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Should School Start Later Analysis

Decent Essays

What if you weren’t so tired in school? Imagine feeling energized like you just drank a gallon of coffee and refreshed in school, ready to learn with your classmates all around you, happily talking about class and catching up with each other. School could be so much better. Therefore, the question is-- should schools have later starting times? In “Should School Start Later?” by Justin O’Neill, “Sleepy Teens: High School Should Start Later in the Morning” by Mark Fischetti, and “Hey You! Wake Up!” by Matthew Hutson, schools all over America are split on the topic of making their start time later. While some experts say that a later starting time is better for the school and students, some argue that it is definitely not. Teenagers need about …show more content…

Serious health issues like depression could be caused if a teen doesn’t get enough sleep, but with homework to do, essays to write, and exams to study for, it is hard to get a good night’s rest. A later starting time for school could significantly help. O’Neill says, “Studies show that tired teens have an increased risk of depression, anxiety, obesity, and illness,” (O’Neill 20). From this quote, it is evident that many health conditions could arise from not getting enough sleep. However, not only mental problems can develop. Physical issues could occur as well. Hutson writes, “It also puts teenagers at a risk of depression, anxiety, obesity, bad grades, sports injuries, low self-esteem, and serious diseases,” (Hutson 11). From this sentence, the reader can tell that it is a very serious problem if one does not get enough sleep. To conclude, if schools got a later start time it would lessen the opportunity for many conditions, both mental and physical, to …show more content…

First, teachers and parents think that with a later school time, there will be less time to do things after school. O’Neill writes, “For one thing, starting school later means dismissing school later, which leaves fewer daylight hours for after-school activities like sports,” (O’Neill 21). However, it isn’t like school is going to start so much later that it will be dark outside by the time school lets out. It will be an hour later at most, which leaves plenty of time for after-school activities. Second, people think that there will be an issue with transportation. O’Neill says, “Later start times would mean some districts might have to invest in additional buses and drivers, which can be expensive,” (O’Neill 21). But, if it helps the students in academics and health, it is certainly worth it. Last, some say that changing the school’s starting time sends the wrong message. O’Neill writes, “Being on time, managing a busy schedule, and getting enough sleep are important skills teens will need when they enter the workforce,” (O’Neill 21). Regardless, students are teenagers. They need to be able to perform the best they can in school so they can join the workforce in the first place. And in order to perform to the best of their ability, students must get enough rest. In all, even though some might say that we should keep the school starting time as is,

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