Why School Should Start Later in the Day: Sleep Deprivation, Academic Performance, and Adolescent Development
Overview
This paper argues that schools should adopt later start times to align with adolescent circadian rhythm changes and reduce sleep deprivation. The author examines the biological basis for delayed sleep patterns in teenagers, reviews evidence supporting improved academic performance and reduced accidents with later school start times, and addresses counterarguments regarding scheduling conflicts with extracurricular activities.
What this essay covers
- Introduction: Overview of sleep research and the impact of early school start times on adolescent sleep deprivation
- Motivation: Explanation of circadian rhythm changes during adolescence and the biological basis for sleep phase delays
- Arguments for later school start times: Discussion of benefits to academic performance, emotional well-being, and safety outcomes
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Introduction
Researchers have focused on understanding sleep functions in the recent past. They hold a consensus that sleep provides a plethora of purposes to a student. Some scholars emphasize psychological as well as physical recovery and restoration, consolidation of memory, brain functioning and emotional discharge, whereas others focus on biological functions such as immune systems. There emerge some concerns that need examination concerning the impacts of sleep deprivation among adolescents, especially on paying attention. Various adolescents are suffering from sleep deprivation as a result of a plethora of biological as well as environmental factors. Environmental factors include changes in school commencing times, parental influence, homework, continuous use of social media platforms, employment, and extracurricular activities. The developmental stages during adolescence create changes in sleep patterns as the age group prefer going to bed later and waking up then in the day.
The combination of new sleep phases during adolescence and the standard school commencement times deprives high school students of their sleep. There is a piece of growing literature that commencing school in later hours improves emotional security and performance, and even reduces car accidents incidences. Opponents argue that adjustment into the novel paradigm creates decreased after-school times for other activities such as sports and part-time jobs. This reiterates the increased pressure to maintain the current status quo. Although altering school commencement times is a costly policy, it is easier to implement and less expensive since it will improve on enhancing academic performance.