Today I open up my local paper, the Daily Local News, and on page two I read about my local school district changing the bus schedules to save money. Middle school children in one of the middle schools will now go from 7:30 am to 2 pm. The start time being changed to earlier by thirty minutes. With this change middle school kids and high school kids will be on the same buses, hence saving money. Four elementary schools will also be changed to any earlier time.
Then on page 7 in the same paper, I see an article on how even starting school 1/2 hour later can make huge performance changes in teenagers. "Giving students 30 extra minutes to start their school day lead to more alertness in class, better moods, less tardiness and even healthier breakfasts."
So does anyone on my West Chester Area School board even think about the health of the students and how to make the school day more productive for them? Does not seem so. Why does the school day have to start so early?
If school started later, kids might be able to walk or bike to school. Kids would have time for breakfast. Kids will be rested and more fit. With more sleep, more exericse and better food, a child's school day could be a whole new experience.
But why do this? Let's start them earlier and earlier to save money and make life easier for adults. And then let's all complain about students' poor performance and behavior in school.
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