By: Emily Shwake

Is your teenage niece or nephew struggling in school? Are they fighting to stay awake in class? A new government report finds it might not be their fault. After reviewing data of nearly 40,000 public middle schools and high schools across the country, researchers have found that over 80 percent of schools ring the first bell way too early, that is, before 8:30 AM. According to the past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teenagers have a circadian rhythm (or a body clock) that is more delayed than adults or small children so this early wakeup time is especially detrimental.

“Getting enough sleep is important for students' health, safety and academic performance," said lead author of the report, Anne Wheaton, an epidemiologist in the CDC's division of population health. "Early school start times, however, are preventing many adolescents from getting the sleep they need."

Sleep deprivation can cause depression, obesity, poor academic performance, or can lead to unhealthy habits such as drinking, smoking and drug use. It is also dangerous to teens that are just beginning to drive.

While the early school hour should to change, it is unlikely. Most school districts say that changing school start times would raise busing costs, conflict with rush-hour traffic, or make it more difficult to schedule afterschool activities. If you are concerned and their school district isn’t responding, suggest to your niece or nephew that they start going to sleep earlier, or at least turning off their smartphones or TVs a bit earlier.

Photo: evgeny atamanenko
Published: August 16, 2015