1. Less Technology in Schools.
This solution proposes requiring schools to create an environment where technology is not as heavily relied on. In order to complete homework and study, students have to be exposed to large amounts of artificial light that will disrupt their circadian rhythm. This would compel students to go to bed later, giving them less time for sleeping.
The constant exposure to technology inhibits the body's ability to produce melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates sleep. If schools were to require students to use less technology, it would allow student's natural circadian rhythm to allow them to go to bed at a good time and get the necessary hours of sleep.
Some pros of this solution are that kids would be able to get to sleep earlier, due to the increase of melatonin brought on by the decreased exposure to technology and screens. Also, students would not get distracted as easily/often and will get done with their work and studying quicker.
Some people that support this are Doctor Andrew Phillips, who is a sleep scientist at Harvard. He says that the use of screens and technology play a large role in students staying up later.
Some cons of this solution are that it limits the types of homework that teachers are able to assign their students. This would slow down the students' learning because it would take longer for them to learn the material. Also, the use of technology allows for students to get learning that is specialized for their individual needs.
Some people that oppose this are most of the states of America because they support the idea of technology and are increasingly moving towards making their school paperless.
In order to implement this, schools would need to distribute their homework via traditional methods.
2. Buying Sleep Pods and Making Them Open to All Students
Schools can buy sleep pods and put them in places like media centers or study hall rooms and allow all students to be able to access them during their free periods. By buying these pods, schools would be effectively combating the widespread epidemic of sleep deprivation in students while making sure students get to their next class on time.
The ability for students to catch up on their sleep is important for making sure that they stay refreshed for their classes and after school activities. This would also ensure that students avoid the potential harmful side effects that come with the loss of sleep; such as an increased risk of mental illness, as well as memory problems and increased stress levels.
Some pros of this solution are that students get a chance to replenish their bodies with the sleep they need. This would help them be fueled for tests or other after school activities.
Some supporters of this solution are Doctor Nitun Verma, a sleep specialist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine who says that a short nap for a teen "can give a boost to memory and attention during the day, and it can increase school performance."
Some of the cons of this solution are that the sleep pods are expensive. Also, each pod takes up a lot of space. Because of this, there would be no way for each student to to have their own pod. This would mean that some students who really need them would not get the chance to use them because of the limited amount.
Some people who oppose are most of the high schools in the U.S because they say that the pods distract students from their work.
In order to implement this, schools would need to buy pods for their students to use and place them in area where they can get adequate sleep.
3. All After-School Activities End by 5 pm.
One of the main reasons why students end up so late every night is because they participate in after school sports and other extra curricular activities. Most of the time, these activities don't end until 7:00-8:00 pm, which would mean that students would not get home until extremely late hours. Also, by the time the students eat dinner and take a shower, they won't start their homework until much later at night. And by the time they finish all their written homework and studying, it is very late at night; which means that students who are already tired would not get the necessary amount of sleep their exhausted bodies need.
By ending all after school activities by 5 pm, it would increase the time students would get to spend at home. This would allow for the students to get their homework and studying done early enough for them to get to sleep and get the necessary amount of rest their bodies need to recover from the day.
Some benefits of this solution is that they allow students to start and finish their homework sooner, which allows them to get bed faster. This would increase the amount of sleep they get and decrease the stress students go through.
Some supporters of this solution are some schools and coaches, who think that by pushing students to stay out later for sports, it makes the students develop unhealthy habits.
Some cons of this solutions are that it makes scheduling after school activities like games a lot harder because sometimes teams have to start games later in the evening to accommodate for extenuating circumstances. Also, bus schedules would need to be fixed to allow the students to make it home at 5.
Some opponents of this solution are most of the schools in the nation because they think that it would cause too much chaos scheduling events.
This would be implemented by communicating with other schools in the area, and coordinating an end time of before 5 pm for games, so that students get home early enough to complete their work.
This solution proposes requiring schools to create an environment where technology is not as heavily relied on. In order to complete homework and study, students have to be exposed to large amounts of artificial light that will disrupt their circadian rhythm. This would compel students to go to bed later, giving them less time for sleeping.
The constant exposure to technology inhibits the body's ability to produce melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates sleep. If schools were to require students to use less technology, it would allow student's natural circadian rhythm to allow them to go to bed at a good time and get the necessary hours of sleep.
Some pros of this solution are that kids would be able to get to sleep earlier, due to the increase of melatonin brought on by the decreased exposure to technology and screens. Also, students would not get distracted as easily/often and will get done with their work and studying quicker.
Some people that support this are Doctor Andrew Phillips, who is a sleep scientist at Harvard. He says that the use of screens and technology play a large role in students staying up later.
Some cons of this solution are that it limits the types of homework that teachers are able to assign their students. This would slow down the students' learning because it would take longer for them to learn the material. Also, the use of technology allows for students to get learning that is specialized for their individual needs.
Some people that oppose this are most of the states of America because they support the idea of technology and are increasingly moving towards making their school paperless.
In order to implement this, schools would need to distribute their homework via traditional methods.
2. Buying Sleep Pods and Making Them Open to All Students
Schools can buy sleep pods and put them in places like media centers or study hall rooms and allow all students to be able to access them during their free periods. By buying these pods, schools would be effectively combating the widespread epidemic of sleep deprivation in students while making sure students get to their next class on time.
The ability for students to catch up on their sleep is important for making sure that they stay refreshed for their classes and after school activities. This would also ensure that students avoid the potential harmful side effects that come with the loss of sleep; such as an increased risk of mental illness, as well as memory problems and increased stress levels.
Some pros of this solution are that students get a chance to replenish their bodies with the sleep they need. This would help them be fueled for tests or other after school activities.
Some supporters of this solution are Doctor Nitun Verma, a sleep specialist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine who says that a short nap for a teen "can give a boost to memory and attention during the day, and it can increase school performance."
Some of the cons of this solution are that the sleep pods are expensive. Also, each pod takes up a lot of space. Because of this, there would be no way for each student to to have their own pod. This would mean that some students who really need them would not get the chance to use them because of the limited amount.
Some people who oppose are most of the high schools in the U.S because they say that the pods distract students from their work.
In order to implement this, schools would need to buy pods for their students to use and place them in area where they can get adequate sleep.
3. All After-School Activities End by 5 pm.
One of the main reasons why students end up so late every night is because they participate in after school sports and other extra curricular activities. Most of the time, these activities don't end until 7:00-8:00 pm, which would mean that students would not get home until extremely late hours. Also, by the time the students eat dinner and take a shower, they won't start their homework until much later at night. And by the time they finish all their written homework and studying, it is very late at night; which means that students who are already tired would not get the necessary amount of sleep their exhausted bodies need.
By ending all after school activities by 5 pm, it would increase the time students would get to spend at home. This would allow for the students to get their homework and studying done early enough for them to get to sleep and get the necessary amount of rest their bodies need to recover from the day.
Some benefits of this solution is that they allow students to start and finish their homework sooner, which allows them to get bed faster. This would increase the amount of sleep they get and decrease the stress students go through.
Some supporters of this solution are some schools and coaches, who think that by pushing students to stay out later for sports, it makes the students develop unhealthy habits.
Some cons of this solutions are that it makes scheduling after school activities like games a lot harder because sometimes teams have to start games later in the evening to accommodate for extenuating circumstances. Also, bus schedules would need to be fixed to allow the students to make it home at 5.
Some opponents of this solution are most of the schools in the nation because they think that it would cause too much chaos scheduling events.
This would be implemented by communicating with other schools in the area, and coordinating an end time of before 5 pm for games, so that students get home early enough to complete their work.