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Journal #4
School Now or Later

In the editorial Sleep in Now, Start School Later from the Houston chronicle, the

editor talks about starting school later so that the students have the privilege of sleeping in and

getting more sleeping hours. According to researchers from the Houston Chronicle it is reported

that students go through the hormonal and biological changes when they are teenager which

come with puberty. Their internal body clocks are programed about two hours later than that of

an adult or a child (Houston Chronicle). Many people would argue that because their body clocks

start later shouldnt they be given the option to start school later. Often adult have the mindset

that we do not have to accommodate school time to the students. Its their inability to sleep at a

proper time or their laziness that keeps them from being able to wake up early. Students are more

productive later in the day so the start of school should be delayed.

When reading the Sleep in Now, Start School later editorial, it tells the readers that a

Houston Independent School Districts are trying to implement standardized start times for

schools. This District by doing this feels that they are better accommodating the sleeping habits

or students. Professor Russell Foster of the Oxford University says that teenagers who get

enough sleep are healthier and perform better in the classroom (Houston Chronicle). Since sleep

is of such importance to students they need to be informed about the reasons for them having

start school later. When they are knowledgeable about how the impact of sleep has on their
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mental and physical health this is what will affect a student and how they feel about the

classroom.

According the Seattle Times, The ideas about changing the times for school to a later

hours in the day sound great but many are wondering where the support would come from. Many

educators, parents, and political figure heads are asking are do the benefits truly outweigh the

cost of changing school schedules (Seattle Times). The teen body clock comes in to account

again in this editorial because the typical teen naturally falls asleep at around eleven or later.

According to the National Sleep Foundation a student needs from 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep

every night to obtain a healthy sleeping habit. One of the biggest issues that teachers and faculty

see from students is their lack of capability to learn especially in the earlier parts of the morning

when their bodies are still trying to wake up and be attentive. If sleep is the problem then the

facts are leading those who are in charge of the education system that there is a need for them

push back the start of school to improve students education. The Seattle Times states, There are

a few districts in the Seattle area that have decided to start school on a more biological time for

the body which is around 9 or 9:30 (Seattle Time). According to The Seattle Times, Though

they have made the decision to delay the start of the usual early morning school day, they still

had to reinforcement that students actually need to get at least the minimum requirement of sleep

which is 8 hours. Educators have explained why the need for the later start for school is needed

which is why reinforcing these instructions to students that getting better quality of sleep each

night will help them when it comes to learn better which cause they to make better grades.

(Seattle Time)
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When they FBI did their own investigation into students activities after a normal school

day and a delayed school day they found that students who are starting the day later are less

likely to have juvenile crime. According to the Houston Chronicle, the spike in minors getting in

trouble with law enforcement increases after 3 p.m. which is normally when most school out.

(Houston Chronicle) Since it starts later, it is reducing the time that a student is to be

unsupervised by a parent or guardian before they have the chance to actually find themselves.

(Houston Chronicle) The starting of school later due to facts already stated isnt just a benefactor

for the students as they gain extra time to get sleep, it also is a preventive idea because it is helps

stop those students who may find themselves in some sort of mischief if not being supervised on

a daily basis.

The Seattle Times says, Proper brain function is essential for students to learn every day

and being sleep deprived has shown to cause impaired memory, lack of alertness, and attention.

(Seattle Times) The problem that many students are having is the fact that most of their brain

function is not as alert that early in the morning. The article Shift in School Start Time for Teen

Brains it talks about the Minnesota Center for Applied Research did a study about the teenage

brain and how a well-rested student lower rates of tardiness, obesity, depression, and being

absent. (Shift in School Start Time Better for Teen Brains) If the students started their school

days later, they would have better operating brains which is another reason that so many want to

move school hours back.

Hopefully through this essay individuals see the beneficial factor of having a delayed

opening to school is a help to students thieve in school. Sleep is a key factor to a students life

because it helps with a students mental and physical health that helps they become smarter. The
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students of today are the future so giving them the best opportunity to strive by giving them an

advantage. The Houston Chronicle states, These advantage that students would be getting

would be able to learn more effectively, better grades, and less juvenile crimes. (Houston

Chronicle)
Works Cited

Wrede, Joanne E., and Vishesh K. Kapur. "Opinion." The Seattle Times. N.p., 13 Oct. 2013.Web.

25 Mar. 2014.

"Editorial: Sleep in Now, Start School Later." Houston Chronicle. N.p., 24 Feb. 2012. Web.

"Shift in School Start Time Better for Teen Brains. The Olympian. N.p., 17 Sept. 2013. Web. 25

Mar. 2014.

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