In Emily Richmond’s argumentative essay, “Why Schools Should Start Later in the Morning”, Richmond attempts to persuade readers that starting school early is broadly inefficient to students and schools. Richmond efficaciously supports her argument by using expert opinion, compelling consequences, and pathos. Richmond enhances her argument with various examples of expert opinion. In the first paragraph, Richmond states that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are suggesting that policymakers should change middle- and high-school classes to start a little later in the morning (Richmond). A person reading this would most likely assume that a “federal” center would know best. Richmond adds that the American Academy of Pediatrics …show more content…
Richmond states that some risks of not getting enough sleep include increases in obesity, depression, and motor-vehicle accidents (Richmond). This appeals to the emotion of the reader. Generally, a reader would not want any of these events to occur. Richmond brings up an experiment done by Professor Carskadon where he records what happens when students get to bed about an hour earlier than usual. Carskadon records that the students show up extremely sleep deprived and less than half maintain seven hours of sleep (Richmond). A reader might read this and realize that starting school early can have many negative effects on a student. They can realize that going to school earlier in the morning can affect student lives. Richmond also talks about the consequences of going to school later in the day.
Richmond references research done by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement. The University found that going to school later in the morning increased attendance, test scores, and grade averages. The University also found that there was a decrease in tardiness, substance abuse, depression, and teen car accidents (Richmond). A reader would notice that these compelling consequences are subsequently caused by going to school later and very beneficial to the students’ lives. The compelling consequences
cases, this cycle can lead to depression and even suicide.” Therefore, it is crucial that schools prioritize the well-being of their students and adjust their schedules accordingly. The article titled "Despite Research on Teens' Sleep, Change to School Start Times Difficult" states that some argue against later school start times, claiming that "students will have less time later in the day to spend with their families if school starts later" (Blad). While this may seem like a valid concern, it is not always the case.
“High School Keep Starting Too Early. Here’s why” explains why the ‘school start time isn’t going away quickly,
This leaves students with less than the recommended 9 hours of sleep. Students that have to stay up that late for homework will be tired in the morning, even if their school starts later. Many people argue that starting schools later will let students get more sleep and align with the students sleep cycles. But they do not factor in that students will just stay up later at night because they know that they do not have to get up as early in the morning. This will just leave students with less sleep than before.
One of the benefits of later school start times is improved student performance. In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota, it was found that over eight hours of sleep each night boosted test scores, attendance, and overall academic achievement (Long). With a later start time, students would be able to get a better night's sleep, and would be overall more alert (Morin). If students in school are more alert, they will be able to pay more attention to teachers.
Although sizeable information exists for the concepts that early school start times are destructive to adolescents’ health and well-being along with delaying school start times results in real and constant benefits to students, the current debate among school districts in the United States regarding school systems later start times for middle and high schools continues to spark controversy.
In the text it states a too-early start to the school day can deprive kids of much needed sleep. This shows the reader that you should get much more sleep and to be calm/relaxed in the morning and in the night.
Some people say that school times should not start later in the morning because there would be less time to complete other activities that they enjoy doing. One source says, “Starting school later means dismissing school later, which leaves fewer daylight hours for after-school activities” (O’Neill 21). This indicates that some believe that starting school later would be an unbeneficial sacrifice to take, just because they do not want to miss out on their favored extra-curricular activities. Another incorrect reason why people are convinced that schools should not begin later is because school districts would have to pay for more bus drivers, and they do not want to have to pay for these unnecessary expenses. O’Neill writes, “Later start times would mean some districts’ might have to invest in additional buses and drivers, which can be expensive” (O’Neill 21). This demonstrates that many school districts would rather keep the same start times for school than have to pay more for bus drivers. One final reason why people falsely believe that schools should not start later in the morning is because it helps teens learn life skills that they can put into use later in their existence. An excerpt from an article reads, “Being on time, managing a busy schedule, and getting enough sleep are important skills teens will need when they enter the workforce” (O’Neill 21). This quote reassures the fact that some people believe that learning important life skills is more relevant than getting enough sleep, even though a lack of sleep can cause teens to get unnecessary illnesses. Despite the fact that some people say that keeping school start times early in the morning is more advantageous than pushing the start times later, they are erroneous for numerous
In Dr. Michael Breus’ blog post, “Teens Need More Sleep Than You Think,” he states that teenagers are “wolves” or the chronotype that centers around going to sleep late. A chronotype is the time a person’s internal clock is set to at a given time in their life. Teenagers are a part of the chronotype that goes to bed later and wakes up later. Teenagers naturally go to bed at around 11:00 pm and need between eight and ten hours of sleep every night because of their chronotype. This means that going to school as early as 7:00, and waking up at 5:30, could lead to getting up to two and a half fewer hours of sleep than needed. This can have many harmful side effects. Also, it is simply hard to accomplish simple tasks early in the morning for both sleep deprived people, but also the wolf chronotype. Tasks that can be harder earlier in the morning can be as simple as speaking to other people or getting dressed, not to mention doing school work or driving. In fact, according to Dr. Robert Daniel Vorona from the Eastern Virginia Medical School, starting highs schools earlier can lead to an increase in driving related accidents. Dr. Vorona analyzed two cities, Chesterfield, Virginia, which had a 7:20 am start time, and Henrico County, which had an 8:45 am start time. He found that for every 1,000 drivers with licenses from the ages of 16 to 18 in Chesterfield there were 49
Sleep deprivation for students in school can affect mood, health, ability to pay attention, deal with stress, and retain information, but that's not even everything that is affected. Students are not getting enough sleep to sustain them. As a result of waking up too early for school, students do not function properly. Due to students being tired in the morning, they would learn more in classrooms if school started later.
Are you tired of waking up so early in the morning? Daryn doesn't get tired until 11:00. He then has basketball practice at 6:15. That means he only gets about 6 hours of sleep because he has to wake up at 5:30. After basketball he's tired, then he has to go to school and most likely falls asleep in school because he's so weary from such a busy, miniscule morning. Schools should start later in the morning because it gives the child more sleep so they won't be tired, gives them a more productive morning and benefits their education.
Boergers, who is also co-director of the Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, said these finding have important implications for public policy. “The result of the study add to a growing body of research demonstrating important health benefits of later school start times for adolescents,” she said. “If we more closely align school schedules with adolescents circadian rhythms and sleep needs, we will have students who are more happier, alert, and better prepared to learn.”
Judith Owens, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Sleep Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center stated that, “There’s no question that later [school] start times pose significant challenges and barriers, … but [making a change to the these start times] is something within our control, something we can change to make a significant impact on the long-term health of children” (Clarkson para. 29) The issue regarding when the start to the school day should begin may not seem like a threatening topic that drastically affects our lives, but as Owens stated it has a “long-term” effect on the generations of tomorrow. In order words, the school start times do affect many individuals, not only in the present, but carries it out throughout their lives. These long-term effects may come from the result of sleep deprivation and stress piled upon students during the school year. These issues may not seem rather insignificant at its moment, but they can and will negatively affect the children. Therefore, the starting times for schools should be pushed back a least an hour to not only to benefit the students physically and mentally, but also academically, and although there are some conflicts in doing so, the overall outcome results in giving adolescents a healthier future, with a chance of reaching greater opportunities.
Later school start times are scientifically proven to help teens in many beneficial ways. Teenagers and adolescents have sleep patterns. According to the article,¨ Teens and Sleep¨ Teens bodies naturally
“BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!” The teenage student slams on the snooze button and struggles to get out of bed for the early school day. Teens on average need 9 ¼ hours of sleep (Backgrounder: Later School Start Times). Teens currently average fewer than 7 hours of sleep (Backgrounder: Later School Start Times). Hectic schedules, poor sleep habits, homework, and family obligations are the problem (Backgrounder: Later School Start Times). Schools are considering starting their school days later in the morning. For example, one Minneapolis school considered pushing back their start time from 7:15 to 8:30. Another Seattle school considers pushing back the school day start reported Jean Enersen. Would this benefit the students or harm the students? Is this for the better or for the worse? These are questions many superintendents and school board members are asking themselves. They all want to do what is best for their students, so the topic takes a lot of thinking, planning, and conversations. School starting later can be a very controversial issue.
This is the perfect equilibrium between too early and too late. A start time at 8:30 allows for a hypothetical extra hour of sleep for a student but also ensures that the school day will not drag on too long in the afternoon. This shift in start time will have a resounding impact on students’ performance in school as well as their personal well-being. A recent study conducted with the cooperation of eight schools affirms this proclamation concluding, “In a recent study of eight U.S. high schools that delayed their start times, researchers found improvements in kids ' grades, attendance and car crash rates”. (Norton). If Brookwood is truly committed to the tradition of excellence they claim, then this statistic alone should be enough persuasion to make the change. Students who get adequate sleep are in turn healthier, more enthusiastic learners which any high school should strive to have. Another reason that shifting the initial start time of Brookwood High School would be beneficial centers around the concept that there are particular hours in the day that students are proven to be