Some Patch Readers Say 'Earlier Bed Times Over Later Start Times' at Wyandotte Schools

Despite much talk recently about creating later start times for public high schools, some Wyandotte Patch readers are adamantly against the idea.

State Supt. Mike Flanagan says he supports a national suggestion to start high school later in the day.

"There's lots of research and common sense that a lot of teens struggle to get up at 6 in the morning to get on the bus or 5:30 in the morning to get on the bus," he said in an interview on National Public Radio's "The Diane Rehm Show." 

Some Wyandotte parents and former students say later start times would be a nonissue if parents would send children to bed earlier, so they can get a minimum of seven or eight hours of sleep—the recommended number of hours of sleep for people over 12 years old by the MayoClinic.com.

Trustee Kathy Bedikian of Wyandotte Public Schools said, "We at Wyandotte Public Schools always want to optimize student learning. Research tells us that teenagers need significantly more sleep than they are getting. Unfortunately, the problem is not the START time. It is the BED time. Kids stay up so late. Sometimes doing homework they need to finish AFTER they have been at sports practices, theatre and music rehearsals, doing chores, having dinner, working. They are overextended. It is a problem. Parents and students and the school district, need to help the kids find some balance. And parents need to monitor the situation. We have bedtimes at our household, much to the dismay of our children. I'm the MOM!"

A reader called yandotte said, "Who doesn't want to sleep in? Unfortunately, the "real world" starts early. Chances are the average work start time is 8 a.m. so... adjust. I totally agree with Ms. Bedikian, GO TO BED EARLIER!!! (If we continue to coddle this generation, what will their life be like in the future???)"

Not all readers were against later start times. Some readers who commented on the Wyandotte Patch Facebook page were for later start times, especially those parents whose children are involved in extra curricular activities.

Jerry Calhoun said, "I feel all schools should start later, I believe that the children will be more attentive."

Former Wyandotte teacher Mike Dallos said, "Once again, opposition here to later school starts for Secondary students is based entirely on "adult convenience/needs," not on educational theory. If it's so important to get your kids to school by 6:30 or 7 am, go ahead, oppose the later start switch. However, you don't get to complain when your adolescents struggle academically or fight you when it's time to get up or go to sleep."

What do you think? How can later start times benefit or hurt a child's shot at a good education?