Not only is it nice to sleep in, but with more sleep, students can maintain focus in class, which leads to better grades. Along with better grades, it can also improve the mental health issues of students.
I think starting school later would have a significantly positive impact on the students’ performance in school.
When students get better sleep for school the night before, they can engage better in class and get better grades. Students can focus without worrying about falling asleep and will absorb the information given more thoroughly. Students will also be more interactive with other classmates and teachers. In an article about a school that has made the change to a later start, it stated, “After Franklin high in Seattle reset its starting bell, teacher A.J. Katzaroff’s first-period biology students’ median grades rose from a C to a B, ” clearly showing the tremendous impact a later start can have on the grades (Cohen). Significantly it was the first-period class, meaning students were more awake even in the early morning.
Some might say that starting school later for the students will give them the mindset of “they get what they want,” this does make sense considering that it would be for the students’ sake, but it will also have an impact on the teachers and the school when their students are performing better in class. Teachers don’t want to deal with students falling asleep in class because they didn’t get enough sleep the night before, so getting a good amount of sleep will change that. Another claim against the idea might be that the kids can go to bed at an earlier time to get the amount of sleep needed. That is a good point, but an article I read about teens and their sleeping schedule said that “biological sleep patterns shift as children grow up, and it is natural for teens to find it difficult to fall asleep before 11 p.m” (Strauss). Clearly, it is hard for teens to fall asleep at a decent time to get the recommended sleep.
A later start in school can also decrease mental health issues within the students. “A university in Minnesota study demonstrated that later school start times resulted in students having better attendance, higher grades, and fewer substance abuse incidents, depression symptoms, and even car accidents” (Philadelphia Inquirer). It is said to decrease depression in students. Depression can lead to substance abuse or self-harm, but these symptoms decrease when students are in a better headspace. Lack of sleep can cause teens to become sad and upset. More sleep can help their moods.
In conclusion, starting schools later in the morning can have a remarkable effect on students, improving their grades, alertness, and bettering their mental health. Teens are not able to get enough sleep with the schedules we have now. I think all schools should consider opening later in the morning to help their students.
Image source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/289513
