As a high school student, something that I'm always worried about is sleep. With school, sports, clubs, homework, chores, and all the other obligations I have, it's really hard to get enough. This scientist talks about the requirements of sleep and how much kids of different ages need.
As a young child, it's not hard to achieve the numbers this man specifies. Even through elementary school and early middle school, the 8-10 hours he recommend is easily attainable with fewer worries and obligations.
However, as kids approach later middle school and their high school years, things change. Homework piles on, along with more frequent and longer sports practices, earlier school start times and later school release times, increased social pressures, and many other stresses that push bedtimes later and later. Many students can find themselves getting six hours or less per night, which can cause increased reaction times, slower brain activity, and overall a less functional person.
Certain proposals have been made with hopes to improve this situation. In fact, here is an article about a petition that I and many others have signed encouraging MCPS to move its high school start times to no earlier than 8:15.
While this potential legislation wouldn't magically fix all student sleep problems, it could certainly help students get more sleep, making them more alert, focused, and ready to learn in school, all things that lead to their success.
No comments:
Post a Comment