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Why Should School Start Later For Students? Essay

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407 views2 pages

Why Should School Start Later For Students? Essay

Uploaded by

coochiebussy0
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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I believe that school should start later because having a later start to the day will allow

several benefits to the mental and physical health of students. Studies have shown that having a
later start to the day can increase attendance, decrease tardiness, have fewer people falling asleep
in class, and reduce irritability and depression, students are more attentive at later times
compared to earlier times and overall have a more positive school environment. Many people are
in favor of having a later start time for school, even if it means staying at school later.
The typical high school student in the US goes to class at 7:30 AM, without taking into
consideration the time it takes them to get ready and leave for school. The typical high school
student sleeps for about 7 hours each night, many of them get up early and stay up late.
According to the CDC, teenagers from ages 13-18 should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep. Many
high schoolers are forced to stay up late due to jobs, homework, after-school activities, sports,
family obligations, etc. High school students should receive the recommended amount of sleep
since lack of sleep increases their risk for a variety of health issues, including obesity, diabetes,
mental health issues, and injuries.
If we moved the start of school back an hour, to 8:30, it would also mean that we would
finish an hour later. If the time was pushed back, how much more sleep would the average
student get? Most students have to get up earlier than others to catch the bus, which requires
them to get up even earlier to prepare for class. Three out of four high school students, according
to the CDC, skip breakfast, typically because they don't have enough time to eat. Many say
breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so not eating properly and not sleeping enough
can cause and create many mental and physical health issues. So by pushing back the school start
time by even one hour, many students will gain an extra hour of crucial sleep.
While there are some notable disadvantages of starting school later, including public
transportation difficulties and schedule conflicts, many could benefit. Benefits include better
mental health, more positive attitudes, less irritation, and fewer attendance problems, among
others. High school students frequently suffer from mental health problems like depression,
anxiety, overwhelming stress, and eating disorders. While pushing back school start times may
not entirely resolve these problems, it can enhance the student's physical and mental well-being.
Some may argue that starting school early allows students to benefit by having more free time in
the afternoon but how much of that time are they utilizing, many students can’t focus in class. At
7 in the morning, teenagers are not fully alert, and can’t pay attention properly, and throughout
the day they may feel drowsy and struggle to stay awake in class. After school, many take long
naps because they are so exhausted, that if they had more sleep their bodies wouldn’t feel the
need to have these long naps. So I believe that by moving the school start time, that one hour can
be better utilized all around.
For teachers, it would mean they also get an extra hour of sleep yet still have time in the
afternoon after 3:30 to get work done. Additionally, teachers wouldn't have to struggle to get
students to pay attention if they are unable to concentrate, struggle to stay awake, or become
agitated and disturb class due to lack of sleep. While this doesn’t apply to all parents, some are
up early in the morning with their children to help get them to school or help them get out the
door. Therefore, you can lessen the tension that teachers and parents experience by changing the
start time of school back one hour.
So in conclusion I believe that starting school even one hour later would have numerous
benefits that would improve the lives of not just students but also parents and teachers. The
benefits can stretch across the board and not only affect students but teachers and parents as well.
By starting school later, teachers and parents can have more sleep and more energy throughout
the day. So even though there may be some issues with things such as transportation and
schedule interferences. Teenagers should be given the space they need to receive the rest their
bodies and minds require because they are still growing.

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