Weichmann 1

Katrina Weichmann

Mrs. Cramer

College Composition 1 Period 7

24 March 2017

Students Need More Sleep

Should schools start later? This has been a topic debated by school districts, including

teachers, parents, and students for a while now. Studies have shown multiple benefits when

changing the school start time. "School start times vary considerably, both across the nation and

within individual communities, with some schools beginning earlier that 7:30 a.m. and others

after 9:00 a.m." (Edwards 1). Changing these times would have an increase on an abundance of

things, but there are some downsides. School should start at a later time because students will get

the right amount of sleep at night and attendance rates will increase.

For starters, school start times should change because students will get the right amount

of sleep at night, leading them to pay attention more and get better grades. Teenagers need

approximately 9 hours of sleep nightly and more than half of teens ages 15 through 17 sleep

for seven or fewer hours per school night (Edwards 1). Less sleep can cause students to be

drowsier throughout the school day and not pay attention. "When school systems have moved to

later times, they have found that their students get more sleep" ("Later School" 1). This is a main

benefit to starting the school day at a later time. If students, mainly teenagers, were to get the

amount sleep they need to every school night they would pay attention in class more, leading

them to getting better grades. "Teenagers are unable to fall asleep before 10:45 p.m. and that

their brains remain in sleep mode until about 8 a.m." (Wahlstrom 2). Sleep is an important factor
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here because without the right amount of sleep, students' moods and learning abilities will be

affected. Sleep leads to increases in memory and learning, attention, emotional regulation,

mental health and well-being, and weight control ("Later School" 2). "Supporters have argued

that later high school start times are in line with research showing that adolescents are

biologically wired for later bedtimes and wake-ups, and that lack of rest is linked to increased

risks of depression, car accidents and other problems" (George 1). This is why schools should

change their start time to later because students will be able to get the right amount of sleep and

be able to focus in class and reduce the amount of risks.

Secondly, schools should start later because students' attendance rates will increase.

Studies from schools that have delayed start times, like in Connecticut, Kentucky, Minnesota,

Wyoming and other states, show that there are multiple benefits to starting school later, like an

increase in attendance ("Later School" 1). In one school district, there was a 66% drop in

tardiness (Wahlstrom 3). As previously mentioned, with the right amount of sleep, students will

be able to wake up in the morning and get to school on time. "Examining grades earned before

and after the time change, we found: significant increases in grade point average in all 1st-period

core courses for all semesters in all grades in Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming, with a start

time of 8:55 a.m." (Wahlstrom 4). Changing the start time will not only increase the attendance

rates at school, but will also increase students' grades. Students who arrive at school late miss

their first period, possibly second, depending on what time they come to school, but if the start

time was changed, they would stop missing those classes. This is an important benefit to be

considered because students will stop missing school and show several improvements on their

grades. "The evidence shows that the later the start time, the greater the academic benefits"

(Wahlstrom 4).
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Furthermore, there are some arguments against changing the school start time. One

argument is that students, most likely teenagers, will sleep in anyways, arriving at school late.

"Teens are notorious night owls generally, they go to bed late in the evening and, when given

the opportunity, wake up late in the morning" ("Later School" 1). This is a commonly debated

argument because people against changing the start time think students will sleep in no matter

what. If the school start time did change, teens would be getting the right amount of sleep at

night. Changing the school start time is mainly beneficial towards the amount of sleep these

students get. There should not be a lot of worry about teenagers sleeping in late because they are

given the opportunity to get the right amount of sleep at night. If they want to wake up late in the

morning, then they'll wake up late. This problem is mainly the student's decision. Teenagers'

brains remain in sleep mode until 8 a.m. (Wahlstrom 2), if school started later than that, they

wouldn't be as tired. Some students might still take the opportunity to sleep in, but if they

actually got the right amount of sleep every night, arriving to school late shouldn't be a problem.

Lastly, another argument is that it is difficult for parents who take their children to school

and pick them up after. Several parents take their children to school in the morning before they

go to work. It is an understandable argument, but that is the reason why school districts have

buses. If the school start time would change, there is still a way for the students to get to school.

There will be an increase in cost if the buses were on the road at later times, but in the end it will

be better for both the students and parents. Students will get to sleep in, helping their mental

health, as previously mentioned, and parents won't have to worry about taking their children to

school and picking them up. "Creative alternatives for student transportation are usually the best

way to address the problem. Some districts shifted to multiage busing, while others moved to a

wheel-and-spoke busing pattern" (Wahlstrom 7). In the end, there is always some way that this
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issue can be fixed. As previously mentioned, there are numerous alternatives for student

transportation if there was a problem where parents were not able to take their children to school

and pick them up.

In conclusion, the school start time should change because it will help students get the

right amount of sleep at night and improve their attendance rates. Changing the start time isn't

only helping students improve their grades and attendance, but it is also helping their mental

health, which is important. A main reason to be considered is that students need the right amount

of sleep to achieve a lot of things during the school day. As mentioned, there are an abundance of

studies showing that when the start time is changed, students will be able to focus during the day

and it will reduce the risks of depression, car accidents and other problems (George 1). Even

parents, like Elise Browne Hughes, said the change at high schools has been better than

expected. (George 3). "She was skeptical about how much could be gained with a 20-minute

shift. But she says his (her teenage son) mornings are markedly better and he gets to school on

time" (George 3). If the times were to be changed, "administrators and teachers need to discuss

how the sleep needs of students intersect with school activities, such as the timing of homework

assignments" (Wahlstrom 8). In the end, changing the school start time will be beneficial for a lot

of people, like students and parents.

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Works Cited

Edwards, Finley. "Do Schools Begin Too Early?" Education Next. N.p., 25 Dec. 2016. Web. 15

Mar. 2017.

George, Donna St. "Debate over School Start times Flares Anew." The Washington Post. WP

Company, 01 Jan. 2017. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

"Later School Start Times Promote Adolescent Well-Being." American Psychology Association.

2014. 3 March 2017.

Wahlstrom, Kyla L. "Later Start Time for Teens Improves Grades, Mood, and Safety." Phi Delta

Kappan, vol. 98, no. 4, Dec 2016/Jan 2017, pp. 8-14. 15 March 2017.