Question
In the article "Should School Start Later?" from Scholastic Scope, the authors present arguments for and against delaying school start times.
After reading the article, write an argumentative essay in which you take a position on whether school should start later.
Clearly state your claim.
Provide at least three reasons.
Support your reasons with relevant text evidence.
Use persuasive language to strengthen your argument.
Your phone shrieks. Confused and groggy, you open your eyes. Surely it isn’t time to get up already? You tap snooze and sink back into dreamland—until your dad knocks on the door.
“Wake up!” he calls. “The bus will be here in 10 minutes!”
You groan. Five more minutes. Please, please, pleeaasseeeee!
If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Before the pandemic, nearly 70 percent of teens weren’t getting enough sleep.*
Last year, things were different. Many teens were able to sleep in because remote classes started later, didn’t require a commute, or gave students flexibility in their schedules. But now that in-person school has resumed, teens across America are once again battling their alarms, and a debate has reignited: Should school start later?
The Science of Sleep
In the U.S., the average start time for middle and high schools is a few minutes after 8 a.m. It hasn’t always been this way, though. A century ago, most schools started around 9 a.m. Then in the 1970s, districts began shifting to earlier schedules for teens, with elementary age kids starting later. This saved districts money because it reduced the number of buses needed: When start times are staggered, the same buses can make multiple trips; otherwise, you need enough buses to transport all elementary, middle, and high school students at once.
Today, we know much more about teens and the science of sleep. Scientists now understand that adolescents experience something called “phase delay.” Here’s how it works: At night, our bodies release a hormone called melatonin that makes us sleepy. Around middle school, this melatonin release gets pushed back by one to two hours. As a result, many teens have a hard time falling asleep before 11 p.m. If you have to be at school by 8 a.m., it can be tough—if not impossible—to get the 8 to 10 hours of sleep you need to be healthy.
And that’s a problem.
“If teens aren’t getting enough sleep, it’s going to impact every aspect of their life,” says Dr. Lisa Meltzer, a sleep psychologist.
Indeed, being exhausted can make you cranky and sad. It can make it harder to concentrate, sit still, and learn. And it can weaken your immune system and impede your ability to make good decisions.
Given how critical sleep is to your well-being, it’s no surprise many experts recommend that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.**
“If teens aren’t getting enough sleep, it’s going to impact every aspect of their life,” says Dr. Lisa Meltzer, a sleep psychologist.
Benefits and Drawbacks
In 2017, Cherry Creek school district in Colorado pushed back start times for its middle and high schools. Since then, students have said they are less sleepy during the school day and participate more in first period. Meltzer, who led a study of Cherry Creek students, found that kids were sleeping more—and they stopped falling asleep doing their homework.
Over the past few years, hundreds of other schools have also experimented with later start times. The results have been promising, with students feeling more alert and fewer incidents of tardiness.
If later start times are good for teens, why doesn’t everyone make the switch? Unfortunately, it’s not so simple. For one thing, starting later means ending later, which leaves less time for after-school activities like sports, dance, and music. For outdoor activities, this is especially problematic during the winter, when daylight hours are limited.
Later dismissal times could also cut into after-school jobs and create scheduling conflicts for families. In Cherry Creek, some families say they have less time in the evening for homework and dinner.
Transportation is another obstacle. Later start times could require some districts to invest in additional buses and drivers, which can be costly. And many parents might not be able to drive their kids to school before work.
Of course, early start times aren’t the only reason that teens are exhausted. Many things can get in the way of a good night’s sleep, such as caffeine, stress, overscheduling, and too much screen time.
Still, the benefits of a later start time are compelling. So what do you think? Should more schools start later?
School should start later for students because it has so many benefits. Starting school later would mean that students get more sleep, students would improve in their well-being and the district would not need as many buses.
Starting school a little later will help the students get more sleep. The text explains that teens often have trouble falling asleep because of “phase delay” so they need to sleep a little later in the mornings. Teens need between 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. If teens fall asleep later and still have to be awake early they will not get the right amount of sleep.
Starting school later can help students’ well-being. When students do not get enough sleep they may not concentrate and have trouble learning. They may be grumpy or sad. They may get sick more often because their immune system can be weak.
Starting school a little later could save the school district money because they would not need to use as many buses. The school district could pick up the younger children and take them to school first and then they can pick up the older children. If all the children go to school at the same time, then the district needs a lot of buses.
In conclusion, starting school later for students will benefit many people in many ways. The students will be able to get more sleep, they will have a better well-being and the school district can save money on buses.
After reading the article, write an argumentative essay in which you take a position on whether school should start later.
Clearly state your claim.
Provide at least three reasons.
Support your reasons with relevant text evidence.
Use persuasive language to strengthen your argument.
Your phone shrieks. Confused and groggy, you open your eyes. Surely it isn’t time to get up already? You tap snooze and sink back into dreamland—until your dad knocks on the door.
“Wake up!” he calls. “The bus will be here in 10 minutes!”
You groan. Five more minutes. Please, please, pleeaasseeeee!
If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Before the pandemic, nearly 70 percent of teens weren’t getting enough sleep.*
Last year, things were different. Many teens were able to sleep in because remote classes started later, didn’t require a commute, or gave students flexibility in their schedules. But now that in-person school has resumed, teens across America are once again battling their alarms, and a debate has reignited: Should school start later?
The Science of Sleep
In the U.S., the average start time for middle and high schools is a few minutes after 8 a.m. It hasn’t always been this way, though. A century ago, most schools started around 9 a.m. Then in the 1970s, districts began shifting to earlier schedules for teens, with elementary age kids starting later. This saved districts money because it reduced the number of buses needed: When start times are staggered, the same buses can make multiple trips; otherwise, you need enough buses to transport all elementary, middle, and high school students at once.
Today, we know much more about teens and the science of sleep. Scientists now understand that adolescents experience something called “phase delay.” Here’s how it works: At night, our bodies release a hormone called melatonin that makes us sleepy. Around middle school, this melatonin release gets pushed back by one to two hours. As a result, many teens have a hard time falling asleep before 11 p.m. If you have to be at school by 8 a.m., it can be tough—if not impossible—to get the 8 to 10 hours of sleep you need to be healthy.
And that’s a problem.
“If teens aren’t getting enough sleep, it’s going to impact every aspect of their life,” says Dr. Lisa Meltzer, a sleep psychologist.
Indeed, being exhausted can make you cranky and sad. It can make it harder to concentrate, sit still, and learn. And it can weaken your immune system and impede your ability to make good decisions.
Given how critical sleep is to your well-being, it’s no surprise many experts recommend that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.**
“If teens aren’t getting enough sleep, it’s going to impact every aspect of their life,” says Dr. Lisa Meltzer, a sleep psychologist.
Benefits and Drawbacks
In 2017, Cherry Creek school district in Colorado pushed back start times for its middle and high schools. Since then, students have said they are less sleepy during the school day and participate more in first period. Meltzer, who led a study of Cherry Creek students, found that kids were sleeping more—and they stopped falling asleep doing their homework.
Over the past few years, hundreds of other schools have also experimented with later start times. The results have been promising, with students feeling more alert and fewer incidents of tardiness.
If later start times are good for teens, why doesn’t everyone make the switch? Unfortunately, it’s not so simple. For one thing, starting later means ending later, which leaves less time for after-school activities like sports, dance, and music. For outdoor activities, this is especially problematic during the winter, when daylight hours are limited.
Later dismissal times could also cut into after-school jobs and create scheduling conflicts for families. In Cherry Creek, some families say they have less time in the evening for homework and dinner.
Transportation is another obstacle. Later start times could require some districts to invest in additional buses and drivers, which can be costly. And many parents might not be able to drive their kids to school before work.
Of course, early start times aren’t the only reason that teens are exhausted. Many things can get in the way of a good night’s sleep, such as caffeine, stress, overscheduling, and too much screen time.
Still, the benefits of a later start time are compelling. So what do you think? Should more schools start later?
School should start later for students because it has so many benefits. Starting school later would mean that students get more sleep, students would improve in their well-being and the district would not need as many buses.
Starting school a little later will help the students get more sleep. The text explains that teens often have trouble falling asleep because of “phase delay” so they need to sleep a little later in the mornings. Teens need between 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. If teens fall asleep later and still have to be awake early they will not get the right amount of sleep.
Starting school later can help students’ well-being. When students do not get enough sleep they may not concentrate and have trouble learning. They may be grumpy or sad. They may get sick more often because their immune system can be weak.
Starting school a little later could save the school district money because they would not need to use as many buses. The school district could pick up the younger children and take them to school first and then they can pick up the older children. If all the children go to school at the same time, then the district needs a lot of buses.
In conclusion, starting school later for students will benefit many people in many ways. The students will be able to get more sleep, they will have a better well-being and the school district can save money on buses.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Should School Start Later?**
In today’s fast-paced world, the well-being of students is often overlooked, especially concerning their sleep patterns. To address this vital issue, schools across the nation should implement later start times. Delaying school start times can significantly enhance students’ health, improve their academic performance, and potentially save school districts money. Therefore, it is crucial for educational authorities to reevaluate school schedules to better accommodate the needs of adolescents.
First and foremost, allowing students to start school later can lead to improved sleep quality and quantity. Research indicates that teens experience a natural delay in their sleep-wake cycles, resulting in them being unable to fall asleep before 11 p.m. if they are forced to wake up early for school. As the article states, “If you have to be at school by 8 a.m., it can be tough—if not impossible—to get the 8 to 10 hours of sleep you need to be healthy.” By shifting the school start time to at least 8:30 a.m., students would be more likely to attain the necessary amount of sleep, fostering better mood regulation and cognitive function.
Furthermore, improved sleep directly correlates with enhanced academic performance. A well-rested student is more alert and capable of concentrating, which are essential components of effective learning. Dr. Lisa Meltzer’s research shows that after the Cherry Creek district in Colorado pushed back start times, students reported feeling less sleepy during the day and participated more actively in class discussions. This aligns with the idea that when students are able to focus better, their grades and overall academic engagement will likely improve. As educators, it is our responsibility to provide students with the optimal conditions for success, and this includes reconsidering start times.
Additionally, adjusting start times could lead to significant cost savings for school districts. The current scheduling often compels districts to invest in a large fleet of buses to transport students at staggered times; however, if start times are aligned, fewer buses may be required. This is particularly advantageous for schools facing budget constraints. For instance, with later start times, younger students can be dropped off first, allowing older students to utilize the same transportation effectively. The article highlights this by mentioning that staggered start times were initially adopted to save money on transportation. A reevaluation of our scheduling practices could not only benefit student health but also contribute to more efficient use of resources.
In conclusion, the benefits of starting school later are substantial and multifaceted. By allowing students to acquire more sleep, we foster their well-being and academic growth while also enhancing the financial efficiency of school districts. The voice of students and their needs for sufficient rest must be prioritized in educational planning. It is time to take action and embrace the change that can profoundly impact the future of our students. School should indeed start later for the sake of sleep, health, and success.
In today’s fast-paced world, the well-being of students is often overlooked, especially concerning their sleep patterns. To address this vital issue, schools across the nation should implement later start times. Delaying school start times can significantly enhance students’ health, improve their academic performance, and potentially save school districts money. Therefore, it is crucial for educational authorities to reevaluate school schedules to better accommodate the needs of adolescents.
First and foremost, allowing students to start school later can lead to improved sleep quality and quantity. Research indicates that teens experience a natural delay in their sleep-wake cycles, resulting in them being unable to fall asleep before 11 p.m. if they are forced to wake up early for school. As the article states, “If you have to be at school by 8 a.m., it can be tough—if not impossible—to get the 8 to 10 hours of sleep you need to be healthy.” By shifting the school start time to at least 8:30 a.m., students would be more likely to attain the necessary amount of sleep, fostering better mood regulation and cognitive function.
Furthermore, improved sleep directly correlates with enhanced academic performance. A well-rested student is more alert and capable of concentrating, which are essential components of effective learning. Dr. Lisa Meltzer’s research shows that after the Cherry Creek district in Colorado pushed back start times, students reported feeling less sleepy during the day and participated more actively in class discussions. This aligns with the idea that when students are able to focus better, their grades and overall academic engagement will likely improve. As educators, it is our responsibility to provide students with the optimal conditions for success, and this includes reconsidering start times.
Additionally, adjusting start times could lead to significant cost savings for school districts. The current scheduling often compels districts to invest in a large fleet of buses to transport students at staggered times; however, if start times are aligned, fewer buses may be required. This is particularly advantageous for schools facing budget constraints. For instance, with later start times, younger students can be dropped off first, allowing older students to utilize the same transportation effectively. The article highlights this by mentioning that staggered start times were initially adopted to save money on transportation. A reevaluation of our scheduling practices could not only benefit student health but also contribute to more efficient use of resources.
In conclusion, the benefits of starting school later are substantial and multifaceted. By allowing students to acquire more sleep, we foster their well-being and academic growth while also enhancing the financial efficiency of school districts. The voice of students and their needs for sufficient rest must be prioritized in educational planning. It is time to take action and embrace the change that can profoundly impact the future of our students. School should indeed start later for the sake of sleep, health, and success.