When students come into class, what do you notice-—kids with their heads down and droopy eyes and kids with their pajamas still on? The good news is, there are solutions to help with this.
If school started later in the day, it would help children avoid falling asleep in class and be more attentive to their schoolwork. By starting school later, kids can get more sleep, leading to better moods and increased willingness to participate in school. If children are grumpy, they will not want to do work or be at school. According to a study at www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au, it states, “Sleep research suggests that a teenager needs between eight and 10 hours of sleep every night.” Some students have sports and activities that keep them out late. When combined with early school start times, this makes it impossible to get the recommended hours of sleep.
If school starts later, students will be less absent due to tiredness and less likely to fall behind on their work and have to make up work after school. Do you want your children falling behind on their schoolwork due to being asleep and counted absent? Teachers would like for children to be hands-on and not distracted or dozing off in class. Did you know that 29% of kids miss school because they were asleep? According to a study, https://cnycentral.com/ states, “About 29%, more than 12 million of those students, are missing at least 18 days of the school year.” Later start times would improve attendance and help ensure students stay current with their schoolwork.
If school started later in the day, students would have more energy to complete their work and engage in class. Early school hours prevent students from sleeping in the morning, not allowing them to get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can impact their mental health and increase their risk of depression. Research from www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au states, “Effects of teenage sleep deprivation… concentration difficulties, mentally ‘drifting off’ in class, shortened attention span.” Students’ academic performance is suffering; students struggle to answer questions in class because they are fighting fatigue.
Starting school later helps students get well-rested, allowing them to become more focused and improving their grades and academic performance. Sleep can also reduce anxiety and depression among teens.
