<p>Many high schools today start in the 7 o'clock hour, which for many teenagers means getting up as early as 5 a.m. and commuting to school in the dark. This hasn't always been the case but was a practice started several decades ago primarily to save money by recycling school bus runs. Now considerable research confirms that these school start times are inconsistent with sleep needs of teenagers and young adults and are seriously undermining school performance as well as health and safety (among the many problems linked to early school hours and associated sleep deprivation are depression, stimulant abuse, weight gain, auto accidents, truancy, absenteeism, mood disorders, and suicidal ideation). However, politics, money, and other logistical issues inevitably keep most school systems from changing start times.</p>
<p>I’m up for later start times. However…I already start at 8. But for me, starting at 8 means getting up at 5:30.</p>
<p>I’m up for starting earlier and getting our earlier. I start at 8:20.</p>
<p>Start at 7:40, get up at 6:30. I think that’s bad… luckily I have a free first period tomorrow so I get to sleep until 7:30 :).</p>
<p>There’s also a good piece/poll on this question in a recent Huffington Post [Sleepless</a> Teens: Should High Schools Start After 8 A.M.?](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>Sleepless Teens: Should High Schools Start After 8 A.M.? | HuffPost High School) --definitely shows people on all sides of the issue. But the research is on the side of starting later. The idea is that if the limit is 8 a.m., the elementary schools can start then and high schools–if the community wants to do so–can start even later. But no one of any age should have to go to school when it’s unsafe, unhealthy, or unsuitable for learning. That’s the idea anyway.</p>
<p>School start times are determined by individual school districts, not the national government…</p>
<p>The federal government already sets many limits on what local schools can do–including mandating that lunch must be served between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Schools work within these limits. It is appropriate for the government to help protect basic rights (safety, health, education) when localities are unable to do so. The federal government had to step in back in the 1960s when local schools wouldn’t desegregate classrooms–same idea. But, again, this doesn’t necessarily have to be federal. Once a limit is set, it will be easier for local schools to do what’s best for students when they set their particular hours.</p>
<p>You might also want to check out this youtube video about the petition, made by students at a high school that starts at 7:17 a.m. [Petition</a> for Later School Start Time - YouTube](<a href=“Petition for Later School Start Time - a video by Start School Later - YouTube”>Petition for Later School Start Time - a video by Start School Later - YouTube) Then just search “later school start”–really opens your eyes!</p>
<p>I start at 9 (or ten fifteen on B days) but I don’t feel like it makes anyone more productive. It just makes it more likely that kids are going to stay out later.</p>
<p>Hm, this would actually have made me get up earlier, because I would have had my marching band rehearsals in the morning. That sounds great.</p>
<p>I fail to see how that video does anything. It’s just kids at a single school falling asleep. That happens in every class period at my school, even for kids that don’t have a 1st period and start their day at 8:30.</p>
<p>My school starts at 7:15 :(</p>
<p>I definately agree. but, um, where exactly is this petition? has it been made? I don’t think this forum counts…</p>
<p>i start at 8, wake up at 7, easy.</p>
<p>My school starts at 7:20 (for A period)</p>
<p>gg.</p>
<p>Mine starts at 7:30… way to early for my liking.</p>
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<p>Go to sleep earlier if you think you don’t get enough sleep.</p>
<p>In any case, I for one would still be up very late doing homework on some nights.</p>
<p>Yes, this is a very good idea.</p>
<p>What type of petition is this?</p>
<p>This petition is asking for a minimum earliest start time, for any public school, of 8 a.m. This would include elementary schools, so if a community wanted high schools to start later than that (which is what overwhelming research suggests is best for middle and high school students), that would certainly be possible–without having to send the younger kids to school in the dark. If you want to read the exact petition, and sign it, go to [SignOn.org</a> Beta](<a href=“http://signon.org/sign/promote-legislation-to?source=c.em.cp&r_by=1520974]SignOn.org”>http://signon.org/sign/promote-legislation-to?source=c.em.cp&r_by=1520974) . You can also leave comments with your signatures about the times your schools start, frustrations trying to change the times, and/or observations about what it’s like to start school before 8 am.</p>
<p>My school starts at 9:28 and ends at 4:05. Suprisingly, this still isnt enough with all the hw.</p>
<p>School starts at 7:20. That itself isn’t that bad, but I have to get up at 5:50 for around a 50-minute long bus ride.</p>
<p>Bus time does equal sleeping time though, so it’s sort of a tradeoff. In the end, a later start would definitely be beneficial.</p>