MCPS HS Start-times need to be changed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is such a nasty conversation but there were many many hours spent on this several years ago and the end result was that times moved by 15 minutes or something. The primary problems were:
- bus routes were challenging and no good way to get the MS and ES kids to school at reasonable times with a later HS bus route
— babysitting issues with HS kids needed to watch/pick up siblings after school (which also relates to the first—that’s why they can’t make the ES start at 7:30 instead of the HS)
— sports issues because if you start school later kids will be playing practicing until well last dark. Can’t do morning practices because can’t afford extra activities buses.

IME, all of it could be worked out if we had universal child care, and none of it will be worked out because we don’t have universal child care.
—

A
It works in many states and school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a nasty conversation but there were many many hours spent on this several years ago and the end result was that times moved by 15 minutes or something. The primary problems were:
- bus routes were challenging and no good way to get the MS and ES kids to school at reasonable times with a later HS bus route
— babysitting issues with HS kids needed to watch/pick up siblings after school (which also relates to the first—that’s why they can’t make the ES start at 7:30 instead of the HS)
— sports issues because if you start school later kids will be playing practicing until well last dark. Can’t do morning practices because can’t afford extra activities buses.

IME, all of it could be worked out if we had universal child care, and none of it will be worked out because we don’t have universal child care.
—

A
It works in many states and school districts.

Well, sports are optional and shouldn't be a factor in deciding this.
Daycare is a legitimate concern that could be addressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a high school teacher and I wish some of you parents who are against this could come see period 1 classes in high school. One-third of the students have their head down and are asleep. Another handful come late or miss period 1 because they overslept. A few other kids are awake but look tired and say they cannot focus because they are too tired. It is a complete waste. All the teachers at my school complain about the same thing. We feel so bad for the kids because we know that teenagers have a later biological clock and also need more sleep.

And most high schools try not to schedule core classes for first period! It’s a known problem. They need to move start times back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a high school teacher and I wish some of you parents who are against this could come see period 1 classes in high school. One-third of the students have their head down and are asleep. Another handful come late or miss period 1 because they overslept. A few other kids are awake but look tired and say they cannot focus because they are too tired. It is a complete waste. All the teachers at my school complain about the same thing. We feel so bad for the kids because we know that teenagers have a later biological clock and also need more sleep.

And most high schools try not to schedule core classes for first period! It’s a known problem. They need to move start times back.

Yes, I remember this being a problem when I was a teenager and see it in my children. Had trouble going to sleep at my 9:00 bedtime my parents gave me. I would lie awake for hours and always put my head down in 1st period to try to sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a nasty conversation but there were many many hours spent on this several years ago and the end result was that times moved by 15 minutes or something. The primary problems were:
- bus routes were challenging and no good way to get the MS and ES kids to school at reasonable times with a later HS bus route
— babysitting issues with HS kids needed to watch/pick up siblings after school (which also relates to the first—that’s why they can’t make the ES start at 7:30 instead of the HS)
— sports issues because if you start school later kids will be playing practicing until well last dark. Can’t do morning practices because can’t afford extra activities buses.

IME, all of it could be worked out if we had universal child care, and none of it will be worked out because we don’t have universal child care.
—

A
It works in many states and school districts.

Yeah I think it's becoming more and more common. Was talking with my SIL over the holiday and their district reversed start times a few years ago. Its a smaller district but they grappled with similar challenges such as shared buses and sports. And its been....fine. They're in a state that is not exactly known for strong education overall but it was treated a a common sense change supported by research and child development.

If afternoon childcare is truly the issue that's preventing this change in MCPS (cause clearly they don't care about childcare issues in the morning) then there's no reason why they can't throw some money at that to provide aftercare subsidies for families who need it.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t Loudon announce a pretty sweeping change to start times for next year? Will be interesting to see if other area districts follow suit. I know it’s something I’ll follow on as my (now ES) kids get older. Not something I’d singularly move for but DH’s job is likely to take us away from the DMV for a couple years, so I think we would re-evaluate area school districts with fresh eyes upon returning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure tomorrow will be a wasted day for high schoolers. They will all be so tired. I’m dreading trying to get my kid up in the morning

You should try giving them a bedtime. I know parenting is hard, but they will be less tired with a good nights sleep.

Ha ha! I’m a pretty strong parent. You clearly don’t have teenagers. My kid will often go to bed at 10 but says he can’t fall asleep until 11 or later. The weekends also mess him up since he will sleep late on weekends to catch up on sleep. And now with AP exams around the corner, he is very stressed and anxious

11-6 or 6:30 is fine. Yes, I do have teenagers. Mine are like yours and take a long time to fall asleep but thankfully they don't need that much sleep and are fine. School is their "job" or responsibility and they just get up and don't complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure tomorrow will be a wasted day for high schoolers. They will all be so tired. I’m dreading trying to get my kid up in the morning

You should try giving them a bedtime. I know parenting is hard, but they will be less tired with a good nights sleep.

Ha ha! I’m a pretty strong parent. You clearly don’t have teenagers. My kid will often go to bed at 10 but says he can’t fall asleep until 11 or later. The weekends also mess him up since he will sleep late on weekends to catch up on sleep. And now with AP exams around the corner, he is very stressed and anxious

11-6 or 6:30 is fine. Yes, I do have teenagers. Mine are like yours and take a long time to fall asleep but thankfully they don't need that much sleep and are fine. School is their "job" or responsibility and they just get up and don't complain.

7 hrs sleep is not enough for most teens but since yours power through it’s all fine and dandy? Ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure tomorrow will be a wasted day for high schoolers. They will all be so tired. I’m dreading trying to get my kid up in the morning

You should try giving them a bedtime. I know parenting is hard, but they will be less tired with a good nights sleep.

Ha ha! I’m a pretty strong parent. You clearly don’t have teenagers. My kid will often go to bed at 10 but says he can’t fall asleep until 11 or later. The weekends also mess him up since he will sleep late on weekends to catch up on sleep. And now with AP exams around the corner, he is very stressed and anxious

11-6 or 6:30 is fine. Yes, I do have teenagers. Mine are like yours and take a long time to fall asleep but thankfully they don't need that much sleep and are fine. School is their "job" or responsibility and they just get up and don't complain.

7 hrs sleep is not enough for most teens but since yours power through it’s all fine and dandy? Ok.

That's what I did as a teen except on the nights I worked until 2am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a high school teacher and I wish some of you parents who are against this could come see period 1 classes in high school. One-third of the students have their head down and are asleep. Another handful come late or miss period 1 because they overslept. A few other kids are awake but look tired and say they cannot focus because they are too tired. It is a complete waste. All the teachers at my school complain about the same thing. We feel so bad for the kids because we know that teenagers have a later biological clock and also need more sleep.

And most high schools try not to schedule core classes for first period! It’s a known problem. They need to move start times back.

Yes, I remember this being a problem when I was a teenager and see it in my children. Had trouble going to sleep at my 9:00 bedtime my parents gave me. I would lie awake for hours and always put my head down in 1st period to try to sleep.

What worked for us was to simply move our clocks forward a couple of hours. It was just like they'd moved start times back and our children we so rested. You should try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure tomorrow will be a wasted day for high schoolers. They will all be so tired. I’m dreading trying to get my kid up in the morning

You should try giving them a bedtime. I know parenting is hard, but they will be less tired with a good nights sleep.

Ha ha! I’m a pretty strong parent. You clearly don’t have teenagers. My kid will often go to bed at 10 but says he can’t fall asleep until 11 or later. The weekends also mess him up since he will sleep late on weekends to catch up on sleep. And now with AP exams around the corner, he is very stressed and anxious

11-6 or 6:30 is fine. Yes, I do have teenagers. Mine are like yours and take a long time to fall asleep but thankfully they don't need that much sleep and are fine. School is their "job" or responsibility and they just get up and don't complain.

7 hrs sleep is not enough for most teens but since yours power through it’s all fine and dandy? Ok.

That's what I did as a teen except on the nights I worked until 2am.

What you only worked till 2am? The grocery store I worked at was open all night and I worked until 3am. And caught the 630am bus without fail every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a high school teacher and I wish some of you parents who are against this could come see period 1 classes in high school. One-third of the students have their head down and are asleep. Another handful come late or miss period 1 because they overslept. A few other kids are awake but look tired and say they cannot focus because they are too tired. It is a complete waste. All the teachers at my school complain about the same thing. We feel so bad for the kids because we know that teenagers have a later biological clock and also need more sleep.

And most high schools try not to schedule core classes for first period! It’s a known problem. They need to move start times back.

Yes, I remember this being a problem when I was a teenager and see it in my children. Had trouble going to sleep at my 9:00 bedtime my parents gave me. I would lie awake for hours and always put my head down in 1st period to try to sleep.

What worked for us was to simply move our clocks forward a couple of hours. It was just like they'd moved start times back and our children we so rested. You should try it.

Yes, but I’m not a moron like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure tomorrow will be a wasted day for high schoolers. They will all be so tired. I’m dreading trying to get my kid up in the morning

You should try giving them a bedtime. I know parenting is hard, but they will be less tired with a good nights sleep.

Ha ha! I’m a pretty strong parent. You clearly don’t have teenagers. My kid will often go to bed at 10 but says he can’t fall asleep until 11 or later. The weekends also mess him up since he will sleep late on weekends to catch up on sleep. And now with AP exams around the corner, he is very stressed and anxious

11-6 or 6:30 is fine. Yes, I do have teenagers. Mine are like yours and take a long time to fall asleep but thankfully they don't need that much sleep and are fine. School is their "job" or responsibility and they just get up and don't complain.

7 hrs sleep is not enough for most teens but since yours power through it’s all fine and dandy? Ok.

That's what I did as a teen except on the nights I worked until 2am.

What you only worked till 2am? The grocery store I worked at was open all night and I worked until 3am. And caught the 630am bus without fail every day.

I had to walk home. In the snow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure tomorrow will be a wasted day for high schoolers. They will all be so tired. I’m dreading trying to get my kid up in the morning

You should try giving them a bedtime. I know parenting is hard, but they will be less tired with a good nights sleep.

Ha ha! I’m a pretty strong parent. You clearly don’t have teenagers. My kid will often go to bed at 10 but says he can’t fall asleep until 11 or later. The weekends also mess him up since he will sleep late on weekends to catch up on sleep. And now with AP exams around the corner, he is very stressed and anxious

11-6 or 6:30 is fine. Yes, I do have teenagers. Mine are like yours and take a long time to fall asleep but thankfully they don't need that much sleep and are fine. School is their "job" or responsibility and they just get up and don't complain.

7 hrs sleep is not enough for most teens but since yours power through it’s all fine and dandy? Ok.

This. Teens need a minimum of 8 hours. 9 is better. There are a lot of structural and physical changes going on in teens development. They are not mini-adults. Parents might know all this unless they are adolescent doctors, educators or psychologists but school districts do know this and should do what is best for this age group

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I meant that parents might not know this but school districts should put kids first