I completely agree with you. 7:20 is MUCH too early. I've talked to high school students from all over the country and all over the world and virtually NO ONE starts as early as we do. It's ridiculous. It's not as if extracurriculars even start that early after school. School gets out at 2 and yet hardly anything starts before 3... it's such a waste of time... I'd much rather have that hour in the morning to sleep!

It's also hard to take tests that early in the morning. I can't think straight for first period, sometimes till the middle of second.

It doesn't help that the bus comes way too early--like at 6:25 in my case. We get to school way before 7 and just stand around.

[quote="touchdown"] It doesn't help that the bus comes way too early--like at 6:25 in my case. We get to school way before 7 and just stand around.[/quote]

THAT is yet another thing that I, personally, would like to see addressed. I understand that it's for VoTech kids, but they're what, .218287447% of the county's students? [b]6:25!!!!!!!!!!!![/b] How can they justify that? most ADULT WORKERS don't even wakeup until, the earliest, seven. BIG concern there. If the buses came even as late (though it IS still early) as seven, most students would at LEAST have a good disposition.

7:17 is waaaay too early. especially since i'm bussed all the way from crofton out to arundel, i have to wake up before 6. teenagers in general can't fall asleep before 11, so, this adds up to 7 hours of sleep. that is not enough. it's amazing anyone can function at 7:17, let alone learn and retain information. besides, teenage brains remain in sleep mode until about 8:30, regardless of how long we sleep. so, basically, we're all sleeping thru first period. even 15 minutes would make a difference, but not enough of one. we should go the same time as middle school. it's worth the extra money spent of transportation, because i'm sure more rested students perform better on tests, making our county look better.

I don't neccesarily care if I get back home until 4 pm!!If I have to I'll take dinner in my room, so I can do my homework!Just don't get up so early!It is way too annoying!

I think that the time we start school is actually not that bad. My thing is that I am an athlete and for sports to work out in a timely manner, practices would have to be scheduled before school, which is out of the questions. Think about the coaches who have full time jobs that take their time to coach a team, time changes would totally throw the system off. I dont think I would want to be at school at 5:30 in the morning for practice, and I am not willing to sacrafice athletics for school times, getting out at 4pm is rediculous, especially for the students who have jobs or are on work release or participate in the jump start program. I agree with changing the calendar a little to make it more convenient but I don't agree with changing the day-time schedule.

Cheerbritt07--I understand you don't want to come to school before the sun comes up. Who does? :( But that's not really the issue here. The main thing is that our county starts school earlier than any other county in Maryland and earlier than most high schools around the country. These schools all have sports, so that proves it's not necessary to start so early to have a workable athletic program. High school didn't always start so early. But the kids had sports teams and jobs and everything else. Our county just made this change to save money on school buses.

Even more important is all the studies showing that teenagers who go to school so early have serious problems doing well in school and health issues too. They're more likely to get in car accidents, use drugs and stimulants to keep them awake, and be tardy or absent. They do worse on tests and get worse grades. They're more likely to be depressed, even more likely to try suicide. All these things are much more important than when a sports team meets.

School should be #1 about making students academically successful, safe, and healthy. That's why no matter how much they say it costs, we should find the money to make schools start later. Everything else comes second.

To the comment about getting out of school at 4, the kind of change our county would look into would be like a 45 minute delay, or less. that would end school at 2:40 or earlier, most schools get out around then and this is not too late to have afterschool sports.

later the better! I actually exxagerated a tad! But I'm in Middle school! so I was thinking 4:oo,school starts at 10:oo!

i detest the early start time (it's proven that teen's bodies actually are programmed to go to sleep later and wake up later) but i know why it is so. it's all because of the bus companies. they are too cheap to buy multiple buses, so the force the high schoolers to wake up at ungodly hours, because they reuse the buses. in my mind, it is more logical to have the elementry kids have earlier start times because they wake up earlier to watch cartoons as it is (at least that's how it was when i was there, many years ago haha) but parents don't want their little babies walking to the bus in the dark. i think that it is in the works right now to try and cut the time back a little bit; at least i know that my dad is working on it or has worked on it in the past. i don't know if any progress was made.

The real question to ask is if there is an advantage to starting later.

Here is a poll from students ages 10-15: http://www.zillions.org/Weeklies/Poll/e ... sults.html
The range of school start times is around 7:00 and 9:00.

The common theme in complaints, even from kids waking up around 8, is that they are still tired, don't have enough energy, or that's it is just simply too early in the morning for them to think.

What's the best answer for the question of why the Anne Arundel Public School system has kids and teenagers waking up as early as 6:00 or 6:30?

I have a couple of arguments one could use against the idea of starting school later. A simple one is a common answer given: No matter what time you tell kids or teenagers to wake up, they will still stay up the same amount of hours, if it's 12:00am to 6:00am or 2:00 to 9:00. It doesn't matter what time it is, people will always try to push as much work as they can until they feel the need to sleep. Also a common answer would be, as I would imagine, "We are giving these kids more part of the day to devote their time, rather than the night, in which case they are (or should be) inside. Also it's known that humans wake to the reaction of sunlight and sleep better in darkness.

The evidence for teenagers starting later and being more productive and efficient (as noted by Vidal) is conclusive though: Teenagers do better and excel in school when they start later in the day.

http://libraries.maine.edu/cre/38/No38.htm

This well done research follows the difference between two schools that change the starting time of school from 7:15 to 8:40. But there is something important to note in this research:

[quote]Differences in Impact of an 8:40 a.m. School Start Time on Minneapolis and Edina High School Students

Minneapolis (Urban Community)

Negative impact on after-school activities

Felt more tired at the end of the day

Decreased participation in extracurricular activities

Job interference: fewer hours, less pay, fewer options

Less apt to seek before and after-school help

Increased tardiness

Edina (Affluent Suburban Community)

After-school activities not negatively impacted

Felt less tired at the end of the day

No appreciable change in extracurricular activity participation

No comment on jobs

More likely to seek before and after-school help

No comment on tardiness rate

Kubow, Wahlstrom, and Bemis (1999) questioned whether the difference between fewer Minneapolis students but many more Edina students seeking help before school could be a result of Edina students owning cars and driving themselves to school rather than having to rely on a school bus. It is noteworthy that jobs and earnings were not mentioned as a discussion topic in Edina focus groups. Could it be that these suburban students did not need to juggle jobs and after-school activities because they were not dependent on their own earnings in order to buy essentials? The differences between the two groups highlight the importance of including local stakeholders in any decision to change school start times.

Despite the differences in the two communities described in the above 1999 study, when Wahlstrom (2000) discussed MPS findings, she wrote, "Participation in all after-school activities has remained the same, and those students who go to after-school jobs did not shorten the number of hours they could work" (p. 41). It is unclear if this statement is a result of collecting empirical data that refutes the self-reported perceptions described by Kubow, Wahlstrom, and Bemis (1999), or are the result of more recent self-reported perceptions.
[/quote]

It would really depend if it is in the best interest of Anne Arundel County (as a majority) to change the start time to a later date. However, because of the uniqueness of the schools starting as early as 7:17, I think it would be relatively reasonable, according to this data, to increase the beginning of the school day.

Yet, because of the particularly odd time compared to other counties and schools, the reasons for starting so early have either to deal with individual variables that agree with having an earlier start for students in the majority of the county or simply an outside reason like the bus system or something to that affect. Can it be said of the other schools in the county that Severna Park High School (from which the complaint is coming from) is one of the minority in not benefitting from such a system unlike its other high schools(which Lunarlady was mentioning in her post)? I think the the ideal policy regarding how early schools start should be based on individual (of the immediate locality) standards rather than county-wide implemented.

In either case, the inquiry into the reasons for such an early starting time should be apparent to every student, and not up for speculation.

Very interesting comments! I also agree with the last writer that individual communities should determine the start times that work best for them. But we have this philosophy of "one size fits all" right now (like with pacing guides, etc.). All schools are supposed to be the same (except when they're not--sort of like Animal Farm if you've read that book). So when Annapolis High and Severna Park High asked the board for a pilot program to make them start later, some board members said that wasn't "equitable."

Does every school have to be exactly the same on every single thing? Or is it possible that different schools have different needs and wants?

I think all schools should give kids equal opportunities. You shouldn't have worse books in some schools than others, or worse teachers (like we had in the days of segregation). But isn't it possible for schools to start and end at different times and still be right for the particular populations served?

By the way, our elementary and middle schools around the country all start at different times. So isn't it hypocritical to say the high schools all have to be identical on start time if that's not what best serves the students at them?

if they want to move back the start time, they need to do it for all the high schools. i'm sorry, but i really wouldn't see it as fair if just two of the 12 schools got later start times (including one of the schools with the highest test scores already...). and if they insist on doing a pilot program, it should be for the lowest performing schools, to see if the later time can academically help students.
if we were switched with the elementary school kids, there would be a big impact on after school activites, especially sports. but, if we went at the same time as middle schoolers, sports wouldn't be affected that much. i know at my school, none of the sports start until 3 or so anyway. so, if we got out when the middle school did, this would just mean starting practices right when school lets out, instead of letting the kids wander around aimlessly, doing nothing for almost an hour.

once again, a good idea but the county will never go for it because of the bus problem. if the high schoolers and middle schoolers start and stop at the same time, they'd have to buy more buses. i also think that having different start and stop times isn't giving some sort of prize to the highest performing schools, but rather meeting the individual needs of each community, like what lunarlady and CStJHearse said!

I'm sorry, but by saying we shouldn't give a certain school a later start time because they already do well is ridiculous! This statement admits that this program works, but says that certain kids already do well and so they should not be given opportunities to do even better. you want to hold them back so they don?¢Ç«®Ç—¢t improve, as if they are less deserving of a good education than other students. Working hard does not mean kids should not have better learning conditions because their scores are high enough. The point of a pilot program is to prove a program works so other places can use it. If you are so prejudiced against one school that you wont let them have something good then no one will ever improve. It just so happens, that the pilot is more accepted and easier to try at some schools than others. Every school has students that are equally deserving of a good education, so if it works at one school it should not be denied them because students there have high test scores! Every school starts equally inhumanly early, and as we are all people, we all deserve to improve, even if we have to start with a few people so more can join later.

i completely agree, if the pilot program works, then everyone will get the new and improved start time. they aren't going to completely ignore the other schools in the county! instead of complaining how only a few schools get the better start time, we should be hoping that it works well so that ALL the schools can get it

however, this prejudice against other schools was probably seriously considered when choosing the right school to pilot at. Because of this power, could someone please justify this anti-improvement attitude?

please clarify. what power? what anti-improvement attitude?

i already know victorias opinion, i mean can people who disagree with me please tell me why they disagree with me

i think we are the only ones monitering this topic, so you'll have to make due with my questions. what power were you talking about?

You know what, never mind. Just pretend I never asked the question!!

Anyone who is still interested in this topic, read what other students had to say, and then visit the discussion "Speak out about high school start times..." and write a letter to the board before wednesday, oct 5. If you want the high schools to start later, it is your responsibility to help make the change happen!

[i]Here are the comments from last week's Capital poll on changing school start times. Each paragraph is a different comment, presumably from a different person.[/i]

Anne Arundel County high school students currently have the earliest start time in the state. School officials here are considering several proposals to move that time back from the current 7:17 a.m. Which do you prefer?

What ever happened to letting kids be kids? As a whole, society has tried to force adulthood on children at a younger and younger age - entrance essays and interviews for pre-school, more and more activities for elementary school children, jobs and internships for high-schoolers. And unfortunately, most parents fall into the trap and endorse the above policies. If there is evidence (Brown University and Northwestern University studies) to show that teenagers do not perform well in the early morning, why sabotage them with early start times? Especially if the cost is minimal. They will have plenty of time to be in the real world - let's help them perform at their best while they are still learning.

My high schooler catches the bus in the dark at 6:20 am for school that starts at 7:17. The published schedule has the bus coming at 6:10 but the driver figured out that that got them to school too early. We live 2.5 miles from school. The normal worker in the "real" world does not stand on the corner at 6:20 to catch a bus--at least not in Anne Arundel County. Also, there are many issues that seem to go unreported--for instance, one reason the county has to pick kids up so early is that they have to get ALL the high schoolers to school by 7am in order to transport the vo-tech students to their site. No one wants any kids standing in the dark to catch the bus to school. It is clear that our school district finds the money to do what it wants to do--IB programs, secret pay raises... I just hope they find the money to do something that would benefit all the children.

I'm confused by your poll option "Keep it early, they need to be prepared for the real world." How many of us "in the real world" start work at 7:17 a.m. and finish at 1:55 p.m.? How many of us "in the real world" have to wait for a school bus in the dark at 6:15 a.m. every day? And how many of us have to do this, against our will, after having stayed up until 11, 12, or even later completing homework for 8 classes (sometimes including 5-6 Advanced Placement courses)? No child, of any age, should be starting school before 8 a.m., nor should any be leaving after 4 p.m. It's just common sense. Sleep deprivation in adolescents has been associated numerous times with sub-optimal academic performance, as well as overuse of cars, stimulant abuse, depression, suicidal behavior, traffic accidents, and other dangerous, risky behaviors. Evidence is clear that many adolescents have a biological clock that makes it virtually impossible for them to fall sleep before 11 p.m. Saving money by sending sleep-deprived adolescents to school in the dark and sending them home before 2 p.m. is clearly penny-wise and pound-foolish. We need to bite the bullet and pay whatever it takes to have educationally sound, healthy, and safe school hours.

What would be the matter of leaving the times alone?! Can the County possibly find another way to better spend the money on education, please?

Has anyone considered making all the schools start at the same time. All grades would be picked up from neighborhoods together. Apparently, this is how it is done in some places. The first time this was suggested to me, I thought "would I want my kindergartner on the bus with high schoolers?" After thinking about it, I thought perhaps a high school kid would be less likely to misbehave for fear his little brother or little neighbor might tattle on him. It certainly ends the problem of big brother not being home to take care of little sister. Food for thought.

I feel as though the times should stay the same. Kids have other things to focus on beside school. The later the kids get out, the less time they have for themselves. Some kids have other responsibilities such as work or attending to their kids. I graduated in 2004 and people were talking about the time change. That would have affected me real bad because I had football practice plus I had to go to work because I have two kids. Does anybody ever bother to ask the students what they want? They are the ones in the situation, not the parents or the people at the board.

How about switching middle and high school times and having everyone start 15mins later.

From the votes given thus far, I think it's safe to say that while the majority want a later start time, these voters want to make the cheapest change. As a mother of an AHS sophmore with that natural physcial penchant for sleep, I think the start time is far too early. However, I find it staggering and disturbing that this change could cost us all 3 million dollars. I believe we need those tax dollars elsewhere more vitally than changing start times; such as teachers' salaries, better upkeep of school buildings, more aids in middle school classes, and the list goes on.. . From the votes thus far, it would seem that most favor the start time of "after 9:30." It's a later start time and it's cheaper. But here's the question: how far after 9:30? Hey, if it's just me to think of, I'd click this. However, I don't have a son or daughter in after-school sports. If I did, this would be my big question. I'm guessing (another question needing answering) that if school then begins at, let's say, 9:35, those students involved in sports would get home around 6pm (based on 2 hour practices). So, maybe that's the solution for all. But doesn't that depend on just how late school will begin? Incidentally, could someone elighten us as to why this change could cost as much as 3 million dollars? And, how did we get in this mess to begin with? As a newcomer to Annapolis, I was shocked to learn my son would be starting school this early. So, who made that decision to begin with that may have to cost so much to change? Wasn't this a bit of poor planning? Was there a public poll taken? Is the same decision-maker(s) still the school board? Scary thought.

The option for keeping Highschool times as early as possible to keep the students prepared for the real world is unrealistic. After Highschool I would hope a good percentage of these students will move immediately onto college and most students will construct class schedules that best fits their sleeping pattern if the classes are available at the times most appealing to that student. I would think that most students would forgo those 7:30AM classes offered at the college campus if another desirable time is available. Sometimes it just cannot be avoided, but if it can be, it will be.

I know a mother who firmly believes that kids need to get ready for 'the real world' Well, 'the real world changes daily' When I was getting prepared for 'the real world' MOST of 'the real world' worked 9-5, stores were closed on Sundays and holidays and once you got a 'good' job, you planned to retire from that job. Kids today are very different, they're stressed out and a lot of times over scheduled because their parents are stressed and overworked. If life can be a little easier for my kids for 4 short years I say so be it, because getting up before the crack of dawn is only virtuous if you're a farmer

Big picture ramifications are not reflected in your poll. Broad consensus needs to be garnered before any decision is made by the Board of Education. Safety, extra-curricular activities, work study programs, community college course coordination, sports activities, before and after school care for siblings, teacher impact, parent work schedules and numerous other issues must be considered carefully from all regions throughout the county.

The folks who are voting, "Keep it early, they need to be ready for the real world" are probably unaware of the research done on melatonin levels in teens. There is a biological reason why their sleep clocks are different than adults'. Thankfully it changes as they pass out of the teenage years so that by the time they enter the "real world" they can keep real world hours. It's a waste of money, teaching effort and the kids' learning ability to think they can be alert and ready for classes at 7:45 let alone 7:15. We really ought to give them the best opportunity to learn and that means starting when they're alert and ready (at least as ready as any teen can be for class!).

Why is there a personal opinion from the staff writer on this poll? Suggesting there is a way to get in line with the "real world" is an immature and out of line addition to a poll question which is supposed to be unbiased.

If reputable studies show that teens have different requirements when it comes to their sleeping patterns, then maybe it's time to go with that and make the school schedule change to accomodate that. The "real world" comes soon enough, their sleep patterns will change with age and meanwhile, teens can get through their school day with less stress. The "cost" of this change, when it seems to be just a matter of changing the bus schedules to pick up younger kids first, but using the same buses and routes, is still unclear, however.

I attend Magothy River Middle School and my first period bell rings at 9:10. I am not a morning person at all and I myself have trouble waking up in time to catch the bus as it is now. Now how am i going to wake up early enough to be in first period at 7:17 next year? I think that Broadneck High School's times are absolutley ridiculous!!! I don't have a problem or any complaints about the elementary and middle school times I just really would appreciate it if Highschool could start at a later time! :)

These start times are so crazy. Some middle schools start at 8 when others start at 9. If high school hours are going to change, that won't do much but make the situation worse. Let's say your a freshman, and you watch your eight year old little brother after school, because your parents don't get off until 5. Elementary schools end at 2:30 and high schools end at 1:55 (for the most part). If high school dosen't get out until 4 or 5, that's going to create a problem with baby-sitters, day care and etc. This is only one of many scenarios that shows what a problem this creates. However I do agree with laxinllama that 9:10 (which is also when my school's bell rings) to 7:17 is a huge transition. If anything, middle school that start at 9 should start at 8 like the others.

That is again why the major suggestion is for high schoolers to get out at around 2:35. Also, most elementary schools do not get out at 2:30. My brother doesnt finish till 3:30, and doesnt get home till 3:45! Most get out from 2:45 to 3:30

This is slightly off topic, but, I was reading a study the other day about how wearing orange and blue tinted sunglasses and glasses, can balance adolecents hormonely-unbalanced internal clock. Something about the light reflection and filtering sets your clock back so you can sleep at a decent hour. Maybe the county would be willing to run a study on a handful of student to try it out. I mean, its worth a try, right?

Um, i dont think that study makes sense. The biological fall asleep time has to do with hormones released at night because you are growing, i dont think light reflection has anything to do with that, and if it did it probably would not be healthy.

hi everyone

i think that school start times are too early too but if they make the time later then we get out later we get out late enough i think that the elementary schollers should go first then middle schoolers then high schoolers o ya and hi :lol: :P :shock: :D :) :( :o :? 8) :lol: :x :P :oops: :cry: :evil: :twisted: :roll: :wink: :!: :?: :idea: :arrow:

That would be a good solution, but don't you think it would be difficult to get the little kids up that early? Remember, elementry kid's ages range from 4 or 5 to 10 or 11!

[color=violet]Sara [/color]
[color=blue]"What can go wrong will go wrong"[/color]

the problem with that solution is that many elementary school parents do not want their little 9-yr-olds out at the bus stop at like 6:20 in the morning. it is dark out at that time during the winter, which makes parents of small children worry about kidnappers and whatnot. i agree with the idea tossed around where high schoolers start around eight o'clock, and leave at 2:35. as a sophomore in high school, i've experienced the start time problem first hand. i get up at 5:30 every morning, yet my body prevents me from falling asleep before 11 (i generally lie in bed for about and hour or two with my eyes closed before i fall asleep) that means i average about 6.5 hours of sleep each night. you don't have to be a physician to agree that that is extremely unhealthy!! my brother, a senior, is the same way, and that is with 3 hours of strenuous football practice after school every day! and as for the whole "preparing for the real world" thing, my brother and i usually are out the door before our parents wake up for their "real world" jobs. i just don't see the logic for the times not being altered.

I agree. Even if in theory elementary school kids could wake up earlier and stay healthier, it is not safe. With high schoolers, it is unhealthy. Because there is more fog, ice, dark, and students are tired early in the morning, it is also dangerous for high schoolers to be driving and walking at this time. So, honestly, no one should go to school at 7:17 (really around 6:30 if you take a bus.) 8:00 is a good compromise bacause that way high schoolers can sleep longer and go to school in safer conditions, while still having time afterschool for clubs, sports, jobs, and watching elementary school siblings.

The 7:17 start time poses no danger to the students. How many students are assulted, kinnapped, or crash in the morning. As far as crime are concerned none have been commited against the students in the morning. (excluding fabricated stories) It there is ice or fog it is up to the school system to protect the students and delay or close schools as nessicary. There was one stundent in 2004 who fell on ice walking to school bt school should have been at least delayed.

there is also the idea that getting up AFTER the sun rises instead of before could have a positive effect on school performance. i couldn't tell you exact numbers, but my sociology teacher told us that there are studies that show that waking up with light outside improves concentration and allows us to wake up more easily, even when people aren't getting any more time to sleep. an interesting argument, wouldn't you say?

I'm really surprised at Drew's comment because there is actually a huge amount of research (and more coming in everyday) associating early high school start times and sleep deprivation in teenagers with all sorts of health and safety problems--as well as educational problems. A good place to start for people who want to know about these studies is http://patesslinger.com/wakeup/. That's the website run by people in Montgomery County who are fighting for a later start time there (their earliest schools start at 7:25 a.m., and they still think that's too early. But for people who think the world will end if we go one second later than 7:17, how do you explain how these people manage to do their homework, have jobs, play sports, watch their younger siblings, etc.? Even if you like starting and ending early, why do we have to start the VERY earliest in the entire state?). Anyway, the evidence is really convincing that starting later, especially after 8, can improve school attendance and tardiness rates and improve kids' ability to learn. Plus, the evidence is strong (and scary) that links sleep deprivation in teenagers (and young teachers, in fact) to stimulant abuse, risky behavior, mood swings, car accidents and deaths (yes, car accidents), depression, obesity, even suicide attempts. I recommend that everyone who is skeptical about the importance of this issue go to that website to see some of this information.

To everyone who doesn't feel like reading the website, here is an interesting statistic about the dangers of tired teenage drivers.

"A recent study suggests that changing school start times to an hour later in the morning could make a difference in the rate of teen car crashes. Fred W. Danner, PhD, of the University of Kentucky, examined auto collision statistics in Fayette County, KY, where the school district [b]changed high school start times from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. [/b]In the following year, students [b]averaged up to 50 minutes more sleep per night[/b]. Dr. Danner found that [b]crash rates for 16-18 year olds dropped [/b]following the change, while crash rates for 17-18 year olds increased in the rest of the state."

what website did you get this from? on this web stie which has the complete quote he also includes: "one cannot make any cause and effect statements with a simple association" even he say his info is not conclusive. while i do agrre that more sleep would be good my point is will the students get more sleep or just stay up later. And by danger I was addressing crimes.

[url]http://www.du.edu/~psherry/narap/news_1_3.html[/url]

speaking of crime, 2-4 are the peak hours for juvenile crime, and high schoolers are let out for all of those hours, many unsupervised. If we got out later parents would be with their kids sooner and that would lower crime.

[quote="DrewT"] will the students get more sleep or just stay up later.

[url]http://www.du.edu/~psherry/narap/news_1_3.html[/url][/quote]

students will not stay up later. THis is because of a hormone released at night in teenagers that keeps them up at night. Again, here is a quote from the website:
[b]
"Why not go to bed earlier?[/b] The biological clock of pre-teens [and teens]shifts forward, creating a ?¢Ç«®?Ï[b]forbidden zone?¢Ç«®

[quote="saget1"]speaking of crime, 2-4 are the peak hours for juvenile crime, and high schoolers are let out for all of those hours, many unsupervised. If we got out later parents would be with their kids sooner and that would lower crime.[/quote]

May I ask the source of this information?
I mean I could give figures and statistics too of the top of my head, but without a source I have no credibility.

And another thing, wouldn't Later hours screw up Jump Start students? If they were to take their college class, it would be hard to fit in the college class and two regular high school class.

"Increased opportunity for risky behaviors due to lack of supervision in afternoons

?¢Ç«®¨¢ On school days, 45% of juvenile crime occurs between 2 and 8PM with sharpest rise between 2 and 4 PM (Wahlstrom and Freeman, 1997; Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, 1998)."

This is the quote from the same website mentioned above

[quote="Roo"]

And another thing, wouldn't Later hours screw up Jump Start students? If they were to take their college class, it would be hard to fit in the college class and two regular high school class.[/quote]

To answer this, no it would not mess up the jumpstart kids. They would have to fit in the same # of classes as before, as it is the same program, they would just take later classes that fit in their schedule.Although some classes wouild be limited because of the time change, some would also be opened up to students.

the Circadian Rhythem Of people also has an effect on when people go to sleep. it is not just a hormonal imbalence due to puberty. the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalmus of the brain regulates this 24-hour operation cylce. Imbalaces in this cylce can be traced to SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or imbalnces in meltonin and seritonin (sleep nuerotransmiters) usually affected by causes other than puberty or the "teenage age"

Ok, here is my opinon on the whole school start time thing.

First, personally I am ok with going into school at 7:17. I mean do not get me wrong, I am always tired however I am a good student. I do not fall asleep in first period because I push myself ahead and I push myself to do the work and to stay active in every class no matter how tired I am. To me when I hit those school doors I am ready to learn, and I will be ready to learn regardless of what time I go to school. I am going to school to learn and to better myself and I think that anyone who truly values education and tries to experiance the true worth of it pushes themselves as well. Sure I would love a little more sleep time, but 45 minutes is not going to make that much of a difference. As I am a senior and the change will not affect me, I still have opinons on the situation. I mean I just think that the board needs to do the absolute best and choose the solution that is the best for the biggest majority of students, you are never going to be able to please everyone. I mean everything is worth a shot, and statistics and studies can "prove" to you whatever you want to think but no one will really know until we do it ourselves. I dont know what the right solution is, but I as I said we just need to do what is best for the majority. They dont need to rush into anything or one particular decision, like the board sometimes does, but they need to evaluate every option. Personally I think they should take one high school next year and start it at a different time, like lets say 7:45. I know everyone is supposed to be on the same schedule, but this wont hurt for one year, to see if it really works!!

I agree that the majority of students need to be represented, and I think that the majority would benefit from a delayed start time. I also do not believe that wanting 45 minutes more sleep is indicative of not valuing your education. I am a good student, and I appreciate that school is for learning. I value my education...in fact, I really enjoy learning new things in subjects that I love, such as French or social studies. In accordance with all this, I believe that a later start time would increase my feelings, and make school more enjoyable to the [i]majority[/i] of students. Wouldn't you agree that, statistics aside, more students would be more willing to go to school and pay attention if they are well rested? After a good night's sleep, you are rejuvinated and ready to learn. Yes, you can push yourself and make yourself wake-up, but that isn't healthy, nor does it create happy, receptive students. The mission of schools is to provide education for kids, and to keep them safe. Sleep-deprived kids don't learn as well, and are mroe receptive to sicknesses that cause them to miss school. From a common sense stand point, there is really no justifiable argument against this change.

I agree with alot of what you just said as well. I just think that students are going to stay up later, if they are going into school later. Thus, not making any differences at all. I dont know, I just think everything needs to be worked out and then we will go from there.....just an opinon

How far ahead has the board planned. Are they still in the logistics phase. Have all of the impacts been considered. Or is this whole issue a ballon. To me it sounds like they are deciding wheter or not to take action and at what time the school time would be changed to.

i think that the school start times should stay the same, because eveyone is complaining about how early they have to get up, but you know everyone is tired in the morning. i don't know anyone who isn't. so i would rather wake up early and so to school and take some time to wake up and then come home by 2pm and get to have time to do homework and relax. But if we change the start times to like 9am then we'll be home by 4pm and some of us will have to go to sports or something after school and by the time we get home and finish our homework it will be 11pm at night.

In response to previous comments, maybe it would be best to have a pilot program. That way, we could see if the change would have a positive impact in our area. However, many people insist on equlity within the schools, so i dont think the board would approve this.

when I wake up at noon I am still tired until 1 o'clock! It is the effect of waking up! Whenever u wake up you are tired for a while! I mean think about it! On the weekends when you sleepin aren't you tired whenever you wake up?