014).
Examining the Impact of Later School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of
High School Students: A MultiSite Study. Center for Applied Research and Educational
Improvement. St Paul, MN: University of Minnesota
Wahlstrom, L., Kyla . "Teens & Sleep: Later School Start Times." University of
Minnesota. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement in the College of
Education and Human Development, 10 03 2014.
Mr.Kalin
English 9H
Period 6
33014
Sleep. A necessary part of life and a very popular activity for lazy teenagers.
However, it is much more important than we know, as the amount of sleep acquired can be directly associated with a student’s performance in school. The amount of sleep a pupil gets, can determine how easy or difficult it is for the student to get the grades they aspire. Many students don’t get the recommended amount of sleep in part because of their physiology, busy schedules, and how early their school day starts. To try and help scholars work to their optimum potential, many schools are switching their classroom start times to later in the day.
There are many reasons why this action is both beneficial and detrimental. If the transition …show more content…
Because of the release of melatonin in the body, “teenagers are developmentally driven to be late to bed and late to rise,”(Hoffman, Jan. ).
Along with the list of pros, there is a list of cons for switching GHS’s school starting time to later in the morning. The core problem of switching to a later start time is due to schedules. Athletic, family, transportation, and extra curricular activity schedules are all significantly affected by the slightest time change (Hartwell, Michael.). If the start time of GHS was put off later in the day, then athletics would have to occur before school or extend into the evening hours. However, research shows that students who practice sports before school are reported to have lower grades (Wahlstrom, L., Kyla). Additionally, major family lifestyles and community schedules would have to be significantly altered. Since pupils would spend a greater amount of time in the afternoon at school, chores would be left undone so that homework could be completed. Getting home later, because of the later start time, would mean greater fatigue, especially at the end of the year where much studying needs to be accomplished for big exams. This would result in less time to study, attend group study …show more content…
Because all students are not the same, this option would permit individuals to balance their school, home, transportation, and work schedules and give them the opportunity to obtain the necessary sleep they need to be able to succeed.
Works Cited
Hartwell, Michael. "School officials: changing start times would be logistical nightmare."
Sentinel & Enterprise. 19 03 2014: . Print.
Hoffman, Jan. "To Keep Teenagers Alert, Schools Let Them Sleep In." New York Times
[Columbia, MO.] 13 3 2014, Parenting. Print.
Pru , Laura. "Cons of Starting School Later in the Day."eHow. N.p., 19 03 2014. Web.
Wahlstrom, K., Dretzke, B., Gordon, M., Peterson, K., Edwards, K., & Gdula, J. (2014).
Examining the Impact of Later School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of
High School Students: A MultiSite Study. Center for Applied Research and Educational
Improvement. St Paul, MN: University of Minnesota
Wahlstrom, L., Kyla . "Teens & Sleep: Later School Start Times." University of
Minnesota. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement in the College of
Education and Human Development, 10 03 2014.