Many people believe that schools should have later start times to allow students to get enough sleep!
Currently, some schools start as early as 7am. With the option of a 0 period, or an optional class before 1st period, it can be even earlier. One reason for this schedule is a consideration for parents’ work schedules, making it easy for parents to drive their kids to school. Many argue, however, that teenagers and adults do not function on the same sleep schedule. They say that students can find other ways to get to school: a small price to pay for getting enough sleep. The fact that more sleep makes teens and adults healthier and better at learning isn’t new. But recently a group of British sleep scientists argued that school shouldn’t start until at least 10 AM for kids to get the most out of their day.
While some people may think that teens are just lazy for not getting up early, doctors say that’s not actually the case. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has urged school districts to consider later start times so that adolescents can get adequate sleep.2 Still, many districts have said that changing the time school starts just isn’t feasible. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to a later school day. Schools starting later would require schools to also end later. This would cut into extracurricular activities and sports that are an important part of many teens’ lives. Balancing practices and games with homework might become a lot harder to juggle. Many teens also have to work after school to support their families, which would become very difficult with the later school times. So there are many opinions to consider
