Should School Start Later for Students?

Before the sun fully rises, yawning children slowly drag their feet into a school building, forced to learn while they can barely keep their eyes open. Attempting to survive on a cup of coffee, students slump in their seats and try to not doze off in the first period. This raises the question; should school start later for students? There are definitely plenty of pros and cons to the proposal, but overall, students would benefit more from school starting at a later time.

Harmful Blue Light

Because Northwood students are completing their schoolwork at home this semester, students are on their computers a good portion of the day. When school was in person, computers were often only used a fraction of the time spent in each class. Now, students must use their laptop to access all of their learning. They’re also often up late submitting assignments. Finishing assignments at night subjects students to copious amounts of blue light from their devices’ screens. Many students also are on other electronic devices at night. Large amounts of exposure to blue light have been found to have negative effects on teenagers’ health.