Want to raise test scores in high schools? Consider starting the school day later, author Nancy Kalish wrote in a New York Times commentary. Body clocks shift during teenage years, research has shown, causing teens to get sleepy later at night and become fully awake later in the morning. A number of schools that have pushed back their first bells from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 or 8:40 a.m. have increased standardized test scores, reduced dropout rates and lowered the number of car crashes involving teenagers.
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16 Comments
Bad idea. As I understand it, the bell rings in Wichita schools at 8 AM with a few exceptions. Students I talk to tend to do homework in the evening, communicate via e-mail and, yes, goof off.
The business world and colleges generally begin at 8 AM.
If body clock “shifts,” get an alarm clock with a loud clanging bell.
I don’t believe improved standardized test scores, dropout rates and car crashes are affected positively by pushing the opening bell to a later hour to satisfy the lazy … sorry.
This is an excellent point. In most school districts, elementary schools start later than middle and high schools, and yet teenagers are the ones who are hardest to get up. The extremely early middle school start times in some of the Wichita schools is really bad.
When I was in High School, I was at school by 6:45 for “zero hour” which allowed me to pick up an extra class early. Yes, by 2nd hour or so, i was tired and yes, i slept alot in school, but i dont think starting later would have effected me any differently or caused me to get better scores. Dont change it, leave it.
I do like the idea of year round school though with a month off at christmas, one at summer and two weeks off for spring and fall breaks…. School hours should more resemble the hours of their parents working hours… 8-5, Monday – Friday.
7:30 to 5:30, Tony. Give yourself time to get them to and from school around your work schedule.
7:30 to 5:30. Give yourself time to get them to and from school around your work schedule.
The problem with this logic is that we would shift later and later as days and weeks go on.
There are times I get the feeling my body’s internal clock wants to run on about a 26-hour cycle – problem such time-shifting sinply won’t work in the 24-hour world out there.
Probably not a very good idea as one hour later would create a problem with latch key children before school who would simply not go to school and sleep in. :)
It might be safer though to transport the children on buses and in cars at the later hour. The bus drivers would probably like the extra hour of sleep as well. heh
The reality is, this is a temporary biological change. With my own daughter, it didn’t bother me so much in high school, where the starting time was 8:00, but in the Middle School, where it was 7:00, that was simply wrong. The schedule was done for busing purposes, but the reality of the matter is, it is easier to put little kids to and out of bed earlier because their biological clocks allow them to. Middle schoolers simply need more sleep, even if they aren’t going to bed late.
Regular makes a good point about high schoolers, however (yes, he does!). Having high school start too late increases the chances of some kids being able to skip school because the parents aren’t home to see them off.
We as a country do well in keeping up with other indusrial nations educationally in the elementary years, it’s during the secondary years, particularly the middle school years, where our kids have been falling behind. There are probably a multitude of factors, but getting secondary school kids up earlier than elementary school kids may be a contributing factor here.
JMO.
GREAT SUGGESTION!!!!!
I’m sure this would be best for both parents and students.
The huge ROADBLOCK will be THE TEACHERS AND TEACHER’S UNION!!
Thy are so used to being done early with their day. Are we sure we want to start WWIII?
A public school is a learning and detention institute to learn how to punch a time-clock, nothing more. Whatever will help the kids become better workers is good with me.
I’m a full supporter of this type of change. Though there are exceptions to every rule the vast majority of teens would benefit from this small adjustment. The early risers would still rise early, get their homework done before school if that’s the case. My D works 3 weeknights 5-9 pm and then on the weekends. If she had that extra hour to sleep in it would probably help her out a lot.
I think that pushing back the beginning of the school day for high school is worth considering. Two negatives exist that make it a tough sell, IMHO: 1) after school extracurricular activities would begin, and thus end, later; 2) the students holding part time employment would not be available as early in the day.
The question is not what we as parents and teachers find convenient, but how much will a kid learn when he/she is half asleep? If that first hour is wasted anyway, why not eliminate it?
Get em up at 0500 and make em run 2 miles and then start class at 0700!
Kev,
If I got my granddaughter up at 5am and made her run 2 miles, she’d lock herself in her room and sleep until lunch. Trying to control a teenager’s body chemistry is an exercise in futility. Not that that keeps parents from trying.
Why should it matter?
Things are so competitive that businesses have to run a second shift.
Maybe one of these days schools will have to do the same.
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Eric…
Man i just love your blog, keep the cool posts comin…..
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