School starts way too early

[smilin]

Does anybody else feel that starting school in the middle of the night might be a little too early.
Study after study show our kids don't get enough sleep. I look at my kids at 5:30 in the morning trying to wake up and get out the door and wonder: is this really good for the kids or is good for the school system?
I understand that schools, buses and staff need to be scheduled efficiently, but at what cost? Our older kids (middle school and up) fall asleep in school, on the bus and are tired all the time.
I don't know what the solution would be, but would be interested in seeing if anyone else thinks this is a problem.

 

[kwillia]

Does anybody else feel that starting school in the middle of the night might be a little too early.
Study after study show our kids don't get enough sleep. I look at my kids at 5:30 in the morning trying to wake up and get out the door and wonder: is this really good for the kids or is good for the school system?
I understand that schools, buses and staff need to be scheduled efficiently, but at what cost? Our older kids (middle school and up) fall asleep in school, on the bus and are tired all the time.
I don't know what the solution would be, but would be interested in seeing if anyone else thinks this is a problem.

My middle schooler gets up at 6 a.m. and catches the bus at 6:50. My high schooler gets up at 7 a.m. and catches the bus at 7:35. I think that is reasonable.

 

[White Buddah]

I don't have any kids, but I would think that it is a way of getting kids into the mindset of adults. I would love to be able to sleep in until 8 to be at work at 9. However, there are things to be done after work. IMO, there are things that kids should be doing after school: homework, chores, playing with friends outside, relaxing, and time with family.
I know I'll get blasted with comments about this since I don't know what it's like having kids, but we were all there at some point.

 

[jms]

I think alot of it depends on house close you are so the schools. My middle schooler is on the bus for almost 1 hour and she gets up at 5:30 and catches the bus at 6:15. My high schooler also gets up around 5:30 and catches the bus at 6:45.

 

[Larry Gude]

Sned them to bed...

Does anybody else feel that starting school in the middle of the night might be a little too early.
Study after study show our kids don't get enough sleep. I look at my kids at 5:30 in the morning trying to wake up and get out the door and wonder: is this really good for the kids or is good for the school system?
I understand that schools, buses and staff need to be scheduled efficiently, but at what cost? Our older kids (middle school and up) fall asleep in school, on the bus and are tired all the time.
I don't know what the solution would be, but would be interested in seeing if anyone else thinks this is a problem.

...earlier. One day, they are gonna face the horrors of JOBS that might require them to BE THERE at 5:30 am.

If school started at 9 or 10 or noon you'd let them stay up later, right?

 

[vbailey]

What ever happened to the (9:00 to 5:00) It seems to me that the work day starts so much earlier (7:00) and still goes till (5:00 )

 

[sockgirl77]

As a kid I got up with my mom at 4:30 and went to daycare. My senior year my bus ride was over an hour long so I got up at 4:30 to catch the bus at 6:00. I survived. :shrug:

 

[White Buddah]

As a kid I got up with my mom at 4:30 and went to daycare. My senior year my bus ride was over an hour long so I got up at 4:30 to catch the bus at 6:00. I survived. :shrug:

I had a long ride on the bus in high school myself. It was a great time to chit chat, wake up, have some breakfast on the go (when possible), and even try to do homework. It gets you ready for the "real world" of commuting.

 

[MMDad]

What are they going to need to do when they are 18 and out of high school? When are we going to teach them that they actually have to get up in the morning and do something?

I am not aware of any profession that allows you to sleep in as late as you want because you stayed up too late partying with your homies. Especially not those professions that a HS diploma or GED qualify someone for.

School isn't only about learning the ABC's and 123's. It's also about learning the rules of society and how to live within them. Teaching kids to get out of bed, get moving, and be productive before lunchtime is something they will eventually have to learn. Why not make it a habit now?

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Does anybody else feel that starting school in the middle of the night might be a little too early.
Study after study show our kids don't get enough sleep.

I don't think it has anything to do with the time they wake up. If you want your child to get a good night's rest, make sure they go to bed at a reasonable time AND w/out having the television on all night.

 

[White Buddah]

...earlier. One day, they are gonna face the horrors of JOBS that might require them to BE THERE at 5:30 am.

If school started at 9 or 10 or noon you'd let them stay up later, right?

That be the school's job and not the parents.

 

[Larry Gude]

Man...

That be the school's job and not the parents.

...ain't that the truth. Some friends have two grandkids that just need some parenting to be really good kids yet that is what the parents say, both of them; it's the schools fault!

Out of control, won't listen, speech problems etc. Yet, they come over my house they are well behaved, take correction well and just fun to be around because I was taught by the best. The problems start when their folks arrive.

 

[thebird]

I don't have any kids, but I would think that it is a way of getting kids into the mindset of adults. I would love to be able to sleep in until 8 to be at work at 9. However, there are things to be done after work. IMO, there are things that kids should be doing after school: homework, chores, playing with friends outside, relaxing, and time with family.
I know I'll get blasted with comments about this since I don't know what it's like having kids, but we were all there at some point.

I have a son and totally agree with you. When they are adults, they are going to need to be woken up earlier so they may as well get used to it now. It'll be rougher on them in the future if we let them sleep as long as they want and base our schedules around them. My son gets up with me every morning at the same time...people just need to get their children in bed at earlier hours instead of letting them stay up all night!

 

[bresamil]

My kids go to bed at 9 whenever possible - sometimes the oldest stays up a little longer to finish homework or study. Big one gets up at 5:30 to shower, dress, eat and generally wake up - but his bus doesn't come until 7:15. The other 2 get up at 6. One dresses and walks the dog right away. Their bus comes at 6:50. They all have to eat at home because the buses don't allow eating. When they get home, the youngest will walk the dog and middle kid starts homework. The oldest normally crashes for 45 minutes, unless he stays after school, then starts his routine. Generally they are back out of the house by 4:30 or 5 depending whether it is dance night, soccer night, basketball night, or cheer night and get back home between 7 and 8.
They SAY they're tired but they seem to have plenty of energy if they see teammates or friends. They chose their activities, but if grades slip, the extracurriculars go away.

All that being said...when I was in school it started later, I went to bed earlier, I didn't have 1/10th of the extra activities they have and I still slept in on Saturdays to catch up on my rest.

 

[smilin]

I see both sides. The first says I have to do it, so why not let the kids get used to it.
I get my kids in bed by 1000 at the latest, but they toss and turn until later.
Several years ago they changed the opening times for High School until after the middle school.
I wonder if this did anything?
Maybe starting times for HS at 900 am, MS at 800, ES at 700.

 

[sockgirl77]

I see both sides. The first says I have to do it, so why not let the kids get used to it.
I get my kids in bed by 1000 at the latest, but they toss and turn until later.
Several years ago they changed the opening times for High School until after the middle school.
I wonder if this did anything?
Maybe starting times for HS at 900 am, MS at 800, ES at 700.

Why in the hell would you start the little kids before the big kids?

 

[smilin]

We have almost the same routine:
Up at 545,make their breakfast, out the door at 650.
When they get back at around 220 pm they walk the dog, make snacks, homework, sports until 730 -800. Dinner, then bed 900 - 1000.
They also do after school activities: SCA, sports and clubs.
Whew - no wonder they are tired.

 

[smilin]

Why in the hell would you start the little kids before the big kids?

Because the little kids don't have as many responsibilties or as much studying to do as the older ones.
Why not?

 

[MMDad]

Because the little kids don't have as many responsibilties or as much studying to do as the older ones.
Why not?

Wouldn't it make more sense to have the high school kids go to school earlier so that they are prepared for the real world when they graduate?

I doubt that McDonalds is going to wait until 10:00 to start breakfast so that little Johnny can sleep in after he graduates. I would guess they want him there a little bit earlier.

Likewise, most construction jobs start at sunrise. Most people on base and their contractors start at 7-7:30.

It makes far more sense to send the high school kids to school earlier since they are the ones who will need to be getting up early once they graduate.

By the way, the "they have more responsibilities" argument fails because neither option creates more than 24 hours in a day. They would have just as much time to get things done.

It's just a matter of if we want to teach them responsibility while they are still in school, or let them learn it the hard way after they graduate.

 

[smilin]

...ain't that the truth. Some friends have two grandkids that just need some parenting to be really good kids yet that is what the parents say, both of them; it's the schools fault!

Out of control, won't listen, speech problems etc. Yet, they come over my house they are well behaved, take correction well and just fun to be around because I was taught by the best. The problems start when their folks arrive.

It amazes me to hear "it's the schools fault". These are professionals who work very hard trying to teach, while some of these knuckleheads in their classes get into trouble day after day.
My kids catch hell if they come home with a bus conduct problem much less some of the things my kids tell me they've seen. I don't understand what part of parent(ing) some people miss.
My kids aren't scared of the school - they are worried about what will happen if they screw up there and I find out.