Before the sun is up,

why should we be?

Studies prove teenagers need

more sleep than early school
start times allow.

Marissa Missan
Honors English 9
Period 7-8
Over 70% of Wilson High School
ninth graders would prefer
school to start 8am or later.
Schools should start no earlier than 8:00am.

• More sleep improves behavior and grades.

• Early school start times is a leading cause of

sleep deprivation.
 Science

• Melatonin is a natural hormone that promotes

sleep.

("The Early Bird Gets the Bad Grade“).

 Minneapolis and Norway
Minneapolis (Mylinski, "In the Arms of Morpheus - The Minneapolis Experiment.")

• Start time changed from 7:15am to 8:40am:

• Decrease in poor attendance and sleeping
during classes
• Increased participation

Norway (Tenth Graders) (Vedaa, et al.)

• Test school had better results than control

school
 Opposing Viewpoints Refuted
Montgomery
• Multiple trips solved the bus scheduling issue.
(Nakashima, “Montgomery to Study Teens’ Sleep Needs; Panel to Consider Changing School Times.“)

Virginia
• Rush hour commute resolved by offering
teachers different schools to work in.
(Wax, Teachers Torn; later Start Time for Arlington High Schools May Drive Away Many Wary of Rush Hour.”)
 What Can You Do?

• Educate the school board

• Make students and teachers aware of

teenage sleep statistics
 Summary

• Science - Melatonin
• Beneficial results - Academics, Health,
Behavioral
• Obstacles can be overcome with innovative
thinking and awareness
 Works Cited
Kalish , Nancy. "The Early Bird Gets the Bad Grade." The New York Times. n.p., 14 Jan. 2008. Web. 16 May 2012.

“Arlington Public Schools Quick Facts.” http://www.apsva.us. Arlington Public Schools, Mar. 2012. Web. 16 May

2012.

Myslinski, Norbert R. "In the Arms of Morpheus - The Minneapolis Experiment." World and I Dec. (2000): 130.

Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 18 May 2012.

Nakashima, Ellen. “Montgomery to Study Teens’ Sleep Needs; Panel to Consider Changing School Times."

Washington Post 21 Apr. (1998): B04. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 18 May 2012.

Vedaa, Oystein, et al. “School Start time, Sleepiness And Functioning In Norwegian Adolescents.” Scandinavian

Journal Of Education Research 56.1 (2012): 55-76. Education Resource Information Center.. Web. 15

May 2012.

Wax, Emily. “Teachers Torn; later Start Time for Arlington High Schools May Drive Away Many Wary of Rush

Hour.” Washington Post 15 Dec. (2000): B01. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 May 2012.