Bill.N. Wrote:
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> Yes, however Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It is not as easy as just "adjust your
> lifestyle."
> > FCPS loads on a lot of homework which takes
> hours
> > to complete each evening. Many students do not
> > get to bed until midnight or later on a regular
> > basis.
>
> Which gets back to my first point. If under the
> current system high school kids are getting to bed
> at midnight, then what time are they going to be
> going to bed if the kids are getting to bed an
> hour later? Supporters of the later start time
> will say "About the same time, because kids aren't
> starting their homework until after dinner". If
> that is the case, the problem isn't that kids are
> having to get up too early; The problem is that
> they are starting their homework too late.
No actually the problem is with the amount of homework that is required at FCPS. The homework workload needs to be cutback. Massive amounts of homework does not equal success in school, nor life in general. But that is a discussion for a different subject.
> > As Flying Squirrel says, the sleep cycle
> > for teens is different than for younger kids.
> > Teens sleep in much later when given the chance
> to
> > sleep normally.
>
> Some people are naturally going to sleep until 5
> or 6. For others waking up at 10 will still be
> too early. If you are starting school at 8:30
> kids are going to be getting up at 6:45-7:00,
> which means you are still talking about adjusted
> sleep schedules for many if not most teens. So we
> aren't talking about whether to adjust teens'
> sleep schedules, but rather what to adjust the
> sleep schedule to. And as others have suggested,
> the later school start times may mean many kids
> will simply adjust their bed times so that they
> don't end up getting any more sleep.
This system of late starting times for high schoolers has been tried and worked in many other school districts around the country. I don't see why it won't work here. Some major benefits are "significant reduction in school dropout rates, less depression, and students reported earning higher grades."
http://www.cehd.umn.edu/research/highlights/Sleep/