Should student's start later?

"According to recent reports by the National Sleep Foundation and several university research centers, teenagers are wired to be sleepier in the morning -- their levels of melatonin (a sleep-promoting hormone) don't fall until at least 8 A.M. As a result, some high schools have begun delaying the morning bell in order to make the school day more manageable for sleep-deprived teens. Some argue, however, that most of the evidence for teenage sleep patterns remains anecdotal, starting school later would cut into after-school activities, and other factors should take priority when it comes to student achievement" (http://www.edutopia.org/would-starting-school-later-morning-improve-teenagers-academic-performance).

As you can see, students are more tired in the morning than they are in the afternoon. Researcher's are only researching High School student's because they have to wake up really early to get ready and catch the bus. Student's level of melatonin doesn't go into effect until 8 A.M. research has shown. If student's go to bed earlier, would that be okay to wake up early and go to school? I think that if a student has a bed time of 9 or 9:30, they are getting at least 9-10 hours of sleep. Isn't that to much sleep? Isn't sleeping longer the cause of students being more tired? In my opinion I believe so. This is only because, I do it. Whenever I sleep in, I tend to get tired more fast, but, when I fall asleep at 12 midnight and wake up at 6 or 7, I am wide awake. What is the cause of this? Is it the melatonin? There really hasn't been that many research on this and to why students are so tired in the morning. The only solution is the melatonin in the students body.

The real question is, "Would starting school later, improve a teenagers academic performance"?

The survey found that, this is from a High School in Pennsylvania.

-- 78% of students said it was difficult to get up in the morning
-- Only 16% said they regularly had enough sleep
-- 70% thought their grades would improve if they had more sleep
-- 90% thought their academic performance would improve if school were to start later

As you can see the picture's depict students falling asleep because there not spending their 9 hours of sleep like they are supposed to. Although I am against later school days, I agree that starting it about 8, the students would do well academically and their energy level would increase. Their melatonin I should say. "School systems should be thinking about changing their start times. It would not be easy—the

y would have to change the busing system—but it would increase their student's sleep time and likely improve their school performance" (American Thoracic Society). Research has shown that with schools starting later teens will improve their work.

In doing so, that would mean, as above stated, the busing hours would have to be changed, the hours of the elementary schools would need to be changed also. As you can see, there are consequences in changing the time of high school. It would be impossible, although very helpful for the students.The sleep study at Brown University shows that teens tend not to get sleepy until around midnight. Going to sleep that late and getting up for classes starting at 7:30 a.m. leaves students well short of the nine and a half hours of sleep that teens need, researchers say. Studies have shown that missing out on sleep can cause people to lose their ability to think clearly and learn well.Later start times, supporters say, allow students to follow their natural sleep patterns. That way, they argue, students are more alert in school. Students need their sleep so that they can perform better in their academics.

Students tend to better in school when they have enough energy to take tests, do homework, etc. It is shown that they do better academically and are willing to participate in school functions and activities. So I think, schools should start later, so that way, the students are getting enough sleep for the brain as well as themselves. Students are more eager to learn and raise their hands!