START TIMES: A co-worker passed along this Associated Press article in which pediatricians are calling for later school start times for teenagers. With several area school districts opening this week, he thought it would be appropriate.
The article, “Pediatricians Want Later School Start Times for Teens,” reads, “Delaying the start of the school day until at least 8:30 a.m. would help curb their lack of sleep, which has been linked with poor health, bad grades, car crashes and other problems, the American Academy of Pediatrics says in a new policy.”
The policy was published in the academy’s journal, “Pediatrics.”
The article goes on to explain the average high school senior gets less than seven hours of sleep each night, but the recommended amount is 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 hours.
The biggest roadblock to changing school start times is cost, and a second roadblock would be the impact on after-school activities, homework and after-school jobs, according to Kristen Amundson, the executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education, who is quoted in the article.
She said, “School buses often make multiple runs each morning for older and younger students. Adding bus drivers and rerouting buses is one of the biggest financial obstacles to later start times,” Amundson said. The roughly 80 school districts that have adopted later times tend to be smaller, she said.
According to the article, “Evidence on potential dangers for teens who get too little sleep is ‘extremely compelling’ and includes depression, suicidal thoughts, obesity, poor performance in school and on standardized tests and car accidents from drowsy driving,” said Dr. Judith Owens, the policy’s lead author.
We’re not convinced changing the start time would encourage high school students to get more sleep. We’d guess the biggest things keeping teens awake are homework, too many after-school activities, a job or Internet and video game time.
Whether children start class at 8 or 9 a.m., there’s still only 24 hours in a day.
However, the article indicates there is scientific data to back up the idea that it could help teens catch more ZZZs.
“The policy cites studies showing that delaying start times can lead to more nighttime sleep and improve students’ motivation in class and mood. Whether there are broader, long-term benefits requires more research,” the policy said.
