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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > January > 15 > Entry
Wake up people!
(A student falls asleep at her desk in a Kentucky high school.)
My oldest daughter is only 9 and already I have to practically drag her out of bed some mornings. For teenagers, it’s an epidemic. Why do they seem so sleepy and cranky every morning?
A New York Times contributor suggests an answer — it’s their body chemistry. Apparently, their brains are getting different signals than the rest of us get about when to sleep and when to wake up.
Even so, school tends to start earlier for teens than for younger kids, who are more adept at waking up early. Some research shows high school kids show up late to school frequently and fall asleep in first period routinely.
Is it time for schools to take this science seriously and move start times later? Or is this just excuse making for kids who need to suck it up?
(Image credit: Cincinnati Enquirer)
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Teaching and Learning
Comments
By lou
January 18, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
Mary, it is not for sports, it is so kids can have jobs. most of my students have part time jobs they have to be at by 5. If they got out of school later they would not be able to find a job.By Mary
January 18, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this
Laura, I have been told the reason schools start so early is to give more time for after school sports and games for the relatively small percentage who participate. Speaking of sleep deprivation, what about the schools’ role in holding extensive activities after school.By JM
January 17, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
I agree our lives are too busy. My highschool senior goes to bed around 9:00 every night.That is her choice. She has learned she needs to sleep to be at her best each day. Maybe this is a result of my insisting on a fixed bedtime, and allowing only one after school activty when she was younger. Her grades, attendance, etc. are always good. She is rarely tired and is pleasant to be around. Maybe I need more sleep. :)By Oldprof
January 17, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
Keeping in mind those studies that show that most of the students who drop out do so out of boredom—perhaps another factor in student stupefication is that our curriculum doesn’t flex to allow students to study stimulating, exciting subjects at the level for which they’re ready.By Laura
January 17, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this
I’ve also been told of another reason high schools start so early. That is to allow students to get out early so they have time to go to after school jobs. Maybe if we made school their job, instead of making money to buy cigarettes and cars, school could start at a reasonable hour. It makes no sense to expect a teenager to leave for school before some parents are even up to go to work, especially if the motivation is to get out early to go to a job.By Rick
January 17, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Parents need to be parents and make their kids go to bed earlier.By Mary
January 17, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
There would be a more efficient use of facilities if parents and students were offered school schedule choices, sort of like college schedules where classrooms are used into the night. Traditional schools are like dinosaurs. They are too rigid and set. If a family prefers a late schedule, they should be able to get it. Why does everyone need to show up and leave at the same time?By Nuts
January 16, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
I have no doubt that the research has validity, but in my experience, it makes little difference. For 2 years the high school at which I taught started at 9. Students still got there late and fell asleep in first period. The school officials assume that parents will enforce an earlier bedtime. Instead, the teens just stay up later.By urban_girl75
January 16, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
I agree with this article. Children who are in elementary school are ready to go at the earlier times. My students mentally shut down around 1pm with 2 hours still left in the school day because many have been up since 6 or 7am. High school students have no business beginning school at 7am and then getting out around 2pm with nothing to do the rest of the day.By Worried DPS Parent
January 16, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Maybe the answer if to move school and work to Second Shift timing. I know that would suit me and my family more.By Concerned Mom of 3
January 16, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
I agree with Lea- the root of the problem is the way our society lives in this day in age… Toddlers begin attending scheduled play groups at a very young age… and the scheduling just keeps going and going. (I find it very hard in our family to make time in the schedule for some “down” time.) It seems like our whole family goes 100 mph all day long in order to keep up with the housework, the homework, and the activities. When it is finally time to go to sleep, I find myself either completely crashing- or I find myself too keyed up from the day to slip into peaceful bliss. I am sure the kids feel the same way. No wonder they fall asleep in the middle of the day. Living in this day in age is like living in one big rat race…By Mary
January 16, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
Maybe about 9 years or so ago, the research was mentioned in the papers about teenagers needing to sleep in because of natural sleep rhythms and hormones. I believe some school districts switched, including mine, to have the elementary schools go earlier, and the high schools and middle schools go later. Other issues tied in with this include extracurricular and bus schedules, bad beds, sleep apnea, caffeine, etc. Lately, weight gain and sleep deprivation have also been linked. Life is too time stressed for just about everyone. A few years ago, I made a deliberate decision to not work, do with less money and have control of my time for naps, better grocery shopping, etc. Naps are great. I have read of one employer who has a nap room and encourages tired employees to use it. I never had an employer like that.By Lea
January 16, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Society as a whole is the biggest problem here. Kids stay up later and later to watch television, “im” and text message, play on the ‘net… Sure they’re getting mixed signals. The world tells them to stay up late and then school starts early. How about turning off the TV and computers at 8 PM. See what happens. My 12-year-old would finally get some sleep!