School Start Times Research Paper

School Start Times: Waking Up to the Truth Imagine staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish the homework that had been accumulated during the day, only to have to get up a few hours later to catch the school bus, knowing that succeeding in class the next day would be short of a miracle. For many students, this scenario is not only feared but a reality they must face. The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “About 90% of high-school-aged adolescents get insufficient sleep on school nights…”(“Early Start Times and Depression”). Because of the lack of sleep students face, it poses serious problems for them the next day inside and outside of the classroom. Countless schools across America start earlier than the recommended

Since countless schools start early in the morning, it forces students to wait in almost pitch-black conditions for the school bus. After Sandra Himmel, school superintendent, pushed back her school’s start times, she saw drastic changes, “These include safety concerns. Having the youngest children in the district waiting for buses before the sun comes up is hardly an appealing situation...children 's safety concerns are uppermost in parents ' minds”(“Give Start Times a Chance). With the uncertainties of today, there should be no question as to why parents are afraid to leave their children out in the dark of the morning, waiting for the school bus. Since early school start times have already proven to cause depression and anxiety among students, it is common that because of it, suicidal thoughts can generate as well. In a study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, they found that “Adolescents that go to sleep at midnight or later are also more likely to suffer from depression and have suicidal thoughts”(Start Times are Unhealthy to Students). While suicidal thoughts can lead to serious long-term problems for a specific student, but for those around them as well. Likely the most effective reason why schools should push back their start times is that of the fact that they pose a problem to teenage drivers. Findings made by the American Academy of Sleep Societies say that “There are data that demonstrate that lack of sleep has negative consequences for teens," he said. "And some data show that younger drivers are more likely to have crashes when they have inadequate sleep”(Holohan). Not only are teens a danger to themselves on the road when sleep-deprived, but to others as well. To prevent anything from