Teens Need Later Start Times for Better Attendance
By Bibi Sediqi
By Bibi Sediqi
High schoolers are facing a major problem with sleep, they aren't getting enough of it.
This heavily affects their well-being and health as a result. Waking up at the crack of dawn to only get ready to go and learn for the next six to seven hours. But let's go back a few hours, around three or four schools are dismissed; that's if you have no sports or extracurriculars after school.
The average high schooler is assigned 2.7 hours of homework almost every night, excluding if you take any AP courses. You'd probably work into the night ending anywhere around 10 to 12 at night. Just get up and only get seven hours of sleep, if you're lucky. This cycle repeats itself five days a week with only the weekend as an escape. If you have free time then this would be your time to catch up on some well-needed sleep or finish any lingering homework we have. I believe that this could be alleviated by an implemented later start time for schools. Even if that's just by starting 30 minutes later, it makes all the difference in teens' schedules.
Studies of the impact of early start times on teen health have been more prevalent recently, According to a 2017 study published by the Campbell Systematic Reviews, found that early start times are associated with an increased risk of depression, lower academic achievement, and impaired physical health. It has also been linked to behaviors such as low physical activity, unhealthy eating, and of all things poor sleep quality. Who knew that missing a few hours of sleep can make such an impact on a teenager's life. This just proves that having early start times for high schools can have a significant negative impact on the health of teenagers. Sleep is crucial for all ages, it's what recharges and fuels the body for the next day. If this is disturbed, the consequence adds on every time sleep is lost. Teens are biologically wired to sleep at late hours and wake up late. There is the argument that having early start times prepares students for college or for the workforce, but it is clear that as an adult you have more freedom in choosing your schedules. Such as choosing what time you want your classes to start, or the shift you want to show up at work.
These few years of being a teen are the most crucial period of our lives. This is the prime state of development, habits made now can potentially follow up to your adulthood. Building good time management and sleep habits now paves the way for a successful adult life. It is important for parents, teachers, and even administrators to recognize the importance of sleep for teens since we are essentially adults in development. Luckily, California is already taking steps with the passing of SB 328, which requires later start times for select middle schools and high schools no later than 8:30 a.m. The passing of this law is already a huge step for change. It is crucial that we take the health and well-being of our students seriously. By implementing later start times for schools, we can help improve the overall well-being of future generations.
This heavily affects their well-being and health as a result. Waking up at the crack of dawn to only get ready to go and learn for the next six to seven hours. But let's go back a few hours, around three or four schools are dismissed; that's if you have no sports or extracurriculars after school.
The average high schooler is assigned 2.7 hours of homework almost every night, excluding if you take any AP courses. You'd probably work into the night ending anywhere around 10 to 12 at night. Just get up and only get seven hours of sleep, if you're lucky. This cycle repeats itself five days a week with only the weekend as an escape. If you have free time then this would be your time to catch up on some well-needed sleep or finish any lingering homework we have. I believe that this could be alleviated by an implemented later start time for schools. Even if that's just by starting 30 minutes later, it makes all the difference in teens' schedules.
Studies of the impact of early start times on teen health have been more prevalent recently, According to a 2017 study published by the Campbell Systematic Reviews, found that early start times are associated with an increased risk of depression, lower academic achievement, and impaired physical health. It has also been linked to behaviors such as low physical activity, unhealthy eating, and of all things poor sleep quality. Who knew that missing a few hours of sleep can make such an impact on a teenager's life. This just proves that having early start times for high schools can have a significant negative impact on the health of teenagers. Sleep is crucial for all ages, it's what recharges and fuels the body for the next day. If this is disturbed, the consequence adds on every time sleep is lost. Teens are biologically wired to sleep at late hours and wake up late. There is the argument that having early start times prepares students for college or for the workforce, but it is clear that as an adult you have more freedom in choosing your schedules. Such as choosing what time you want your classes to start, or the shift you want to show up at work.
These few years of being a teen are the most crucial period of our lives. This is the prime state of development, habits made now can potentially follow up to your adulthood. Building good time management and sleep habits now paves the way for a successful adult life. It is important for parents, teachers, and even administrators to recognize the importance of sleep for teens since we are essentially adults in development. Luckily, California is already taking steps with the passing of SB 328, which requires later start times for select middle schools and high schools no later than 8:30 a.m. The passing of this law is already a huge step for change. It is crucial that we take the health and well-being of our students seriously. By implementing later start times for schools, we can help improve the overall well-being of future generations.