Do you ever wake up early in the morning for school and dread getting up? I think most of us do. Why is falling asleep in class such a normalized thing? It’s because of how early school starts.
A later start time would not only benefit students, but also teachers. They could wake up at a reasonable hour, get their coffee if they wanted, and take their time getting to school. Not only that, but they could also prepare their lessons and everything else without having to rush to be ready before their class begins—especially for teachers who don’t live nearby.
As much as this would help teachers, it would also be very beneficial for students. It is scientifically proven that preteens and teens need 8-10 hours of sleep to stay focused and perform at their best. Later school start times would allow students to sleep longer, even if they stay up a bit later. Sometimes, we have a lot of homework and need to stay up past curfew, but if we could sleep in a little, we’d have more energy, finish our homework, and be focused and ready for the school day.
I believe this change would help everyone at our school. But now, let’s consider the opinions of both teachers and students on how they think this change would positively or negatively affect our school. Eighth-grader Halle Isaacson says, “Honestly, I think it’s a great idea because I get to sleep in later instead of waking up at 6:00 in the morning.” Seventh-grade language arts teacher Mr. Ogaz states, “I think there are definitely some benefits to starting later in the day. At my past school, we started at 9, and I felt like students were more awake and ready to learn. Studies have shown that students who start later usually sleep more, and that’s crucial for students to do well.” Students and teachers both agree that this would fix many issues.
Some people might argue that sports or other after-school activities might get in the way, but this can be addressed by joining school teams so that your schedule doesn’t conflict. There are also clubs and groups offered by the school, so you can enjoy activities without school hours interfering with your schedule.
Overall, this change has many advantages for both students and teachers. Teachers could teach without their students slacking off and be better prepared for class, while students would be more calm, focused, and ready to learn. We should start school later.
