This story was originally published in the GenZeal feature of LNP on Sunday, December 8, 2024
By Ananda Kennedy ’25
Just think how great it would be if, instead of students having to drag themselves out of bed half-asleep, they woke up refreshed and ready to learn.
It’s not a dream, but a reality that could be possible if schools changed their start time to later in the morning.
Later school start times have been shown to significantly affect students positively, in terms of their mental health, academic performance and general well-being.
An article by the American Psychological Association’s Kirsten Weir earlier this year stated that schools that have enacted the use of later start times have many proven positive results. Students are more alert and engaged, and are able to absorb information better when they have sufficient sleep. This leads them toward better grades and a far better experience with school.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying the start times of middle schools and high schools until at least 8:30 a.m., to help students get the sleep they need. This recommendation is based on considerable research proving that teenagers’ sleep-wake cycles naturally run later. When school starts too early, students often must awaken before their bodies are ready, resulting in chronic sleep deprivation.
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems that include poor mental health, poor performances at school and even increasing risks of car accidents.
When students are adequately rested, they are less likely to suffer mood swings, anxiety and depression. A rested student is more capable of concentrating in class, participating in all activities within the school environment and delivering good results during examinations.
Moreover, later start times allow students to balance their schoolwork with extracurricular activities and social lives. They can complete homework, participate in sports and spend time with family and friends without sacrificing sleep.
This balance is crucial for their overall development and happiness.
The benefits would go beyond just academic performance and mental health. One huge advantage is the reduction in car accidents by teen drivers. When they are not sleep-deprived, drivers are more alert and cautious on the road, and this reduces the chance of accidents.
In short, changing the start times of school to later in the morning would be beneficial for the students — the most important stakeholders in a school. Improved academic performance, good mental health, fewer road accidents, improved sleep and better tempers would be assured with this change. And it’s a way for schools to better build an environment for academic growth.
School Start Times Should be Later to Benefit Students
This story was originally published in the GenZeal feature of LNP on Sunday, December 8, 2024
By Ananda Kennedy ’25
Just think how great it would be if, instead of students having to drag themselves out of bed half-asleep, they woke up refreshed and ready to learn.
It’s not a dream, but a reality that could be possible if schools changed their start time to later in the morning.
Later school start times have been shown to significantly affect students positively, in terms of their mental health, academic performance and general well-being.
An article by the American Psychological Association’s Kirsten Weir earlier this year stated that schools that have enacted the use of later start times have many proven positive results. Students are more alert and engaged, and are able to absorb information better when they have sufficient sleep. This leads them toward better grades and a far better experience with school.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying the start times of middle schools and high schools until at least 8:30 a.m., to help students get the sleep they need. This recommendation is based on considerable research proving that teenagers’ sleep-wake cycles naturally run later. When school starts too early, students often must awaken before their bodies are ready, resulting in chronic sleep deprivation.
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems that include poor mental health, poor performances at school and even increasing risks of car accidents.
When students are adequately rested, they are less likely to suffer mood swings, anxiety and depression. A rested student is more capable of concentrating in class, participating in all activities within the school environment and delivering good results during examinations.
Moreover, later start times allow students to balance their schoolwork with extracurricular activities and social lives. They can complete homework, participate in sports and spend time with family and friends without sacrificing sleep.
This balance is crucial for their overall development and happiness.
The benefits would go beyond just academic performance and mental health. One huge advantage is the reduction in car accidents by teen drivers. When they are not sleep-deprived, drivers are more alert and cautious on the road, and this reduces the chance of accidents.
In short, changing the start times of school to later in the morning would be beneficial for the students — the most important stakeholders in a school. Improved academic performance, good mental health, fewer road accidents, improved sleep and better tempers would be assured with this change. And it’s a way for schools to better build an environment for academic growth.
Sources
https://www.apa.org/topics/children/school-start-times
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/later-school-start-times-what-do-we-thinkhttps://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/later-school-start-times-more-popular-what-are-drawbacks
https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/later-school-start-times-more-popular-what-are-drawbacks