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It's back to class, and less sleep, for many high schoolers
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CHICAGO Most weeknights, Nicole Bankowski gets
about five hours of sleep. Along with taking four AP
classes, Bankowski edits the school newspaper, sings in
the choir, and is treasurer of the student council.
Bankowski has so much to do that she usually doesnt
start her homework until 10:30 p.m.
Its probably not the healthiest way to live, but its the
only way to get everything done, said Bankowski, a high
school senior.
The new school year has just started, but students are
already sleep-deprived they arent getting the 8.5 to
9.5 hours a night they need to grow and learn.
"National Public Health Crisis"
Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics called on
schools to start later so students can get more sleep. The
group, made up of doctors who treat children and young
adults, called students lack of sleep a national public
health crisis.
According to Judith Owens, a sleep expert at a childrens
medical center in Washington, D.C., starting school later in
the day is an effective way to reduce the negative
consequences of sleep loss.
The pediatricians group recommends that schools start at
8:30 a.m. or later. Today, more than eight out of 10
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schools start earlier than that.
Most Chicago-area high schools start at 8 a.m., though
some start as early as 7 a.m. Many student athletes have
early practices at 6 a.m. For all these students, fatigue is a
way of life.
According to researchers, students dont only lose sleep
because theyre too busy. Its also because of changes in
young peoples bodies. As students start puberty, their
internal circadian clocks change, and it can be harder for
them to get to bed early.
The 10-year-old who went to bed at 9 p.m. becomes the
13-year-old who cant get to sleep until 11, Owens said.
Too Early Lunches?
This shift in sleeping patterns comes at the same time
that young peoples bodies and minds are changing
quickly and school is becoming more intense, making it a
"perfect storm," according to Owens.
Early school start times also push everything else forward,
disrupting family schedules. Students at some high
schools have lunchtime as early as 10 a.m. These students
come home very hungry, then don't want to eat dinner
with the family at a normal time.
At this age, kids dont talk to you that much so you
look forward to having that one meal together, said
Diane Zezulak, the mother of a freshman.
Students may need more sleep, but school administrators
say there are many reasons changing school start times is
difficult, from bus schedules to parents commutes.
David Schuler, superintendent of a Chicago school district,
explained that starting school later means ending school
later. That can cause problems for after-school activities
that contribute to a students success. Sports like softball,
soccer, golf and football would be affected by a schedule
change.
At one school district in the Chicago area, classes start
earlier as students get older. Elementary schools start at
8:15 a.m., middle schools at 8 a.m. and high schools at
7:45 a.m.
Burning The Candle At Both Ends
The issue of student sleep is on our radar screen,
according to Michelle Fregoso, a district spokeswoman.
The district is doing a thorough study of how to best
structure students time during the school day and school
year for their learning and well-being, she said.
Studies from the past 20 years have shown that a good
nights sleep is crucial for both emotional and physical
health. Children who regularly dont get enough sleep
have a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and
even Alzheimers, Owens said.
But students today face intense competition: you snooze,
you lose.
Bankowski is taking a full class schedule including AP
calculus, economics, environmental science and literature.
Shes often burning the candle at both ends staying up
late and waking up early. During her busiest times, she
doesnt get to bed until 3 a.m.
I cant go to sleep until its all done, she explained.
College applications are starting this month, and
Bankowski expects to be even more worn-out.
I have to take my future into consideration, she said. Its
more important than going out or taking a nap.
Grabbing A Charleston Chew
Matt Shapiro is another sleep-deprived student. President
of the student council and a captain of his schools speech
and debate team, Shapiro is up at 6 every morning, but
he always fights off the fatigue when it hits him in class. I
once nodded off in the third grade and I never forgot
how badly I felt. I never let it happen again.
For Lauren Ward, a high school senior who plays soccer
and is on the student council, theres no empty space in
her day. Her mother takes her and her brother, a
sophomore, to school at 6 a.m. because he has a football
conditioning class at that hour.
Wards secret to staying awake is Charleston Chew candy
bars. But even with the candy, it can be tough for Ward to
stay alert through the school day.
Really, its usually third period before I start feeling like a
human, she said.





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