On Aug. 25 the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that middle schools and high schools have later starting times so that teenage students can get more of the sleep they need.
An Aug. 26 article in The Wall Street Journal chronicled how several doctors, sleep experts and researchers support the notion that students need more sleep and that many concur with the AAP recommendation. The article also included details of how some school districts are considering later starting times.
A Bloomberg News editorial on Aug. 30 also cited the AAP announcement and pointed out that research says teens need 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night. The editorial also stated that there is a growing educational need for more time in school.
I do not dispute the claim that many students do not get enough sleep. I do not even question the idea that many teenagers function better later in the morning.
But starting the school day later will not fully address the issue. We could start the school day at 9 a.m. and some students would benefit. Others, however would stay up until 3 a.m. and still arrive with inadequate rest.
Quite simply, going to bed at the same reasonable time each night will help, regardless of when school starts.
USA Today readers spoke out on this issue in the Aug. 29 issue.
One wrote, "The change will not yield an improvement. Students and parents will just extend bedtimes on school nights."
Another wrote, "Kids need a decent bedtime and restrictions on nighttime usage of internet."
Without a doubt, a consistent bedtime is important, but there is much more at play here.
As we discuss the issue of student sleep, let's remember that the prevailing need for all students is to build discipline in to their lives in every way.
No individual achieves much success without a disciplined effort. That's something we should be teaching every student in school.
We could begin by talking to them about things as simple as getting yourself to bed at bedtime, even if you don't feel like it.
In fact, to do well in life, one must do a lot of things that he or she may not feel like doing.
Another USA Today reader asserted, "How about we teach teenagers to manage their lives and go to bed when they have an early day."
Still another one said, "We need to teach teenagers that they will be more successful in life if they find out how to work in the world as it is, not to expect the world to implement changes for them"
This is not to say that the issue of student sleep is not important. It is.
But implementing later school starting times would be foolish unless coupled with a commitment to teaching students to be disciplined and responsible in every area of their lives.
David Wilson, EdD, is the associate principal at Jefferson City High School. You may email him at [email protected].