Sleep Deprivation In Schools

More than 90% of high school students in America suffer throughout the school day because of chronic sleep deprivation. Students, parents, teachers, and doctors have begun to question the start times of schools and their effect on students. Schools may begin early to allow time for extracurricular activities and sports practices at the end of the school day. By beginning earlier, students and teacher get home earlier. But overtime, early start times have developed negativities in the lives of adolescents. While some administrators are concerned with schedule changes, it is proven that current school start times can damage a student’s learning environment, the sleep deprivation developed can lead to larger health risks, and the consumption of

A sufficient percentage of high school students consume caffeine in the forms coffee, tea, and energy shots. Researchers have noticed the caffeine consumption and discovered that “increased caffeine use often coexists with other behaviors that negatively affect sleep, such as late-night technology use” (Owens). As students become more tired during the school day, many resort to caffeine to feel awake. It provides an artificial energy that is enough to make them feel well during the day and potentially throughout the night. Caffeine consumption can become a vicious cycle that will affect the health of adolescents. Not only are teenagers consuming caffeine, but children with “higher caffeine intake as early as 12 years of age was associated with shorter sleep duration, increased sleep onset latency, increased wake time after sleep onset, and increased daytime sleepiness” (Owens). The culture of consuming caffeine, primarily the form of coffee, has now affected children. And because school start times are so early, adolescents and children are awakened abruptly and interrupt their sleep cycle. Caffeine is then consumed as artificial energy to accommodate for the lack of sleep. However, by delaying classes, students will receive a longer sleep duration and feel less need to consume caffeine. Caffeine consumption in adolescents and children will ultimately have

The time after school is used for extracurriculars and sports for the school, as well as gives students and teachers time at home. Alexandra Sifferlin raises the point that “[a] new system could also impact local businesses that rely on after-school labor from students” (Sifferlin). One cannot deny that student workers are needed by some businesses to maintain income and stay stable. Students get out of school early so time is allowed for work at night. However, not every high school student is concerned with issue because not all are employed. Additionally, businesses should contain employees other than high school students. It was recorded in 2015 that “[y]outh enrolled in high school had an employment rate of 18 percent, while the rate for those in college, either full- or part-time, was 45 percent” (“Youth Employment”). Smart businesses should not have to rely on high school students as employees. As high schoolers have restricting schedules, employees of businesses should include college students with more flexible class schedules and/or young adults in seek of job opportunities. Although some businesses could be affected by the lack of high school workers, businesses should not be relying solely on high school students to be successful and