I do not support late start times due to this not meeting the needs of all students. It is a pendulum swinging from one side to the other. If we truly believe in personalized learning we would allow for more of a flex schedule for students especially at the high school. This would allow those children that look for a later start time to have the opportunity to start later and those that don't want a later start time to start at the usual time. Aren't we preaching at ORCSD that one size does NOT fit all?
A
Andrea St Ours
10 years ago
I am against a later start time. They are already home late enough from after school activities. I agree with others that the amount of homework given should be looked at. A later start time will not help. Kids will just go to bed later catching up on homework after a later game or practice. They also need to learn that life starts early in the real world.
E
Emily Spear
10 years ago
I do not support a later start time. Ditto to many of the arguments so eloquently stated here.
J
Jeannette Allyson
10 years ago
I support keeping the start times as is.
T
Tricia robar
10 years ago
I do not support a later start
C
Clark Williams
10 years ago
I do not support later start times.
K
Kristin Forselius
10 years ago
It's the right thing for our kids' health and that comes first!
N
Nicoletta Gullace
10 years ago
I do not favor moving back start times. Many parents work and need to know that their children are safely on the bus before they leave for their places of employment. This issue comes up often in our District, causing intense anxiety among working parents who will not be able to make it to their offices in time if the buses come later. Furthermore, 60% of the children in our district participate in after school sports. The change in start times (and consequent moving back of end times) will wreak havoc with athletic schedules and result in kids with late-running after school sports getting home even later than they do now. Other ways to increase the amount of time children have to sleep would be to a) reduce the amount of homework they get b) abolish the gym requirement for athletes, so kids can take an extra study hall at school to finish homework or c) get rid of Advisory. It might also be an idea to award High School credit for the excellent 8th Grade Health course, which essentially duplicates everything taught in HS Health. Creative reducing of the number of courses kids are required to take could provide valuable study-hall time that would help kids get to bed after they finish after school activities. While my kids would love to sleep later, I think the big problem is that they have to start the grind of academic work again after a full day of school, two-hours of sports practices and a variety of Theater, Music and Community Service Activities. My feeling is that those activities are more valuable than much of the homework they get. I'd like to see the District try to carve out more study hall time, especially for kids with busy schedules.
D
David Keslar
10 years ago
As I have read both sides of this debate, I feel that there are some very good points on both sides. I agree that sleep is vital to our childs development but from the studies I have read, I am not confident that changing the times of school is going to address the issue. We need to educate our children on the importance of sleep and take responsibility to make sure that they are getting the recommended amount of sleep. There are also many studies conducted that connect light from a screen (electronic device) to melatonin suppression and disruption in the quality of sleep. If your family is like mine, every child has a screen and it is our responsibility to make sure they do not spend too much time on their device and have adequate time away from the screen to maximize the quality of their sleep.
My vote is to NOT change the time school starts.
S
Sara wilson
10 years ago
While I do not dispute the science, I believe it is not looking at the effects on the student as a whole.
1. Athletics-this should not be an argument between sports kids and non sports kids. The success of our program reflects on the success of our school system which affects property values. Moreover any sport, school based or not, increase health, lower risky behavior and keep them busy. Mine don't do a school sanctioned sport but the sport they do participate in, would be affected. I'm sure the same goes for dance, karate, music lessons.
2. Homework. We are pushing the same amounts into a later time bracket. My kids are already up late doing homework. Moving everything in their life later will not help get them more sleep. We need to look at hw loads.
3. Jobs. Teaching responsibility, money management and financial freedom is way more important than an extra hour of sleep( in my humble opinion) time changes and juggling school work will directly affect the hours kids can work after school jobs.
4. Down time. This is so valuable. Many kids are so over scheduled. If we as parents aren't willing change that, we are taking away down time to just be a kid.
5. "Everyone gets a trophy generation" enabling kids to always want and expect accommodations creates entitled kids later. They need to figure it out. They need to know that society doesn't always bend to what they need.
It is my feeling that many of the outspoken people for change, do not yet have high schoolers. I may be mistaken. However, it's a lot easier to say how things should be rather than actually doing them or living them. Mine, if I wake them up at 6am or 9 am they can't get up regardless.
R
Rebecca Throop
10 years ago
I have studied all the information that I can on both sides of this issue. I've talked to people and thought long and hard. After initially supporting the concept, upon review of the pros and cons - there are Far more cons than pros. I FULLY support my children's health and well being. And that is one of the reasons that I am now against changing times. My kids get home late enough as it is, and this will further eat into family time - which is crucial for a child's wellbeing. Missing classes to participate in sports is already hard for kids. My 8th grader is already up late for after curricular time and homework - let alone starting all that later. HE is against the concept of the time change as it doesn't make sense to him either (and he loves sleep). I haven't heard anyone give any proof that this won't negatively impact our younger kids either - they are Just as important. This all aside from the socioeconomic factors, the district factors - I'd love for us all to have more hours in the day. But we don't. And in today's society - right or wrong - this just doesn't make sense.
L
Lisa McManus
10 years ago
I do not support changing the start time. Due to after school activities, my kids already get home late enough!
D
Darleen Smith
10 years ago
I strongly oppose a later start time for the older students. Having the experience of three family members whose districts have swapped start times - every one of them said it resulted in a negative impact on their family life. All four teenagers now just stay up later to make up for the fact they can sleep longer in the morning. These students now miss almost 2 full class periods to participate in athletic and academic events held at other schools. I would re-iterate everything already mentioned by Lynne Castonguay - parents need to take responsibility for kids getting enough sleep. Setting good habits while children are young will help them tremendously once they reach high school. Cutting down on screen time is the most important thing you can do for your child, and is a much easier and applicable fix than the one being proposed. I respect both opinions of this debate, but have already been able to see that at least for our extended family, it's intended good consequences were not at all realized.
C
Chris Wilson
10 years ago
The benefits do not outweigh the cons. Keep the start times the same.
V
Vicky Albert
10 years ago
As a Barrington resident who has a child at ORHS, I'd like to think I too have a voice here since this will impact our family. I am not in favor of a school start time change. I feel this will have negative consequences to our children and to surrounding communities. I appreciate and recognize the reasons for this consideration, however, not as part of its solution.
L
Liz Sowinski
10 years ago
I do not support a later start as this will not work for my family.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I support a later start time.
T
Talya Auger
10 years ago
I am an ORCSD alumna and a senior at Dickinson College and I do not support a later start time. Although it is very important for students to get enough sleep and be able to be alert and ready to learn when school begins, a later start time will cause an enormous disruption to after school activities, athletics, and student employment, causing further problems with academics. As someone who was on the swim team for 3 years in high school, a coordinator of Relay for Life, and worked several different jobs, as well as graduating top 4 in my class, I understand how important it is to have adequate time for after school activities. Many oyster river students attend college after graduation, and these extracurriculars can make or break an acceptance to a college or university. Even for those students who are not planning on attending college or do no participate in after school activities, a later start time can reduce the amount of time that can be spent on homework after school, causing students to stay up later, often causing students to lose even more sleep. In regards to drug use at OR--in college, earlier class times often stop students from drinking or doing drugs the night before. Students who have an 8AM class do not participate in parties, etc. while students who have classes at 10:30 or later are more comfortable staying up late and getting intoxicated. While I do not know of any further evidence supporting a correlation between drug use and start time, I can speak to the college experience and say that later start time means staying up later, which allows for more "night time" activities to take place. Please consider the real impact on students before making a change. Although OR prides itself on its progressive policies, making a change with such a broad affect may end up hurting more students than it could help.
F
Friends of Great Bay
10 years ago
Featured
I am not supportive of changing start times to where ORCSD is out of synch with the rest of the districts. A late dismissal will shut our kids out of afternoon opportunities for all sorts of activities and work/volunteering opportunities.
A
Amy Caldicott
10 years ago
Featured
I do not support later start times. When I mentioned it to my daughter, the first thing she said was "we will just stay up later"!
Seems like many supporting this have younger kids and maybe don't realize how busy high school students are. I respect all opinions, but for our family, a later start time doesn't make sense.
I do not support late start times due to this not meeting the needs of all students. It is a pendulum swinging from one side to the other. If we truly believe in personalized learning we would allow for more of a flex schedule for students especially at the high school. This would allow those children that look for a later start time to have the opportunity to start later and those that don't want a later start time to start at the usual time. Aren't we preaching at ORCSD that one size does NOT fit all?
I am against a later start time. They are already home late enough from after school activities. I agree with others that the amount of homework given should be looked at. A later start time will not help. Kids will just go to bed later catching up on homework after a later game or practice. They also need to learn that life starts early in the real world.
I do not support a later start time. Ditto to many of the arguments so eloquently stated here.
I support keeping the start times as is.
I do not support a later start
I do not support later start times.
It's the right thing for our kids' health and that comes first!
I do not favor moving back start times. Many parents work and need to know that their children are safely on the bus before they leave for their places of employment. This issue comes up often in our District, causing intense anxiety among working parents who will not be able to make it to their offices in time if the buses come later. Furthermore, 60% of the children in our district participate in after school sports. The change in start times (and consequent moving back of end times) will wreak havoc with athletic schedules and result in kids with late-running after school sports getting home even later than they do now. Other ways to increase the amount of time children have to sleep would be to a) reduce the amount of homework they get b) abolish the gym requirement for athletes, so kids can take an extra study hall at school to finish homework or c) get rid of Advisory. It might also be an idea to award High School credit for the excellent 8th Grade Health course, which essentially duplicates everything taught in HS Health. Creative reducing of the number of courses kids are required to take could provide valuable study-hall time that would help kids get to bed after they finish after school activities. While my kids would love to sleep later, I think the big problem is that they have to start the grind of academic work again after a full day of school, two-hours of sports practices and a variety of Theater, Music and Community Service Activities. My feeling is that those activities are more valuable than much of the homework they get. I'd like to see the District try to carve out more study hall time, especially for kids with busy schedules.
As I have read both sides of this debate, I feel that there are some very good points on both sides. I agree that sleep is vital to our childs development but from the studies I have read, I am not confident that changing the times of school is going to address the issue. We need to educate our children on the importance of sleep and take responsibility to make sure that they are getting the recommended amount of sleep. There are also many studies conducted that connect light from a screen (electronic device) to melatonin suppression and disruption in the quality of sleep. If your family is like mine, every child has a screen and it is our responsibility to make sure they do not spend too much time on their device and have adequate time away from the screen to maximize the quality of their sleep. My vote is to NOT change the time school starts.
While I do not dispute the science, I believe it is not looking at the effects on the student as a whole. 1. Athletics-this should not be an argument between sports kids and non sports kids. The success of our program reflects on the success of our school system which affects property values. Moreover any sport, school based or not, increase health, lower risky behavior and keep them busy. Mine don't do a school sanctioned sport but the sport they do participate in, would be affected. I'm sure the same goes for dance, karate, music lessons. 2. Homework. We are pushing the same amounts into a later time bracket. My kids are already up late doing homework. Moving everything in their life later will not help get them more sleep. We need to look at hw loads. 3. Jobs. Teaching responsibility, money management and financial freedom is way more important than an extra hour of sleep( in my humble opinion) time changes and juggling school work will directly affect the hours kids can work after school jobs. 4. Down time. This is so valuable. Many kids are so over scheduled. If we as parents aren't willing change that, we are taking away down time to just be a kid. 5. "Everyone gets a trophy generation" enabling kids to always want and expect accommodations creates entitled kids later. They need to figure it out. They need to know that society doesn't always bend to what they need. It is my feeling that many of the outspoken people for change, do not yet have high schoolers. I may be mistaken. However, it's a lot easier to say how things should be rather than actually doing them or living them. Mine, if I wake them up at 6am or 9 am they can't get up regardless.
I have studied all the information that I can on both sides of this issue. I've talked to people and thought long and hard. After initially supporting the concept, upon review of the pros and cons - there are Far more cons than pros. I FULLY support my children's health and well being. And that is one of the reasons that I am now against changing times. My kids get home late enough as it is, and this will further eat into family time - which is crucial for a child's wellbeing. Missing classes to participate in sports is already hard for kids. My 8th grader is already up late for after curricular time and homework - let alone starting all that later. HE is against the concept of the time change as it doesn't make sense to him either (and he loves sleep). I haven't heard anyone give any proof that this won't negatively impact our younger kids either - they are Just as important. This all aside from the socioeconomic factors, the district factors - I'd love for us all to have more hours in the day. But we don't. And in today's society - right or wrong - this just doesn't make sense.
I do not support changing the start time. Due to after school activities, my kids already get home late enough!
I strongly oppose a later start time for the older students. Having the experience of three family members whose districts have swapped start times - every one of them said it resulted in a negative impact on their family life. All four teenagers now just stay up later to make up for the fact they can sleep longer in the morning. These students now miss almost 2 full class periods to participate in athletic and academic events held at other schools. I would re-iterate everything already mentioned by Lynne Castonguay - parents need to take responsibility for kids getting enough sleep. Setting good habits while children are young will help them tremendously once they reach high school. Cutting down on screen time is the most important thing you can do for your child, and is a much easier and applicable fix than the one being proposed. I respect both opinions of this debate, but have already been able to see that at least for our extended family, it's intended good consequences were not at all realized.
The benefits do not outweigh the cons. Keep the start times the same.
As a Barrington resident who has a child at ORHS, I'd like to think I too have a voice here since this will impact our family. I am not in favor of a school start time change. I feel this will have negative consequences to our children and to surrounding communities. I appreciate and recognize the reasons for this consideration, however, not as part of its solution.
I do not support a later start as this will not work for my family.
I support a later start time.
I am an ORCSD alumna and a senior at Dickinson College and I do not support a later start time. Although it is very important for students to get enough sleep and be able to be alert and ready to learn when school begins, a later start time will cause an enormous disruption to after school activities, athletics, and student employment, causing further problems with academics. As someone who was on the swim team for 3 years in high school, a coordinator of Relay for Life, and worked several different jobs, as well as graduating top 4 in my class, I understand how important it is to have adequate time for after school activities. Many oyster river students attend college after graduation, and these extracurriculars can make or break an acceptance to a college or university. Even for those students who are not planning on attending college or do no participate in after school activities, a later start time can reduce the amount of time that can be spent on homework after school, causing students to stay up later, often causing students to lose even more sleep. In regards to drug use at OR--in college, earlier class times often stop students from drinking or doing drugs the night before. Students who have an 8AM class do not participate in parties, etc. while students who have classes at 10:30 or later are more comfortable staying up late and getting intoxicated. While I do not know of any further evidence supporting a correlation between drug use and start time, I can speak to the college experience and say that later start time means staying up later, which allows for more "night time" activities to take place. Please consider the real impact on students before making a change. Although OR prides itself on its progressive policies, making a change with such a broad affect may end up hurting more students than it could help.
I am not supportive of changing start times to where ORCSD is out of synch with the rest of the districts. A late dismissal will shut our kids out of afternoon opportunities for all sorts of activities and work/volunteering opportunities.
I do not support later start times. When I mentioned it to my daughter, the first thing she said was "we will just stay up later"! Seems like many supporting this have younger kids and maybe don't realize how busy high school students are. I respect all opinions, but for our family, a later start time doesn't make sense.