Teens do not get enough sleep. The school start times around 7:20 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., are interrupting the average teenager’s biological clock.

According to Dr. Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, as children go through puberty, their biological clock automatically sets itself back. What this means is that a child’s mind says they’re ready to fall asleep at around 8 to 8:30 p.m., but as they go through puberty, their body does not think they’re ready to go to sleep yet.

Most teens go to bed between 9 and 10:30 p.m. and then have to wake up at around 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. This only leaves about 8.5 hours of sleep. This is almost an entire hour shorter than what a teen should get.

Auburn Middle School starts at 7:30 a.m. The elementary schools start at 8:30 a.m. We have to wake up an hour earlier than our little brothers and sisters. That is not right, because at 6 a.m., they are ready to get up and we are not ready to get up until around 8 a.m.

Scientists have proven that we would be more focused if we had a later school start time. That would mean higher test scores and more opportunities for college and then eventually better job opportunities. Please help encourage the school board to switch the school start times, making the elementary schools go first and the middle school and high schools go second.

It would help kids all over to do better in school.

Joshua Delong