The fight over school start times has had administrators scratching their heads since the 1970s.
It has been tested, studied, and researched, but the debate still goes on to this day. The reality is, it would be unwise for schools to start later.
Many who may be affected would argue otherwise, but many don’t understand how beneficial earlier times are for students.
The majority of the argument for school starting later appeals to the idea that students would get more sleep, and while that might be true for some, athletes, students in clubs, tutors, and tutees won’t be getting this same privilege.
In a recent article, Leigh Morgan, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at Social Enterprise Nia Tero, explores the advantages and disadvantages of later school start times.
“It would make it difficult for students to participate in extra curriculur activites and still have enough complete homework, participate in social activities, and access resourcessuch as meeting with teachers for help,” Morgan said. “Older students report that later school start times have made it impossible for them maintain after-school jobs.”
Shifting school start times later would extend after-school activities, leading to students getting home as late as 9 p.m. The combined burden of late practices and homework would prevent students from getting adequate sleep, negating the intended benefit of a later start.
Bussing and transportation would also become an issue, due to most elementary and junior high schools already starting quite late. If high school times started later, there would be many more transportation conflicts between buses.
While Greenwich schools aimed to implement an 8:15 a.m. start time, the initiative encountered significant transportation challenges.
According to Emilie Munson’s reporting in the Greenwich Time, “Greenwich High School onto Hillside Road, causing delays.” Furthermore, the ongoing “Dingletown Road construction is causing buses to take detours, also prompting delays.”
Schools should continue to start earlier in the morning for the benefit of students and the school. Most schools cannot accommodate the bussing, and many parents would no longer be able to take their child to school. Overall, later start times would be a burdeon on students’ every day activities.