Later Start Times Potentially Problematic

Later Start Times Potentially Problematic

A later start time for high school students next year may be beneficial for students however could create a logistical nightmare for the district.

Starting later would give students more time to sleep, but also pushes everything back, conflicting with the already precarious bus schedules.

Most are ecstatic about the change and ready to embrace it. After all, teenagers prefer to stay up late and sleep in late. This makes it difficult for everyone to get at least 8 hours of sleep, simply because they don’t feel tired or want to go to sleep that early. Austin Kyle, a freshman, agrees. 

“Yeah, school starts too early, I have to get up too early,” Kyle argues. “If I want to get 8 hours of sleep I have to go to bed really early. Do you want to go to bed at 7:30? No, that's what I thought.”

As with most things, it’s not completely without problems. The situation is more complicated than just delaying school by an hour or two, as Scott Krebsbach, a counselor, explains.

“I know the position of an adult is going to be different than a student.” Krebsbach continues, “ I believe the later start time is not a good idea simply because there is only so much time in a day and to move the school start time back 1.5 hours would mean students are getting home that much later.  And that may seem great for students, but for parents who need their children home to watch younger siblings or for safety reasons (before dark), I see it being a problem overall.  Everything would get pushed further back.”

Krebsbach proposes an alternative. Instead of the school reforming to fit the students, the students should take it upon themselves to have a healthier sleep schedule. 

“There are plenty of students who are responsible and get to bed at a reasonable time so that they are not tired the next day and are very successful,” Krebsbach points out. “I think moving the start time back is catering to the students who aren't motivated to do what needs to be done for their education and future.”

However, the district has already proven its willingness to concede some ground to students, with policies like minimum F. 

“What are we teaching students by giving them a 50% on exams and assignments where they don't even try to do the work?” Krebsbach says, “Real life isn't full of compromises or bending the rules or making new ones, and in most cases, we are not preparing students for real life. It is a disservice to them.”

The unfortunate truth, as Krebsbach reveals, is that opinions or facts are not the true reasoning that influences these decisions. 

“Politics and money are the driving force behind any district decision.” Krebsbach advises, “The sooner students realize that the better off they will be when adulthood comes knocking.”