Why We Should Start Later Essay
Waking up and going to school early after only a couple hours of sleep, day after day, can cause serious problems for teens. Over the last few years, new studies have found that lack of sleep has more effects than just the obvious tiredness. Doctors and scientists around the country say that insufficient sleep can lead teens to make poor decisions such as drug use and not exercising. Other studies have found that students tend to be happier and more involved with their learning when their school has a later starting time. It improves focus and also increases energy levels for sports later in the day. Later start times for schools are needed because lack of sleep in teens can prevent them from focusing and working their hardest in school as
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A study by the University of Minnesota on over 9,000 students found that later start times led to better performance in high school teens. Minneapolis high schools changed their start times from 7:15 to 8:40am, which ultimately led to higher grades on tests and quizzes and elevated graduation and attendance rates (Sohn). When teens are well rested, they are able to focus more in class, starting earlier in the day. They won't have to rely on caffeine and energy drinks as much, which can be harmful to teens’ health. Along with improvements in academics, later start times can be associated with higher energy levels, leading to better physical performance in sports and other extracurricular …show more content…
For example, if school started an hour later than its current time, all sports events would be delayed by an hour. Families are also accustomed to early starting times and change to these could throw them off. Other people may argue that teens could just go to bed earlier. These issues can be avoided by a compromise. Studies show that even setting the start times back by even just 30 minutes can boost performance and make teens feel much happier (Sohn). Teens shouldn’t have to go to bed earlier because melatonin levels shift in adolescents, meaning it is difficult to fall asleep before
A study by the University of Minnesota on over 9,000 students found that later start times led to better performance in high school teens. Minneapolis high schools changed their start times from 7:15 to 8:40am, which ultimately led to higher grades on tests and quizzes and elevated graduation and attendance rates (Sohn). When teens are well rested, they are able to focus more in class, starting earlier in the day. They won't have to rely on caffeine and energy drinks as much, which can be harmful to teens’ health. Along with improvements in academics, later start times can be associated with higher energy levels, leading to better physical performance in sports and other extracurricular …show more content…
For example, if school started an hour later than its current time, all sports events would be delayed by an hour. Families are also accustomed to early starting times and change to these could throw them off. Other people may argue that teens could just go to bed earlier. These issues can be avoided by a compromise. Studies show that even setting the start times back by even just 30 minutes can boost performance and make teens feel much happier (Sohn). Teens shouldn’t have to go to bed earlier because melatonin levels shift in adolescents, meaning it is difficult to fall asleep before