MCPS HS Start-times need to be changed

[Anonymous]

Why is MCPS behind the curve on this important issue. There is so much research on the topic that teenagers need more sleep and that their biological clocks are wired for them to go to bed later and wake up later. CA is requiring all high schools to start no earlier than 8.30 am starting this fall:

https://hhsepitaph.com/12665/news/california-law-requires-new-bell-schedule-with-830-a-m-start-time/

[Anonymous]

Agreed. This topic was just discussed on Science Friday:

https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/teenagers-tired/

The researchers said that increased teen mental health issues are at least partly due to lack of sleep. I never thought of that connection before.
And that sleep deprived kids retain information at lower rates and are more likely to fight or misbehave at school

[Anonymous]

How would that work with buses? Are you willing to drive your kids? Your kids need to live in the real world. If they are not getting enough sleep, be a parent and have them go to bed earlier.

[Anonymous]

Agree OP. They should have ES kids go to schools early and HS go late, if they need to stagger bus times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree OP. They should have ES kids go to schools early and HS go late, if they need to stagger bus times.

So start ES at 7:30 am? Elementary schools are used as bus stops for magnet schools in the morning. It doesn’t work if the school is filled with kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is MCPS behind the curve on this important issue. There is so much research on the topic that teenagers need more sleep and that their biological clocks are wired for them to go to bed later and wake up later. CA is requiring all high schools to start no earlier than 8.30 am starting this fall:

https://hhsepitaph.com/12665/news/california-law-requires-new-bell-schedule-with-830-a-m-start-time/

ES kids have the same issues and there are only so many bus drivers. So it sounds like you are advocating for a tax hike to cover the added transportation costs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree OP. They should have ES kids go to schools early and HS go late, if they need to stagger bus times.

So start ES at 7:30 am? Elementary schools are used as bus stops for magnet schools in the morning. It doesn’t work if the school is filled with kids.

It seems like the OP only cares about HS-age kids and can't grasp how these decisions affect others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree OP. They should have ES kids go to schools early and HS go late, if they need to stagger bus times.

So start ES at 7:30 am? Elementary schools are used as bus stops for magnet schools in the morning. It doesn’t work if the school is filled with kids.

It seems like the OP only cares about HS-age kids and can't grasp how these decisions affect others.

Its easier to demand later start times for her or his precious HS students vs. parent them and enforce bed time.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you stopped to consider later start time would be an issue with activities and homework? If kids don't get home till 4:30, everything would just be shifted later and kids would go to bed later, so that really doesn't fix anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you stopped to consider later start time would be an issue with activities and homework? If kids don't get home till 4:30, everything would just be shifted later and kids would go to bed later, so that really doesn't fix anything.

That's funny. My younger kids go to private school and go to bed at reasonable times, even with activities. Late start times are so much healthier for teens. It's not like there is any medical expert who disagrees. It's funny how so many people claim to be concerned about kids' mental health but aren't willing to entertain this universally agreed-upon adjustment that would benefit the health of teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you stopped to consider later start time would be an issue with activities and homework? If kids don't get home till 4:30, everything would just be shifted later and kids would go to bed later, so that really doesn't fix anything.

That's funny. My younger kids go to private school and go to bed at reasonable times, even with activities. Late start times are so much healthier for teens. It's not like there is any medical expert who disagrees. It's funny how so many people claim to be concerned about kids' mental health but aren't willing to entertain this universally agreed-upon adjustment that would benefit the health of teenagers.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you stopped to consider later start time would be an issue with activities and homework? If kids don't get home till 4:30, everything would just be shifted later and kids would go to bed later, so that really doesn't fix anything.

It fixes them not getting their sleep disrupted idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree OP. They should have ES kids go to schools early and HS go late, if they need to stagger bus times.

So start ES at 7:30 am? Elementary schools are used as bus stops for magnet schools in the morning. It doesn’t work if the school is filled with kids.

It seems like the OP only cares about HS-age kids and can't grasp how these decisions affect others.

Its easier to demand later start times for her or his precious HS students vs. parent them and enforce bed time.

It’s easier to make snarky idiotic comments than to be educated of teen’s biological sleeping patterns.

[Anonymous]

This is routinely done in other states including one we came from. MCPS is in fact behind on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you stopped to consider later start time would be an issue with activities and homework? If kids don't get home till 4:30, everything would just be shifted later and kids would go to bed later, so that really doesn't fix anything.

That's funny. My younger kids go to private school and go to bed at reasonable times, even with activities. Late start times are so much healthier for teens. It's not like there is any medical expert who disagrees. It's funny how so many people claim to be concerned about kids' mental health but aren't willing to entertain this universally agreed-upon adjustment that would benefit the health of teenagers.

Younger kids are not high school kids. Your kids are probably not having homework and multiple activities, some twice a night do you don’t get it. They are not healthier. Going to bed at a decent hour is. So, if you had later start times, my kids could not start homework till after nine vs coming home, homework and early dinner then activities.