Posted on 01/14/2008 11:29:58 AM PST by shrinkermd
...Research shows that teenagers’ body clocks are set to a schedule that is different from that of younger children or adults. This prevents adolescents from dropping off until around 11 p.m., when they produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, and waking up much before 8 a.m. when their bodies stop producing melatonin. The result is that the first class of the morning is often a waste, with as many as 28 percent of students falling asleep, according to a National Sleep Foundation poll. Some are so sleepy they don’t even show up, contributing to failure and dropout rates.
Many of our presidential candidates have been relatively silent on how they plan to save our troubled education system. For those still searching for a policy that might have a positive impact, here’s an idea: stop focusing on testing and instead support changing the hours of the school day, starting it later for teenagers and ending it later for all children.
Indeed, no one does well when they’re sleep-deprived, but insufficient sleep among children has been linked to obesity and to learning issues like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. You’d think this would spur educators to take action, and a handful have
...But few of these problems actually come to pass, according to the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota. In Kentucky and Minnesota, simply flipping the starting times for the elementary and high schools meant no extra cost for buses. Nor have after-school jobs and activities been affected as anticipated. And though team practices and matches might have to start a bit later, student participation has usually stayed the same. Some districts have even witnessed improved performance from better-rested athletes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“The result is that the first class of the morning is often a waste”
As are the rest of the classes.
ping
The heck with the kids, the sleep doctors, the psychologists, the parents, or the school boards.
What does the NEA think?
-—having spent my high school years arising at 5AM to help milk the cows before school, my heart bleeds for the poor things and what they have to put up with—not—
As are the rest of the classes.
I am more an afternoon kind of person so school was torture for me, but studying to me was a lot of fun. I began to really “come alive” around 2 o’clock just in time for 2:30 dismissal. I would run home and start homework. I was done typically around 8 o’clock (I was not a natural smart kid so I had to study in order to get a decent grade like a B. My brother however never li fted a book and received straight A’s...Ugh! lol. If I did not study for a test I was lucky to get a C.
“What does the NEA think?”
They think teachers, no matter how long at the job are overworked, underpaid and over stressed.
They want to get rid of all morning classes.
I still don’t fully function until about 11am. In school, the 7:30 classes were a complete waste.
I frankly agree that high school starts way too early. We have to get our daughter out the door before 6:30am. She’s almost always still up at midnight, and then she sleeps all weekend to “catch up”. We can send her to bed at 10, but it makes no difference, she can’t fall asleep.
Try homeschooling. I am thrilled to have my teen rise at noon. Ugh. But it works for him. Him vs. the real world, I do not know yet... But then, he wants to go into computer gaming / programming. For all I know, he may be working their normal hours already!
There is an answer:
COFFEE!!
Stockton California - officially the most illiterate city in the US - starts high school at 7:20 and school gets out before 3:00 pm. This schedule is to accomodate the teachers who just like it better.
Man, am I glad Im not the only homeschool mom with that problem!! My daughter is 14 and Im lucky to get her going before nine a.m. well, this article makes me feel better LOL!!
Then, when they turn 20 we can release them back into society.
I had a chance to play around with some of the newest lower grade educational software. For items like math and reading skills computer programs are FANTASTIC.
We should have more computer teaching and phase out some of these union zombies.
This very thing happened to me back when I was in college wonder if its too late to sue for damages?
My high school started at 7:30 AM, football or baseball after school, games, and I worked in fast food in the off season. Was I tired in the morning? Sure, when I stayed up watching TV at night. Don’t get me started on lack of sleep in college.
Parents make your kids go to bed, toss the TV and the computer if you have to. Kids, suck it up, get your butt to class and stay awake. The high school boys I know don’t have any problem getting up to go deer hunting.
As to homeschool kids getting up I wake my 13 year old before I leave the house otherwise he will still be in bed when I get home. He gets his work done though.
when they produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, and waking up much before 8 a.m. when their bodies stop producing melatonin. The result is that the first class of the morning is often a waste, with as many as 28 percent of students falling asleep,
How many of them fall asleep on the morning bus route?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.