Pros: Later School Start Times Outline

1 Opening Statement: a At Eastern Middle School, school starts promptly at 7:55 AM and launches straight into the school day until 2:40 PM when we are all released to go home or to an after school activity. You all probably already know the feeling of waking up for school at 5:30, 6, or 7, and just wanting to sleep through the rest of the day. If not, then there might be a point in the day where you feel like resting your head or taking a nap in class. Either way, the early school times that are set for Montgomery County Public Schools for middle and high school are tearing its students apart, bit by bit. We are all 8th graders, going into high school. We can push the schedule back to give us more sleep, better health, and better performance in school. But if not, the workload, the race against the first bell, the struggle to stay awake, focused, and energized; it all gets harder from here. b Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Benjamin Franklin c Critics say teens who get more sleep have stronger academic performance, better attendance, and fewer car crashes and mental health problems d Affects many parts of students lives i The students health ii The students performance in school iii The interests of parents and students 2 Better for Students Health a b c d Eating Breakfast more Frequently Addition of One Hour of Sleep per Night Fewer students seeking help for stress relief Better Mood i American Academy of Sleep Medicine: sleep deprivation from getting up early for school leads to 1 2 3 Irritability Lack of motivation Symptoms of depression

ii Delaying school start times reduce symptoms of depression (demonstrated by the University of Minnesota) iii More control over emotions e Limiting Bad Behavior i Sleep deprivation can cause as much impairment as drunk driving. -American Academy of Sleep Medicine ii Later school start times ---> steering clear of drugs iii Sleep deprivation worses decision-making skills in teens f Fewer teen crashes i The American Automobile Association: drowsiness contributes to more than 100,000 crashes per year ii Drivers between age 16 and 18 1 Virginia Beach County a b 2 65.4 car crashes for every 1000 teen drivers High Schools start at 7:20 AM

Chesapeake County a b 46.2 crashes for every 1000 teen drivers High schools start at 8:40 AM

3 4

40% higher crash rate in the county where school starts earlier 2008 study in Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine a b c High schools in Fayette County, Kentucky Changed start times from 7:30 to 8:30 Teen car crash rates dropped by more than 16%

3 Better Performance in School a Students seemed more alert i Sleep deprived students have reduced attention spans 1 2 3 4 Slow responses Lengthy lapses in attention Frequent errors and forgetfulness Increases amount of time it takes to complete a task

ii Before 8 AM, sleepiness is still present

1 2 3

The brain chemical that is released to cause sleepiness is melatonin Melatonin is secreted from 11 pm to 8 am Students minds would be awake if school start times were pushed for later

Increased reaction time i Lack of sleep affects reaction time just as much as consuming alcohol

ii Teens perform poorly with little sleep in sports and other activities c Better attendance and punctuality i Teens would be more awake for school if they were granted more time to sleep in 1 Teens would skip fewer days of school: If sleep deprivation is a chronic problem, adolescents may start missing one day of school every week or even missing several days at a time in an attempt to catch up on missed sleep. --Sleeping Resources 2 When a teen wakes up feeling exhausted, the thought of going to school might send him or her right back under the covers. -Sleeping Resources ii Reduce sleep debt 1 One day of good sleep does not make up weeks of sleep deprivation 2 3 Staying home and taking long naps doesnt cancel it out Best way to repay is to sleep an extra hour with school starting later 4 Better for the Interests of the Parents and Students a Petition in MCPS i Mandi Mader, a Garret Park parent, created petition said the signatures reflect a broad and deep concern about our childrens education, wellness and stress level ii Michael Rubinstein, father of a student at Blake HS, heartened, says were serious about this and were not going to go away until they make the change

School boards in Canada i I think that we cant deny that when students are well rested, their physical and mental health improves, and that just leads to academic success being supported more readily -- Jennifer Chan, principal at Eastern Commerce ii I was definitely more awake for first period and a lot more ready to learn --10th grader Sami Hill

5 Rebuttal a Costly- Judith A. Owens, director of sleep medicine at Childrens National Medical Center, identified delaying school start times as one of the three most potentially cost-effective ways to boost academic achievements b Extracurriculars and Outside Activities are Pushed i Students should have an opportunity to focus on their education

ii Would not be able to focus on education unless school start times were pushed 6 Closing Statement- There may be issues and complications with moving school start times to past 8:00 AM. These issues are acknowledged by several school boards around the country, including Montgomery County Public Schools. However, the goal of MCPS as well as any other public school county nationwide should have one practical goal: to better the lives and the education of its students. With later school start times, growing students in elementary, middle, and high school will have a better sleep schedule, better health, and have an opportunity to have a more fulfilling education.

Works Cited (1) Backgrounder: Later School Start Times. National Sleep Foundation. Ed. National Sleep Foundation. National Sleep Foundation, n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/hot-topics/backgrounder-later-school-starttimes>. (2) Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Schools Let Sleepy Teens Lie in. CBC News: Health. CBC News, 3 Sept. 2012. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/08/31/teens-sleep-school-start-delay.html>. (3) George, Donna St. Sleepy Teens: Montgomery to Study Later High School Start Times. The Washington Post. Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2012. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sleepy-teens-montgomery-to-studylater-high-school-start-times/2012/12/11/1fb0e80e-43b7-11e2-9648a2c323a991d6_story.html>. (4) Morgan, Leigh Ann. The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on School Attendance and Dropout Rates. Sleeping Resources. Sleeping Resources, 2011-2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://sleepingresources.com/sleep-deprivation-and-dropout-rates/>. (5) - - -. How Early and Late School Start Times Affect the Mind. Sleeping Resources. Sleeping Resources, 2011-2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://sleepingresources.com/howearly-and-late-school-start-times-affect-the-mind/>. (6) - - -. Pros and Cons of Later School Start Times. Sleeping Resources. Sleeping Resources, 2011-2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://sleepingresources.com/pros-and-consof-later-school-start-times/>. (7) 101 Sleep Quotes. LexiYoga. Lexii Networking, 2009-2013. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.lexiyoga.com/sleep-quotes>. (8) Schutte-Rodin, Sharon L. Teen Sleep. YourSleep. Ed. AASM. American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 16 Dec. 2009. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/Topic.aspx?id=42>.

(9) Sohn, Emily. Teen Car Crashes Tied to Early Classes. MSNBC. MSN, June 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37601601/ns/healthkids_and_parenting/>. (10) Wahlstrom, Kyla, and Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement. Later Start Times for High School Students. University of Minnesota: ResearchWorks. Ed. Regents of the University of Minnesota. College of Education and Human Development, June 2002. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.cehd.umn.edu/research/highlights/Sleep/>.
Works Cited American Teenagers Dangerously Sleep Deprived. Voice of America. VOA News, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.voanews.com/content/american-teenagers-dangerously-sleep-deprived102523339/162154.html>. Cline, John. Do Later School Start Times Really Help High School Students? Psychology Today. Sussex, 27 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/201102/do-later-school-start-timesreally-help-high-school-students>. - - -. Latest Findings on Later School Start Times. Psychology Today. Sussex, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/201105/latest-findingslater-school-start-times>. - - -. Sleep and Teengaers. Psychology Today. Sussex, 5 Apr. 2009. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/200904/sleep-and-teenagers>. Dahlsgaard, Katherine K. Drowsy Driving Creates Danger for Teens. Philly. Interstate General Media, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/171345781.html>. Danner, Fred, and Barbara Phillips. Adolescent Sleep, School Start Times, and Teen Motor Vehicle Crashes. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine: n. pag. National Library of Medicine. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2603528/>. Fay, Brianna. Sleep Deprivation Damages Student Concentration. Wayland Student Press Network. Wayland Student Network, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://waylandstudentpress.com/2010/02/25/sleep-deprivation-damages-student-concentrationlearning/>.

George, Donna St. Sleepy Teens: Montgomery to Study Later High School Start Times. The Washington Post 11 Dec. 2012: n. pag. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sleepy-teens-montgomery-to-study-later-highschool-start-times/2012/12/11/1fb0e80e-43b7-11e2-9648-a2c323a991d6_story.html>. Grabbe, Nick. Amherst Regional Schools Wont Change Start Time. Gazette 23 Oct. 2012: n. pag. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.gazettenet.com/home/2479305-95/amherst-committeelater-schools>. Later School Start Time Leads to Better Students. Scientific American, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=later-school-start-time-leads-to-be10-07-05>. Later Start to School Boosts Teens Health. The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704535004575349182901006438.html?mod= WSJ_article_comments#articleTabs%3Darticle>. Morgan, Leigh Ann. Pros and Cons of Later School Start Times. Sleeping Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://sleepingresources.com/pros-and-cons-of-later-school-start-times/>. National Sleep Foundation. Backgrounder: Later School Start Times. National Sleep Foundation. Ed. NSF. National Sleep Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/hot-topics/backgrounder-later-school-start-times>. OCallaghan, Tiffany. Study: Teens Benefit from Later School Start. Time. Time, 6 July 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://healthland.time.com/2010/07/06/study-teens-benefit-from-laterschool-start/>. Resmovits, Joy. Should a School Change Start Time for Sleep? Later School Start Times Improve Student Performance: Stud. Huffington Post. Huff Post Education Group, 3 May 2012. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/school-sleep-studentperformance_n_1472440.html>. School Start Time and Sleep. National Sleep Foundation. National Sleep Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/school-start-time-and-sleep>. Sleep and Mood. Get Sleep. WGBH Educational Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/need-sleep/whats-in-it-for-you/mood>.

Do you think that students should be able to perform well in school? (Yes) Do you think that students should get a sufficient amount of sleep? (Yes) Do you think that the time students wake up for school affects how much sleep they get? (Yes) Do you think that the amount of sleep students get affects their performance? Do you think that getting more sleep to be ready for school would be better than getting less sleep? (Yes)

Are students supposed to be able to be healthy? Do you think that students should be able to eat a full breakfast every morning? Are kids supposed to be able to concentrate well in school? Do you think that even the best education will be worth it if students arent even paying attention? Should students be allowed to be well rested in the mornings without having to skip out on doing homework? Should the extremely early classes of students also disturb the sleep schedules of their other family members? Do you think that sleep is related with depression and other psychological issues? Do you think that lack of sleep is a cause of mental health issues? Do you think that the amount of sleep that a student gets will affect their mood? Do you think that a students mood is important to how well they can focus in school? Does a students mood affect how healthy they are socially? Do you think that a child should be able to get the amount of sleep that is healthy for teenagers?

Opening Statement: Delaying school start times will assist students to be healthier by allowing them to eat breakfast in the morning, get an extra hour of sleep, and be in a better mood throughout the day. Students health can affect the way that they act in school and the education that they receive. Benjamin Franklin once said Early to bed, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. 1. Pushing school start times later will allow students to be healthier. If the students dont have to wake up as early to catch a bus, they will have the chance to eat breakfast more frequently in addition to receiving an extra hour of sleep. Also, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, lack of sleep in teens can cause irritation, lack of motivation, as well as symptoms of depression. 2. When students are tired, its extremely difficult for them to concentrate well. In a study carried out by Lufi, Tzischinsky & Hadar of the Emek Yezreel college in Israel, the tests used indicated that the students in the experimental group had better attention, were less impulsive and performed better. According to an article written by Brianna Fay on the Wayland Student Press Network, the few students that are awake during the first few periods are normally too groggy to retain any of the information they learned. Also, even if the education is of the the highest quality, if the students cant learn any of it then all of the teachers hard work will go to waste. 3. According to the American Automobile Association, drowsiness is related to more than 100,000 crashes per year. Also, in a 2008 study, done in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, high schools in Fayette County, Kentucky changed their school start times from 7:30 to 8:30. As a result of this, teen car crashes dropped more than 16%. Rebuttal: Parents work schedules - moving middle schools start times by half an hour isnt too much of a significant change to the parents work schedules. For high school, it would be less stressful for adults since they wont have to wake up as early if they drive their kids to school.

Bus schedule difficulties Students might just waste the extra hour- At St. Georges school in RI, when the start times were delayed by a half an hour, the students reportedly said that they all went to sleep at least 15 minutes earlier than usual. Closing Statement: Education is a critical part of kids and teenagers lives. While they are still growing, they need as much sleep as they can get. There might be issues and complications with moving school start times to 8:30 AM, and these issues are acknowledged by several school boards around the country, including Montgomery County Public Schools. However, the goal of MCPS as well as any other public school county nationwide should have one practical goal: to better the lives and the education of its students. With later school start times, growing students in elementary, middle, and high school will have a better sleep schedule, better health, and have an opportunity to have a more fulfilling education.