Should School at GHHS Start Later?
Some believe that school starts too early, leading to students being tired and late.
What's the problem?
Some might think that starting school at 8:00 AM is reasonable, but many students set their alarms for 7:00 AM or even 6:00 AM, just to get ready. By the time the first period starts, some students are already starting to feel tired. This has led to the question, should school at GHHS start later? GHHS starts at 8:00 AM. Between homework, sports, jobs, and other family-related issues, teenagers don't get enough sleep. Being tired in class can make it harder to focus and concentrate, while you're learning an important lesson that can determine if you pass or not. According to the national sleep foundation, teenagers need about eight to ten hours of sleep every night.
Why should it change?
Some students believe that having a later start time would improve their energy and concentration during the day. Research from Xceed Preparatory Academy shows that students' attendance and academics are better when school starts later. I, as a student from GHHS, think that waking up early in the morning affects my concentration and focus. During my first few classes of the day I feel tired and restless. If school started later, I feel like I would be more awake and ready to learn.
Early start times lead to absent students and tardies, one of the most recurring problems in school.
What do others think?
Not everyone agrees with having later start times, teacher and staff members would most likely say that adjusting the time could create challenges that interfere with the schools scheduling. Leaving the school later could affect sports practices, after-school jobs, and other things.
What about other schools?
Some high schools around the country have moved to later start times. According to the American Psychological Association, schools that made the change of having a later start time reported that students felt alert and more engaged. But, other districts decide not to switch because of scheduling concerns.
Should GHHS start later?
The argument is for the GHHS staff to decide, but students argue that more sleep would improve their overall well-being. And staff members show the scheduling issues that would arise with changing the schedule. But in the end, students' physical and mental health need to be accounted for when picking out a schedule. For now, staff and GHHS needs to decide what is best.