To the editor:

I am writing regarding the continuing exploration by the administration and the school committee on the implementation of the late school start. I am hopeful that this article might bring change in the thinking on the part off the administration and the committee. 

As I read the article in the Barrington Times the old song by Irving Berlin came to mind. The words were, “Oh how I hate to get up in the morning. Oh how I hate to go to bed. Someday I’m going to murder the bugler”. But I added the following words, "Someday you’re going to find the taxpayers dead."

Recent news from Newport has seen the school department reverse the late start policy instituted last year. They found no significant improvement in grades or tardiness of their students. 

The question for me is why are we continuing to throw money at a problem that is really related to parenting?

The administration and school committee should start thinking outside the box. Orientation time is an excellent opportunity to provide seminars on time management to include relaxation techniques in helping these students to prepare for test and bed time. 

Research has shown that turning off electronic and other distractive devices a half hour before bedtime and practicing relaxation techniques are extremely helpful in creating the sleep cycle. Additionally, sound sleep is achieved by going to bed before midnight. Finally washing one’s face with cold water in the morning and eating a good breakfast would aid in getting a student ready for school. 

In the words of Ben Franklin, “ Early to bed and early to rise make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” 

Come on parents, and do your job by getting your child to bed early and up in the morning ready for challenges of school beginning with the start of the first class.

John Taylor

Barrington