為什么推遲開學時間是個好主意

為什么推遲開學時間是個好主意

California has become the first state in the nation to push back school start times.

加州成為美國第一個推遲開學時間的州。

Chronic sleep deprivation in teens has been linked to lower test scores. (Photo: michaeljung/Shutterstock)

It will affect most public middle and high schools, which have three years to institute the changes, according to the L.A. Times.

據(jù)《洛杉磯時報》報道，這將影響到大多數(shù)公立初中和高中，它們有三年的時間來實施這些改變。

It's a question that has lingered for years, pitting the research of what teenage bodies need vs. the reality of modern school schedules.

這個問題已經存在了多年，它將青少年身體需要什么與現(xiàn)代學校課程表的現(xiàn)實相比較。

California's law will set middle school start times at no earlier than 8 a.m. and high school start times at no later than 8:30 a.m.

加州法律規(guī)定，中學上課時間不得早于上午8點，高中上課時間不得晚于上午8點30分。

The domino effect

多米諾效應

Many school districts have carefully organized bus schedules to get kids of all ages to their elementary, middle and high schools on time. (Photo: Stuart Monk/Shutterstock)

Despite the health benefits associated with more sleep for teens, changing school schedules comes at a cost that some school administrators find too steep to accommodate.

盡管多睡覺對青少年的健康有益，但改變學校的課程表卻要付出代價，一些學校的管理者覺得這代價太大了，難以承受。

One additional hour of sleep is, on average, estimated to increase the probability of high school graduation by 13.3 percent and college attendance rate by 9.6 percent, says RAND. This impacts their ability to get a job, to get a higher paying job, and to contribute to the economy down the line.

蘭德說，平均而言，每多睡一個小時，高中畢業(yè)的可能性就會增加13.3%，大學入學率就會增加9.6%。這影響了他們找到工作的能力，找到高薪工作的能力，以及對經濟的貢獻。

A few hurdles remain

仍然存在一些障礙

Keep the trickle-down effect in mind. If schools start later, after-school activities like sports will start later, and your evening family schedule may change, too. (Photo: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock)

One solution that has worked in some districts is to keep bus schedules the same but swap the start times for elementary and high schools. An earlier start time might work better for younger students who are more likely to hit the hay earlier and wake up earlier each day. But this might also mean that little kids — who need at least 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night — may need to go to bed just after dinner. Logistically, it's never easy to alter the family schedule.

在一些地區(qū)行之有效的一個解決方案是保持公交時刻表不變，但將起始時間改為小學和高中。更早的上課時間可能對更年輕的學生更有效，因為他們更有可能早睡早起。但這也可能意味著，每天至少需要10到11個小時睡眠的小孩子可能需要在晚飯后上床睡覺。從邏輯上講，改變家庭時間表從來都不是一件容易的事情。

Another big issue affecting the decision to change school start times is sports. If schools start later, they'll presumably end later, too, giving students less time for after-school activities, including clubs, jobs and those all-important sports. Many student athletes already miss some school time to attend away games and practices. Moving the school day back means teens will miss even more school or face having to decide between sports and their studies.

另一個影響改變上課時間決定的大問題是體育。如果學校上課較晚，那么放學時間也會較晚，這樣一來，學生參加課外活動的時間就會減少，這些活動包括俱樂部、工作和那些最重要的體育活動。許多學生運動員已經錯過了一些學校時間去參加客場比賽和訓練。把上學時間往后挪意味著青少年將會錯過更多的學校時間，或者不得不在運動和學業(yè)之間做出選擇。

Benefits all around

相關的好處

Well-rested teens take fewer sick days and are less susceptible to sports injuries. (Photo: PAKULA PIOTR/Shutterstock)

Some of the major advantages of the allowing students to get the amount of sleep they need each night is that well-rested teens take fewer sick days and are less susceptible to sports injuries. For school districts where federal funding is based on student attendance, fewer absentees could equate to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in additional funds.

允許學生獲得他們每晚所需的睡眠量的一些主要好處是，休息良好的青少年很少生病，更不容易受到運動傷害。對于聯(lián)邦資金以學生出勤率為基礎的學區(qū)，缺勤人數(shù)的減少可能意味著數(shù)十萬甚至數(shù)百萬美元的額外資金。

So while students may have less time in the evenings for after-school activities, they may be able to make more out of the time they do have if they get a better night's sleep.

因此，雖然學生們晚上參加課外活動的時間可能會減少，但如果他們晚上睡得好，他們就能充分利用這些時間。

The financial and logistical hindrances to altering school start times are daunting, but considering the health benefits that could be gained, it seems California has the right idea.

改變上學時間的財政和后勤障礙令人生畏，但考慮到可以獲得的健康益處，加州似乎有了正確的想法。