Why High School Should Start Later Essay

Words: 951
Pages: 4

Javier Pena

Mrs. Toscano

Technical Writing

4/16/24

Sleep is undervalued in today’s society.

Most people value and respect nutrition and exercise, but the same cannot be said for sleep, for example most people trade sleep for work or entertainment, yet the consequences of not sleeping for a day are far worse than not eating or exercising. We live in a world that is desperate for output to the point where we sacrifice our sleep health. According to WebMD, “Experts say most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night...On average, they snooze for just 5.7 hours per night – far short of what you need for optimum health.” Starting with the downsides of missing shut eye and up to refuting opposing arguments, this essay focuses on sleep and health
…show more content…
On average high schools begin their day at 8:00 a.m. These start times are too early, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Middle and high schools should start at 8:30 a.m. or later to give students the opportunity to get the sleep they need. This is because teenagers' circadian rhythms become naturally delayed, causing them to go to sleep at 10:30-11 p.m., yet still require 8-10 hours of sleep each night.

optimum health of the body. According to the American Psychology Association, there are numerous effective case studies showing how schools across the nation are shifting to later start times and experiencing several positive outcomes, including teens getting more sleep, improving attendance, reducing tardies, decreasing substance abuse, lowering rates of depression, and significantly fewer car accidents. Thus, it can benefit the community and our future by having healthier students, and while it can interfere with preexisting schedules, the benefits are clear, and no school’s health should be sacrificed.

There are a few common arguments against sleep such as “I'll be more efficient if I work while others sleep”. Or the popular quote of “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”, or “I can work uninterrupted during the night, so I am more efficient”. Or “I feel very creative late at night, which gives me great ideas for my