Two Hour Delay Everyday
Do you constantly hit the snooze button while trying to wake up and get ready for school in the morning? Do you believe a later start time for school could help that problem? Sleep is very important for the growth and development of kids and teens and we should be getting more. Studies have shown that teens could have serious health, safety and education risks if these needs are not met.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has done a study on the topic of earlier school start times and have stated that kids should be getting eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep every night. Because of this they also strongly advise school to start no earlier than 8:30am.
Only fourteen percent of schools meet this guideline, and Westhampton Beach is not one of them. They also say not getting enough sleep can lead to obesity, depression and accidents for teens. Studies show that when teens are lacking sleep they are more inclined to eat carbohydrates and fats, mainly snack foods. With every hour of sleep lost the chances of obesity go up 80% and teens that go to sleep past midnight or later every night are prone to having suicidal thoughts and depression (American Academy of Pediatrics).
A poll by The National Sleep Foundation has found that in 2006, 6 out of every 10 middle students and 9 out of every 10 high school students are not sleeping enough.
Kyla Wahlstrom, former teacher and student at the University of Minnesota says that “during adolescence, the body goes through many changes.” The study also stated that later school times could help with getting better grades and a cut back on the use of coffee and caffeine in teens. These lead to a shift in sleep needs. The Start School Later Movement was started, by people in their communities, to combat the early school start times teens and kids face today.
Although there are great benefits to the later start times there are also many people that oppose it. Many people have battled this and have been met with many problems. One suggestion to resolve it would be to switch the elementary and high school start times. Some people say that the elementary kids need to sleep more and would also affect high schoolers that need to get their little siblings off the bus. Other people say that the later start time for high school students would affect after school activities and after school jobs.
Sources from the Ucla Sleep Disorder Center also say that the changes in teens bodies affects how they can sleep. Teens really can’t control when they want to sleep. Their bodies may not be ready to sleep by 10 or 11 o’clock at night.
Alicia Hernandez, a sophomore from WHB, states that she works well on 6 hours of sleep, and it takes her about fifteen minutes to get to school. When asked her about how she felt waking up on a day with a two-hour delay, rather than the normal time of 7:30 am, Hernandez said, “It has been a lot easier to wake up on the snow days, and I feel more focused in class and less tired.” She recommends that after school activities occur before school.
Many people support the movement to start schools later. It is an issue discussed among school boards across the country. The health benefits behind the later times make sense and people agree with the later starting time. The battle for a later school time isn’t over just yet.
Sources:
“Doctors: Early school start times unhealthy for students”
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/28/health/school-start-times/
“Let Them Sleep: AAP Recommends Delaying Start Times of Middle and High Schools to Combat Teen Sleep Deprivation”
Emma is a sophomore from East Moriches and is excited to be writing for The Hurricane Eye. She loves skiing, ice-skating, and playing outside with her...
