One of the most pressing concerns for the well being of our
students is the lack of sleep that many of our teenagers are receiving. The National Sleep Foundation has recently
presented information following a two-year world-class study that our teenagers
need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep per night.
Studies have shown that, on average, teenagers receive about 7.5 hours
each night.
The reasons for these sleep needs are rooted in
biology. According to the coalition group
School Start Later (http://www.startschoollater.net):
Sleep research shows that
adolescents have a different—and later—sleep cycle than younger children and
adults. This is not a matter of habit,
lifestyle, or stubbornness. It’s a matter of biology and natural circadian
rhythms. The hormones that regulate sleep make it difficult for a typical
teenager to fall asleep until after 11 pm and to wake up and be alert before
around 8 am. Making them get up as early as 5:30 a.m. to catch the bus – right
when they are in the deepest part of their sleep cycle - robs them of the deep
sleep they need to grow and learn.
There are many possible implications for students who do not
receive the proper amount of sleep. According to the School Start Later site:
Lack of sleep has serious
repercussions on teenagers’ physical, mental and emotional health. Sleep deprivation among teens is linked to
depression, anxiety, susceptibility to illness and injury, irritability, car
accidents, stunted growth, and even obesity and diabetes. Researchers found that sleep deprivation in
adolescents leads to increases in so-called risky behaviors, including
substance abuse, suicide ideation, suicide attempts and suicide. Sleep deprivation also lowers impulse control
and reaction times (important for those driving). Student athletes who do not get at least 8
hours of sleep per night are at greater risk of sports-related injuries – 2.3
times higher risk for each additional grade in school. Lack of consistent sleep also negatively
affects students’ ability to think and learn.
Our district has been exploring this topic in several
ways. Our Superintendent, Jon Bernard,
has led the way in the Cape Ann League by hosting several conversational
meetings with other district Superintendents about the possibility of changing
the school start times. There are many
logistical considerations involved with a change of the school start times that
would impact busing, athletic and extra-curricular activities, and other events
in the communities. These meetings and
conversations are the first step in exploring the possibilities for adjusting
school start times.
Our social and emotional committee P.A.U.S.E. (Public
Awareness and Understanding of Social Education) and our Wellness committee has
also been exploring this topic in greater detail over the past several
months. One team focused on the topic of
sleep and has been lead by parent member Marci Bailey, Middle School Principal
Cathy O’Connell, and Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Cynthia Conant. I have also had the pleasure of working
closely with this group to develop a survey that was shared with high school
students in the spring of 2016.
This survey contained
questions about the sleep habits, stress-levels, and well-being of our high
school students. The results of the
survey have been collected and analyzed by our team and we will be sharing the
data with the high school faculty, students, and school committee in the near
future. We believe there are many things
that each member of our school community (teachers, parents, students,
administrators) can do to help our students and we hope that our presentation
will advance that conversation among all stakeholders.
In addition, we will be forming a School Start Times
committee to look specifically at the benefits and concerns generated by
adjusting the school start times. Many
of the logistical obstacles, including after-school jobs and child-care, need
to be considered. There are several
districts who have overcome these challenges and we will be looking to those
case-studies as we explore the best decision for North Reading.
More specific information about the school start times committee
will be forthcoming, however if you have interest in participating please
contact me via email at pdaly@nrpsk12.org
at any time.
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