I value sleep more than most people. Sleep is when I can relax after a long day and take a break from the stress of school. Whether it be a full night’s rest, a few hours of napping, or even the occasional doze-off during class, every second is spent in peaceful harmony. However, lately it has become difficult for teenagers to get the full nine hours of sleep that are recommended by the National Sleep Foundation for teenagers. I have found myself with low energy and relying on caffeine to power me through the day. With school starting at such an early hour, it is especially difficult to be well-rested throughout the school week. Do schools really want a bunch of lackluster students roaming the halls?
Recent studies have shown that for 16-year-olds the school day should not start until 10 a.m.. The study entitled “Synchronizing education to adolescent biology: ‘let teens sleep, start school later’” goes further to say that not only will the later start improve grades, but it will also improve the moods of students. This claimed sleep deprivation is not “pure laziness” but rather he result of an off-balance circadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythm, is similar to a timer that tells our body when to be alert and productive. By tampering with this internal timer, symptoms such as anxiety and exhaustion can appear. It can also cause us to be active at the wrong hours of the day.
There are expectations of a well-rounded Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA) upper school student. These standards include completing all homework assignments, participating in after school activities, and being consistently kind and respectful during school hours. In reality, there is no way for a student to complete all of these expectations, while getting the proper amount of sleep at night. For the health and well-being of our students, a change needs to be made.
The school day should start at 10:00 a.m. A small amount of time can be shaved off of each class, every day. Since students will be more productive and engaged during class time, the few lost minutes will not in fact be lost. It is a fact that everybody learns better when they are fully awake, so teachers should be teaching during students’ best working hours!
Some may argue that students can just catch-up on their sleep on the weekends. However, it is recommended that teenagers get the same amount of sleep on a weeknight as the weekend. If the proportion of sleep on weekends and days gets too out of whack, one may even go into a state of social jet lag. In this case, their internal timer feels like it is in a different timezone than the body is actually in.
Pushing the start of school back a couple hours could have a lifetime of positive consequences. I know my well-rested body will be eternally grateful.
