Why We Should Start Later Essay

In the article “Our kids need more sleep” Written by Valerie Erde, she makes many good points about why school should be set back to a later time. First is how it increases academic alertness and vigilance. Second, is how a later start time decreases depression in teens and decreases tardiness and decreases truancy. Last, is how this later start time is actually helping the students get better grades. I one hundred percent agree with this and believe these policies should definitely be implemented.

First is how it increases our whole ability to learn completely. Constant studies show that ”Insufficient sleep(less than 9.25 hours for a teen )results in poorer reaction time, vigilance, learning and alertness;”(Erde) this quote is very meaningful because these start times something so little may have a very large impact on our futures and our career just because it will make us more vigilant and we will be ready for more. The fact that the thing such as small as a later start time can improve our whole attitude and how we think is amazing and should be definitely be put to the test and tried.

Second, is how this later starting time will completely change their
mood. Valerie found that with this later start time there was a “decrease in teen depression and an increase in academic performance”(Erde). There are so many things that make life stressful especially for a student and they shouldn't have to get up so early and just add stress on and with the later start time it has proven to increase mood completely. These time changes are really looking like the way to go especially now with stress at an all time high the students need something to help them out a little. As a student I know that these new times would definitely help me and would reewduce my stress and i support this idea and i would do anything in my power to make it happen Last is how this idea of later start times affect academic performance.
Studies have shown that students on the later start time “ had better grades than students that started with a 7:15 a.m. start time”(Erde) This right here seals the deal and should automatically prove that we need to have these times in place and we need them quick for the betterment of our school and our future. And as parents this seems like an even better answer with a more happy kid that is doing better in school because of this change.We need to get out there and make a change in our society that benefits our kids and our future generations by raising the bar and with all of the negative things that go along with these early start times it will be hard to but with this change it will be even more doable and will be
achieved.