Why School Should Start Later | Gabi Dias

Why School Should Start Later

by Gabi Dias, age 11

Research has shown that over 73 percent of students are not getting enough sleep. This is the majority, by a lot. As a middle school student, I have experienced first hand how early school start times can affect everyone. Having to wake up early can cause students to be affected physically and emotionally. Sleep is very important and kids are supposed to get at least ten hours of sleep every night. Though on average, most kids only get six to seven hours. Some kids live farther away from the school and have to wake up even earlier to try to get there. One of my friends goes to Mark Twain middle school. Since she lives in Park Slope, every morning she has to get up at 5:30 in the morning, just so she won’t miss the bus. Schools starting later would let students and school workers get more sleep and generally feel better throughout the school day. Studies show that students who get more sleep actually do better in school. Sleep is an enormous part of our mental and physical health. Having to wake up early every morning can make students lethargic and stressed.

According to the website Start Schools Later, “Too-early school start times are a national public health concern with consequences impacting children, families, and the community at large. Besides forcing many children to walk and drive to school in pre-dawn darkness, these hours are creating a generation deprived of the sleep that growing brains and bodies require.” This is important because sleep deprivation can have dire consequences to students, families, and school workers included. Not only the students, teachers have to wake immensely early to finish lesson plans and get to school on time. Even though most teachers are adults, they are supposed to get eight hours of sleep every night, though research shows that on average teachers only get five hours of sleep. This is a problem that is affecting everyone. Whether you’re a student trying not to miss the bus or a parent having to wake up at the crack of dawn to make their kids lunch and breakfast or a teacher working on lesson plans at 5 am in the morning, schools really need to start later.

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