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School Start Times

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In a recent survey, over 76% of high school students said that they usually get seven hours of sleep a night. Considering workloads and school start times, a majority of the 76% claim that there is nothing they can do to acquire more sleep each night. Lack of sleep has become a problem for teenagers statewide, and it is completely out of their control. The majority of high schools in Michigan start classes before 8:00 a.m. Some people believe this is too early for students to start learning. However, others think it would be too much of a hassle to change the timetables. Although busing schedules would need to be rearranged, the Michigan Board of Education should delay high school start times. While it is true that bus schedules would have …show more content…

According to Owen Mindell, the average amount of sleep that teenagers get is between 7 and 7.5 hours per night. However, the average teen needs between 9 and 9.5 hours of sleep each night. With most students waking up between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m., they would have to be fast asleep by 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. in order to get their required sleep. Taking homework, tests, and extracurricular activities into account, this is a nearly impossible feat. Schools starting later would help teens attain their much needed sleep. Secondly, studies posted by Sara Bellum show that the teenage body slows its melatonin production later in the day than adults and children. Melatonin is a chemical released by the brain that, in short, makes people tired. Therefore, teens are very tired in the mornings, and are more awake in the afternoons. If high schools started later, students could spend more time in school while they were wide awake. A third reason for classes to start later is the physical and mental health of teenagers. A study by the Sleep Foundation Organization showed that increased sleep can reduce the likelihood of depression, metabolic defects, and obesity. It can also increase productivity, attentiveness, mood, and grades. Due to early school start times, teens are experiencing serious health problems. Later school start times would allow teens to get more sleep, and in turn would benefit their health and

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Studies have shown High Schoolers need 8-10 hours of sleep because their bodies and brains are still growing. Doctors say that starting school earlier in the morning prevents children and teenagers from getting a full night’s sleep, which can affect their health, safety and academic performance. Motivation is key to a students success. If students had more time to get a full amount of sleep at night, they would be more energized and motivated to start out their morning with a good attitude and come to school. A student must have motivation to succeed but a student also needs to pay attention in class in order to learn.

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School start times are not the only reason many teens are sleep deprived, it can be caused by electronics. Many teens will stay up late on their phones and end up going to bed at around 1:00AM which is very bad for your body. Electronics emit a certain glow that tells the brain to stay up and not sleep. Teens who are up late writing papers on computers or chatting with their friends are effectively creating an even more stimulating environment that will only keep them from being able to fall asleep when they want to. One thing that schools could start to implement is block schedule, it would allow students to have an extra day to complete their homework and the school wouldn 't have to start

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starting times begin at 7 A.M in the morning, making teenagers wake up around 5:00 A.M to 6:30 A.M. causing teenagers that stayed up last night weary and fatigued when they arrive at school. Sleep is an enormous part of growth, health, and prevention of stress, think about what happens when you lack sleep. Almost anybody that is exhausted will have lack of focus throughout the day. 28% of tired students tend to fall asleep in their first class causing a harmful grade. Some sleepy students do not even bother to show up to school, contributing to drop out rates and damaging grades to rise.

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Teenagers and Sleep In the articles, “Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers” by Jane Brody, “From Zzzz’s To A’s-Adolescents And Sleep” by Sarah Spinks, and “Sleep Experts Answer Your Questions On Teens And Shuteye” by Eliza Barclay, the issue of teenagers not getting enough sleep is apparent. Sleep is an issue that is present in all ages and it is very important to get enough of it, especially as a teenager. Most people worry about teenagers that are not getting enough sleep, and the risks involved. Brody states “that the average adolescent needs eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep” and that less that 20 percent even get that much sleep. One example of this is in Fairfax Virginia.

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Starting school later can actually improve your learning, health and even your attitude and all of that can be changed by just starting school at 8:30AM. Kids don't start taking in information until 8:30AM because that is when the brain starts to really work. According to National sleep foundation ¨ teenagers are naturally inclined to stay up later and get up later in the morning.¨ ¨Starting school at 8:30 improves a student's chance of success,¨ according to the (National sleep foundation). Not only do teens want to sleep more, but sleeping more actually improves their health.

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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine asserts that early school days lead to accidents along the roads, depression among the young teenagers, and upsurge in poor performance academically for middle and high school students. Teens struggle through the challenge of waking up very early in the morning so that they can be at school at the right time. Research implies that teens should get at least eight to nine hours of night sleep for their good health. Various sponsors such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control have the strong advice on why schools should start later. Nevertheless, by being able to sleep more before school starts, students will be able to become well rested, more attentive in classroom settings, and perform better as learners.

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This quote supports the fact that teenagers do not get the sleep that they need. High schools should consider having the school day start and end later for their students because it could improve the health, safety, and the academic achievement of their students. Not getting enough sleep could eventually lead to sleep deprivation, which could deteriorate the health of students tremendously. Research shows that sleep deprivation could lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. By getting enough sleep it will increase student’s moods, and lower stress.

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One other reason why school should start later is because it is more convenient. In the first place it’s better for one’s health. In order for your body to grow and develop you have to get enough sleep. If you do not get enough sleep it will lower the immune system and increase one’s chances of getting ill.

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Research says that teenagers need to get between 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 hours of sleep every night in order to be at their prime. While only 15% gets 8 or above hours of sleep the average student gets 6 or less every night. Students are losing sleep every day and are expected and told regularly that they have to do everything

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Teenagers need more time to sleep based on the development of their brains. Students should be getting eight to ten hours of sleep in every night (Wahlstrom). Due to the sleep mechanism in teens, research says that the earliest healthy wake

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21% of teen motor vehicle accidents are caused by drowsy driving. Many teens everyday are complaining about their school start times being way too early. Teen tiredness is now considered to be a public health pandemic. School starting at a later time is beneficial because it helps students catch up on sleep. It helps students stay out of trouble.

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According to the National Sleep Foundation, “Children from 5 to 12 years old need between 10 and 11 hours of sleep each night. Teenagers need from 8.5 to 9.25 hours . But when teens get overwhelmed with schoolwork, sleep is one of the first things to go. Studies show that only 20 percent of adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17 get the recommended amount of sleep. On school nights, nearly half of them sleep fewer than eight hours” (Ponte).

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The average teens requires an average of 9 hours of sleep each night to be fully awake and well rested. There are many factors that keep teens from getting enough sleep. Some of the reasons includes, busy schedules, social lives, and a wrong view of sleep. Many high school students take AP classes, participates in extra curricular activities, and some people just likes to be around with other people and socialize. All of these require time, and in the eyes of the teenagers, sleeping takes their valuable time.

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They are like zombies getting ready for school and find it hard to be alert and pay attention in class. Because they are sleep deprived, they are sleepy all day and cannot do their best. Schools that have set later bell times find that students do not go to bed later, but get one hour more of sleep per school night, which means five hours more per week. Enrollment and attendance improves and students are more likely to be on time when school starts. Parents and teachers report that teens are more alert in the morning and in better moods they are less likely to feel

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According to a 2010 survey published in The Journal of Adolescent Health, only 8% of high school students get the recommended amount of sleep which is nine hours, 23% of high school students get six hours of sleep, and 10% get 5 hours of hours. After school activities and the amount of homework contribute to the little amount of sleep teenagers are getting. Most students have after school activities such as jobs and sports, so they get home later and still have about 5 hours of homework every night. Sleep deprivation is a serious problem in teenagers that gets overlooked by many people. The reason teenagers are sleep deprived is because of the start time of schools and the amount of homework students are given.

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