Early school bell costs teens vital sleep....gee ya think? how many geniuses did it take to realize this?

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http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/reuters06-05-130137.asp?t=renew&vts=6520051501

I think I complained about this ever since my 13th birthday. It's completely idiotic.
Right when I started HS, they moved the start time from 8:30 to 7:45. Middle schools started at 9:05, and elementary at 8:30. Even without the research that shows teens circadian rhythms are different than adults or younger kids, wouldn't it make sense to have a relatively late start time for high schoolers, who unlike grade schoolers are apt to work the closing shift at McDonald's? What is gained by ringing the bell at the buttcrack of dawn?

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 5 June 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

"children shouldn't be coddled"

― kingfish maximum overdrunk (Kingfish), Sunday, 5 June 2005 21:49 (twenty years ago)

Our high school started at 7.55, the junior high started at 8.25 and elementary started at 8.55. This setup was because of bussing schedules.

― suzy (suzy), Sunday, 5 June 2005 21:59 (twenty years ago)

Bus schedules are why they do it here, too. They have to use the same buses three times over everyday. Elementary school kids usually start earliest around here, but middle schoolers usually start latest.

― Ian Riese-Moraine forever! (Eastern Mantra), Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:05 (twenty years ago)

Right, I realize the staggard start is due to bussing, but wouldn't it make sense to start high schoolers last?

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:08 (twenty years ago)

I think HS started at 7.20 or 7.30

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:40 (twenty years ago)

High school should start at noon, if at all.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:58 (twenty years ago)

Wow, I'm pretty sure both my primary and high school started just before 9am (maybe 8.45?). Only early starrters were final year kids doing extra/advanced classes in English, maths etc, who had to fit them in before and after school.

― Trayce (trayce), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:14 (twenty years ago)

My high school started at 7:20. I think that contributed to the fact that I didn't stay long.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Monday, 6 June 2005 04:42 (twenty years ago)

Is this a particularly american thing? It seems really weird. Even normal jobs dont start before 8, usually!

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 6 June 2005 04:45 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, it's American idiocy. Here in the South, too, school starts before the peak of hurricane season. Some places start as early as the first day of August, like Panama City and Pensacola. School usually starts between the sixteenth and twenty-fourth here. Most places don't start until after Labour Day. The official (no-)reasoning behind starting so early has something to do with the fact that we have air conditioning (which was invented eighty miles from here in Apalachicola!).

― Ian Riese-Moraine. Sweeter than a lorry load of white Toblerones. (Eastern Mantr, Monday, 6 June 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

My school started at 7:25 (bus came at 6:45). The year after I graduated I think they pushed it up about half an hour...whatever, at least I'm not there anymore.

― Maria (Maria), Monday, 6 June 2005 11:56 (twenty years ago)

Our bus came at 7.10! We arrived at 7.30 or thereabouts and had time for cafeteria bagels and 'emergency homework'. I really liked the 7.55 start because that way, I was home at 3 or even finished the school day at 1.30 and headed downtown to hang out at record stores etc. My mom worked either 8-4 or 9-5, depending on the job and commute, but in America you don't have the 'school run' culture you get in Britain so there was no clash with her schedule and ours.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 6 June 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

Work down t'pit til gone midnight then up at 3 in t'morning for t'school bus.
If you tell t'kids of today that, they wouldn't believe you.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 6 June 2005 12:30 (twenty years ago)

in America you don't have the 'school run' culture you get in Britain

That just because you all get cars for your tenth birthdayisn;t it?

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Monday, 6 June 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

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