Effects of School’s Start Times on Students

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Effects of School’s Start Times on Students

School’s start times have been an arising issue in the United States for many years and recently began to surface. More and more individuals everyday are realizing the effects of a school’s start time on those attending the school, teaching at the school, parents of those who attend the school as well as the surrounding community. “…education seems to be the most sleep-deprived field in America” (Black, 2001). Beginning a school’s start time at 7:17 in the morning isn’t the best time to try and teach adolescents calculus or Shakespeare. “For many, the unusually early start time is nothing short of torturous. A survey of 26 Denver –area companies showed that the average adult trudges into work at 8:23 AM” (Black, 2001). It would be unheard of to ask them to be there at 7 AM and begin working by 7:15, also getting a half an hour lunch break and learning 7 different subjects in their job within their eight hour day. The usual work day start at 9 AM, which is when most businesses open.

“The understanding of adolescents sleep patterns has advanced therefore posing a number of challenges for the education system” (Carskadon, 1999). Although many are advancing in studies of a school’s start time effects, not many have been well informed in the area of adolescent sleep over the years when it was most needed. Those who should be knowledgeable about the sleep of adolescents and its impacts aren’t aware of the needed information on the issue itself. The professionals are the ones whom those in the community rely on for help and information about the issues they are not aware of. “Throughout the past 15 to 20 years, there has been an increasing interest in the education of health p...

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...om http://education.umn.edu/carei/Programs.start_time/2001exec_sum.html.

Acebo, Christine, PhD. (2001). “Irregular Sleep/Wake Patterns In Adolescents.” Retrieved at http://www.websciences.org/adolescentsleep/acebo.htm, on April 25, 2003.

Newspaper Articles

Kaufman, Marc. (2001). “In the Dark.” Washington Post. Retrieved at http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A32072-2001Feb20?language=printer, on April 25, 2003.

Heinen, Tom, Williams, Joe, Rummler, Gary. (1996). “Body Clocks.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved on March 3, 2003.

Black, Nathan. (2001). “Schools Should Open Eyes on Early Start Times.” Denver Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved on March 3, 2003.

Journals

Klein, Joseph. (2001). “Attention, Scholastic Achievement and Timing of Lessons.” Scandinavian Journal of Education Research. Vol. 45, Issue 3, p 301.

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