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Sleep Deprivation In High Schools

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The Huffington Post claims that about 90% of American High School Students are chronically sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation is a serious problem for teenagers, as it can lead to a number of problems. First, there are mood problems like irritability and crankiness. It can also lead to behavioral problems like drinking, driving fast, and engaging in other dangerous activities. Drowsy driving can also happen, with teens at the highest risk of falling asleep at the wheel. However, two of the most detrimental effects are impacts in cognitive function and academic performance. Teens who don’t get enough sleep can have problems with attention and memory, leading to poorer grades in school. According to the Sleep Foundation, “Teens spend a great portion …show more content…

They found that before the later start, the graduation rate was 79%. Only 2 years after it was implemented, it was 88%. Another study, by Kyla Wahlstrom of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, showed that attendance rates also increased with a start time of 8:35am. This study, by Wahlstrom, lasted three years and studied 9,000 students in 8 different high schools. These studies show that pushing back the start times of schools vastly improve graduation and attendance records. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine believes that it can do much more than just improve records. They state that it could also help with mental health and psychological well being. Pamela McKeever reciprocates their opinion belief, saying “So much research explains the impact of insufficient sleep on suicide, substance abuse, depression, auto accidents and more,” (Crist). According to the CDC, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 12-19 year olds. Sleep deprivation is a serious problem that causes a wide array of problems, but we can start to solve it by pushing back school start times.
In conclusion, I would like to propose a piece of legislation that requires schools to start no earlier than

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