It is common knowledge that everyone should get at least eight hours of sleep at night to have optimal health and awareness throughout the day. As a college-bound senior, I’ve noticed that I have been getting less sleep throughout the years, starting from the transition from middle school to high school.
It’s not because I have too much homework or because I love staying up late to watch “Nick At Nite,” but it’s because school starts too early for high school students and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are standing by and watching the obvious effect it has on students, while Fairfax County has actually taken action.
A Washington Post articler recently reported that Fairfax County Public Schools have created a proposal to provide a cost-efficient way for high schools to start school later in the morning by altering the bus schedule. If the proposal is approved, then the start time for high school will be 8:15 a.m. and it is estimated that schools can save up to seven million dollars. I believe that MCPS should follow in their footsteps.
If school started later in the morning, teachers and students would be more alert, teachers would be more active during class time and when class was out of session, teachers could help individual students or grade papers.
Throughout high school, I’ve noticed that most of my first period teachers look like they are going to fall asleep due to exhaustion, either from their lack of sleep from partying all night or gruelingly grading papers.
As for students they could be more alert during class and actually understand the lesson being taught. Many students tend to doze off during first period. When asleep, I doubt you can hear what your half-awake teacher is talking about, so grades slip, eligibility is lost, and the vicious cycle continues.
Another reason why MCPS needs to follow in Fairfax County’s footsteps is that most students are involved in extracurricular activities. I run track, and when I practice running around an oval, my lack of sleep affects me dramatically, causing my times to drop, therefore possibly discouraging college recruiters. Being a sprinter, I need my whole body to be alert so I can be the fastest and get to the finish line first. This early bird school day doesn’t just affect academics; it can possibly affect people’s future as well.
In a letter to the editor regarding the Post article, Serge Gregory said, “Here is a real no-cost solution to the problem of children arriving at school tired at 7:20 a.m.: Get them to bed earlier.”
I wake up at 5:30 a.m to finish the insane amount of homework given to me by my teachers. We’re high school students on the verge of adulthood; we don’t have any type of bedtime. Just getting to sleep earlier will not solve the problem.
It’s all a chain reaction; if school starts later in the morning, teachers’ lessons will be more active, students will be more alert in the classroom and participation and grades will improve. Isn’t that what MCPS really wants? I know I do.