by Nora Schindler

First period here at McCaskey starts at 7:50 in the morning, but sometimes you might not even be able to tell. Lots of students can tell you that by the first bell some classrooms are half empty and by the second period bell the classrooms are almost always full. While lots of parents and teachers attribute the tardiness to just plain laziness, it’s a very logical possibility that the problem is more complicated than it appears.

In my health class this year, we touched briefly on the topic of sleep for teens. In class we were shown a Ted Talk presented by Dr. Wendy Troxel. Dr. Troxel is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral treatments for insomnia and other sleep disorders. In the video, she talked about all of the benefits for schools starting later, touching on the fact that sleeping in class is often met with punishment and further insinuating that such punishment is absurd. The way we punish kids for sleep, a human necessity, is absurd and Dr. Troxel acknowledges that while looking to inspire change with her research.

Gordon Hoover, a health and physical education teacher here at McCaskey, shared his thoughts on the idea that high school students aren’t getting enough sleep. When asked if the mental health crisis had any correlation with lack of sleep in teens he said: “Absolutely. I’m seeing kids literally break down in the gym.” 

If teachers are seeing kids breakdown during the school day, why aren’t we doing anything to change things and help kids out? Mr. Hoover explained that it would be logistically difficult to implement this change. He says that everyone is very set in their ways and a time change for the school would be a serious obstacle. Even so, if the effects of our usual start time is proven to be detrimental to students, I think it is a task worth taking on for the greater good.

Experts recommend a start time no earlier than 8:30 in the morning. Schools that have changed their start times have seen an increase in attendance, an ongoing problem here at McCaskey. One study took a look at twenty-nine high schools across seven states before and after schools decided to choose a later start time. The results? Both graduation and attendance rates went up.

 The issue is clear: kids need more sleep. Schools across the country start too early for kids to get the necessary amount. Especially when you factor in the time they have to get up to walk, bike, take the bus etc. Although it’s hard to make such a big change for a school full of thousands of kids with all different situations, the change would be extremely beneficial.