Teenagers all over Minnesota suffer from exhaustion. Young children have been lacking physical activity. Teens are not making the most out of their given high school experience. One main reason for this is that they must wake up before 8:00am for school, losing sleep. Even though this is easily implemented and not too complicated to fix, there are still very many schools across Minnesota that have not addressed this problem. Though this schedule has been refined for many years, primary and secondary schools need to swap start times. This will decrease adolescent exhaustion and increase a teen’s ability to retain knowledge and has the potential to dramatically change the future of America.  

Facts:

• 31% of Students in USA suffer from frequent fatigue
• High and Middle School Students do not get enough sleep

Studies on this topic by the University of Minnesota found that by delaying classes, there was;

• improved attendance and enrollment
• Less sleeping in class
• Less student reported Depression
• Fewer student visits to school counselors for behavioral and peer issues
• More even temperament at home

The solution to this problem is simple. Since school day schedules need to change, make high and middle school classes start after elementary school. This gives more time for high school students to wake up, (some naturally) prepare for school (even do some morning homework), and better consume the given material.

So why have less than 20% of American schools implemented this?  

With this adjustment comes some scheduling with high school sports, childcare, and parents’ schedules. Most high school sports are scheduled after school, while being active before school has been scientifically proven to be beneficial to daytime liveliness and to decrease stress. Another roadblock to a change like this childcare for elementary students, and the cost changes. Though this is a drawback, a solution to this is a post elementary school childcare opt-in for a small fee. These younger students can also be bussed to their sports after school, and that is a form of childcare while they also get the activity their young bodies need as opposed to sitting at home on their devices, as they would in the mornings before school. Lastly, parents’ schedules have been built around the existing schedule, and though this change could alter these schedules, it is a small price to pay for a great lasting change improving the future of America. 

Overall, this simple adjustment will improve the wellbeing of students of all ages and decrease costs of childcare and improve preparation of the upcoming generation. Without this rescheduling, students will continue to struggle in base level classes and young kids will keep drowning in the depths of the internet. Though there are concerns over the ripple effects of changing the schedule, the net outcome of a rescheduling will better society.