Everyone Learns Better When They’re Awake Sleep is the condition of body and mind that occurs for several hours a night. Sleep is when the nervous system is inactive, the eyes are closed, muscles are relaxed, and the consciousness is practically suspended. Sleep is used to restore and regenerate, to grow muscle and repair tissue, and to synthesize hormones. Sleep helps your body work to support brain function and maintain physical health. Sleep is beneficial to the growth and development of teens and children. Sleep is necessary for us to survive. Why is it that most students in middle and high school are only obtaining six of the eight to nine hours of sleep that is needed for a teenager? Nearly 40% of students today get under six hours …show more content…
Admittedly, early start times do have some advantages such as more time for after-school jobs and activities. Starting school early also helps with transportation costs and fits better with parent schedules, but the loss of sleep takes a huge toll on a student’s health, safety, and learning. Why should we, as students, sacrifice our health because it’s easier for the school system? Is the easier option really worth the well-being and success of adolescents all over the country? As a high school student, I know what it’s like to get assigned homework from every class, along with having practice that night, and having to stay up until I can barely stay awake to get it all done. Not to mention waking up before the crack of dawn to do what wasn’t finished or just not doing the homework at all. It’s currently unobtainable to get the correct amount of sleep with the current school hours and workload that students receive. Adding that extra hour allows students time in the morning to finish up what couldn’t be done the night before. Data from more than 9,000 students at “eight high schools in Minnesota, Colorado, and Wyoming” was researched and it was found that shifting the school day to later in the morning “resulted in a boost in attendance, test scores, and grades in math, English, science, and social studies” (Richmond). Everyone learns better when they’re