We would never expect adults to perform critical work while severely sleep deprived, yet we demand exactly that of students every day. Across our community, teenagers arrive at school exhausted, not from lack of effort but from a system that ignores how their bodies actually function. It is time to start school later.
Science makes it clear that adolescents experience a natural shift in their circadian rhythms, which makes early mornings misaligned with peak alertness. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends eight to ten hours of sleep for teens, yet current schedules make that nearly impossible. The result is not just fatigue, but diminished focus, weaker academic focus and a learning environment set up for struggle rather than success.
The consequences extend beyond grades. Chronic sleep deprivation fuels anxiety, depression and emotional burnout among students already under pressure to succeed. We are not just asking them to learn, we are asking them to overcome exhaustion just to keep up.
Yes, adjusting school schedules may present logistical challenges. But inconvenience should not outweigh well-being. When research is this clear, inaction becomes a choice.
If we truly value education, we must also value the conditions that make learning possible. Later school start times are not a luxury, they are a necessity we can no longer afford to ignore.
ARYUIANA HAMMOND
Baton Rouge