BARRINGTON — To the editor:
Regarding the recent letters to the editor concerning delaying school start times, I want to ask these experts if they attended the meeting on delaying school start times because their letters reflect by their facts that they did not.
Dr. Millman, the expert speaker, stated that adolescents need 9 to 10 hours a sleep at night and that adolescents were sleep deprived which caused them to still be in their sleep mode in the morning and not learn as well at that time.
He stated that he did not care when they receive the sleep but they required the sleep. He then stated that delaying school start up time by one hour would get them the extra hour of sleep provided they go to bed at the same time prior to the change. It would not work if they went to bed an hour later. Many students came up to the microphone and stated that with their busy schedules, they would go to bed an hour later.
With the extra-curricular activities and high homework levels, these students simply have jammed-packed schedules. As it is, we do change the start time when daylight savings time occurs. I don’t believe that this increases sleep time either. This means that changing the start time would not be effective.
A number of recent letters in the paper have mentioned circadian rhythms and how these rhythms in adolescents delay and that adolescents perform better later in the day because of it.
I’m not an expert but have found a number of more recent studies regarding this. Circadian rhythms depend on genetics (hereditary), light exposure, biology, food intake (when food is consumed), and routine. Circadian rhythms can be changed.
Jet lag is the result of resetting circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is changed when one moves from one time zone to another.
Professor Clifford B. Saper, PHD, MD, of Harvard University, performed a study and found that timing of food consumption affects circadian rhythms. In other words, if you eat later in the day, it can delay your circadian rhythm; and what are these students doing, getting home later and eating later.
High school is supposed to prepare these students for the future.
Shouldn’t it be a part of our students’ education to function and learn how to function at the earlier hour as does the world after high school?
Maybe the high school should shorten work loads and teach students to have a regular bedtime; darken their room; shut down the phones, computers, and TVs; and try not to eat too late at night. This could change their circadian rhythm so that they could function earlier and prepare them for the world outside of Barrington High School.
Most schools in the studies were schools that started prior to 7:15 with long travel times unlike Barrington High School which starts at 7:45 a.m. with a short travel time.
All our children need is more sleep, according to Dr. Millman; and from what I have heard, they will receive no increased sleep with delaying school start times. All this will do is adversely effect Hampden Meadows, after-school activities, after-school jobs, bus schedules, and cost more tax dollars that could be spent more wisely in other areas.
Anne Merlino
Barrington
Comments
graham 3 months, 1 week ago
According to the National Sleep Foundation, scientists have found that the only way to reset adolescent circadian timing is by carefully controlling light exposure, including wearing eyeshades to exclude evening light. http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/hot-topics/backgrounder-later-school-start-times
The adolescent sleep pattern runs from about 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. and is "rather fixed." http://www.cehd.umn.edu/research/highlights/Sleep/
Adolescents driving while melatonin still pressures them to sleep are prone to auto accidents, the leading cause of death among teens. Yale Assistant Professor John Cline notes the reduced risk of car accidents is a sufficient reason "in itself" to delay start times. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/201102/do-later-school-start-times-really-help-high-school-students
As to preparing students for the real world, recent Census data show that 30% of adults leave for work after 8 a.m. Duke University no longer schedules any classes before 8:30 a.m. At the University of Michigan, 85% of classes begin at 9:30 a.m. or later. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2011/09_organize_jacob_rockoff/092011_organize_jacob_rockoff_paper.pdf
As to the costs involved, the Brookings Institute report (the link immediately above) estimates a 9 to 1 benefits to costs ratio when start times are delayed by 60 minutes.
It's up to parents to ensure kids use the extra time for sleep. Studies show the great majority of kids at later starting schools do get more sleep -- http://wp.me/P1qzF7-cz -- and perform better academically. http://teensneedsleep.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/carrell.pdf http://teensneedsleep.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/edwards-early-to-rise-mar-2011-the-effect-of-daily-start-times-on-academic-performance.pdf
As noted in the 2nd link cited above, teens at later starting schools report less depression; i.e., they're happier. When they reach adulthood, they can rise early, vote, sit on juries, and join the armed forces if they wish. Let's let them be children now.
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