<p>" But the kids who have to get up earliest – the high schoolers – have to get up even earlier to catch those extremely early buses, unless they have some other way of getting to school. "</p>
<p>-So, they will do some homework at school in early hours instead of late hours in a evening. There is always way to adjust in each family situation, it is much harder to adjust when mandates are coming from above.</p>
<p>Why not discuss this in this thread? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/861998-high-school-start-times-too-early-any-changes.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/861998-high-school-start-times-too-early-any-changes.html</a></p>
<p>It looks like earthmother did contribute to the older thread prior to starting this one. I think maybe she started this one to deal more specifically with promoting legislation for school start times.</p>
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<p>In your dreams. They’re not going to do their homework while sitting on the floor in a school corridor unless there’s a test first period, in which case they might engage in some desperate cramming. Indeed, considering the need for a computer with Internet access to do a lot of high school homework, it would not be possible for them to complete many of their assignments during the dead time they spend at school before classes start.</p>
<p>In real life, at least in my neighborhood, they go across the street to the shopping center and stuff themselves full of caffeine and junk food until the bell rings. McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Starbucks are all full of high school students starting at around 6:45, when the buses begin to drop them off, until 7:25, when school actually starts.</p>
<p>In real life one thing happens again and again. Very loud voices making everybody else to adjust to their own schedules and situations. No matter who said what I do not call it fair, I call it obnoxious and will never change my mind. But again, it does not matter to those with loud voices, they will continue demanding federal mandates and such, so everybody else are left with no choices but obey what they want. Warning, when people left with no choices, at the end it does not work for anybody but you would not know that and you would not take it from those who do.</p>
<p>We couldn’t do this in my area. The high schools already have split schedules to accommodate overcrowding. There are some things that should really be left alone. In our national time of difficulties, the people who can prioritize this issue are remarkably blessed. I hope they appreciate their good fortune.</p>
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<p>I see no huge difference between a federal mandate and local school districts imposing their preferred schedules on people, regardless of effects on families. Either way, somebody else is dictating your family’s schedule without regard to your family’s specific situation.</p>
<p>This is a problem with no solution. As was said above, budgetary constraints led to busdrivers having multiple routes for the elementary/middle/high schools, after-school activities further challenge scheduling, and overcrowding leads to split schedules (this was true in my HS back in the dark ages- I began school at 7:20 am). Even if more schools are built to address overcrowding, the transportation and scheduling issues remain. </p>
<p>My kids school didnt start until 8 am, but it was 30 miles/an hr away. When they rode the bus they were at the stop before 7 am, and got home at close to 5. If they stayed for an after school activity and took the second bus, they got home around 7. When they drove themselves they left the house by 7:15 or so. So this issue exists for public and private schools. </p>
<p>While agree in theory, and research supports, that students perform better with a later start time, unless we curtail after school sports/activities, pour tons of money into budgets (ie raise taxes) or add more hours to the day, there simply doesn’t seem to be a workable solution.</p>
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Based on your posts, it doesn’t seem that your kids’ lives were ruined! </p>
<p>There are all sorts of things we would like if we had magic wands and could design our perfect world, but when we live in an imperfect world with other people, we have to prioritize. We have a significant transportation problem in my area. Two schoolkids were killed last year as a result, so for me, making sure kids are on buses and there are crossing guards trumps start times any day. As my friend romanigypsyeyes said earlier, put the kids to bed earlier. Let them not watch tv, let them take a nap on Sunday. Do not encourage a federal mandate that will have unintended consequences for people who may have different priorities than yours. And if this is really such a high priority for you, you should be counting your blessings rather than trying to impose upon other people.</p>
<p>A big vote NO for anything related to legislating this issue. Every community has to find its way based on their district and what they feel works best for them.
(And circadian rhythm studies have been suspect for 30 years.)</p>
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Exactly. So far, so good. Of course us old geezer parents who had to get them to the centrally located bus stop (usually at a shopping center) before the bus got there at 7 am, now THAT was a killer!</p>
<p>All kidding aside, I used to be scared to death when the kids carpooled to/from school in heavy, large city, rush hour highway traffic, functioning on very little sleep. The good news is they learned early on how to manage highway driving and rush hour traffic. That said, not everyone did. They lost 3 classmates in auto accidents (2 of the 3 were commuting to/from school) that I can think of off the top of my head. Truly tragic. During the last 2 yrs of older s’s HS, he drove younger s to/from school. I cannot tell you how many times I crossed my fingers, knowing that my family (well, not my DH, but you know what I mean) was in that car. Scared me to death. Still does just thinking about it.</p>
<p>Again, I sympathize with the topic, as inthe ideal world I would lvoe for the kids sleep patterns to match their natural biorhythms. Hormonal changes do affect their sleep patterns. However, the way their schedules currently exist, there is no solution I can see. If we were able cut back on the pressure for these kids to participate in a million extra curriculars, whould that really change anything? Maybe a little.</p>
<p>I mean its true… every study shows that the high school students should go to school later cause they are tired. The frigging elementary school kids should go to school early since they get up at the crack of dawn.</p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6300 using CC App</p>
<p>“I see no huge difference between a federal mandate and local school districts imposing their preferred schedules on people, regardless of effects on families.”
-You do not and I do. School matters are local issues IMO. Federal government is already way too overblown and stick nose into business that should not be its agenda at all. Dictatorship has never been successful. this issue has to be voted on locally, local majority should decide. However, it might be not even possible as many indicate. How dictatorial federal govenrment should be aware of what is going on locally? There is a reason why public schools issues should be decided locally.</p>
<p>My hs started at 7:15. We had a lot of snow in the winter and on the majority of those days teenagers were on the road before they had been plowed or rocked. It was not uncommon to see several accidents per week in Jan and Feb. We also pretty much slept through 1st period.
The parents were told the same stories mentioned here–it was because of the buses!</p>
<p>When we got a new superintendent, the start time was changed to 8 am. Seems he figured out how to schedule those buses! The students and parents even petitioned the hs not to offer certain AP classes first period as no one could learn anything at that time anyway (now 8 am). The teachers agreed that 2nd period grades were on average 5% higher than 1st period grades. The result, no AP 1st period! </p>
<p>Sorry for those of you that have hs’s that put student needs second. I think they forgot what business they’re in!</p>
<p>Why would kids be driving to school if there are buses? I’m not a fan of high school kids driving to school if there are alternatives.</p>
<p>^ Because kids have to work and I would think an 16-18 year old is mature to take themself to school…</p>
<p>Madsmile, so true, when my kids were little they were up at the crack of dawn, now as teens they are exhausted have to drag them out of bed! Switch it around and let the little ones go in early! Those of you who were complaining about daycare, problem solved, no before school care needed, as for after school programs they generally have great ones in the Elementary Schools for after school care and are quite affordable.</p>
<p>The EC thing is a whole different can of worms. In my opinion we have gone overboard on the whole thing. Practicing 5 to 6 days a week or spending 2 to 3 hours everyday after school to do anything is crazy. Most of these kids will never become professional football or field hockey players, why do we have them invest so much time in one thing, how about a reasonable 3 days a week practice giving two days to explore other interests and passions or even just have two days a week to get caught up on work and sleep or do “gasp” nothing. We would probably have more well rounded, better rested and happier kids…We truly have gotten out of control in our society but as I said that is a whole different argument!</p>
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16 year-olds can’t drive everywhere. They can’t do so here. I can see a senior driving, but not younger than that. I’m a big believer in public transportation where it exists. I also think every kid should be on a school bus. The last thing we need is more teenagers on the road.</p>
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Not everywhere. Definitely not here.</p>
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<p>How many kids who take Calculus for semesters on end because math professionals?</p>