Steve Novick: Stop torturing teenagers. Let them sleep.
Don't be a sleep denier. We need to follow the science and start school later.
What even is the Oregon Way?
I confess: I don’t know what the Oregon Way is. I’d like to think it would have something to do with the ‘77 Trail Blazers. “Oregon has handled every thorny public policy problem the same way: a supremely talented big man grabs a rebound and throws a flawless outlet pass to trigger the fast break. It’s been a remarkably effective formula.”
For today’s purposes, however, I will assume that the Oregon Way is to care about children, believe in science, and do California one better. And we can reconfirm our commitment to the Oregon Way by prohibiting middle and high school classes from starting before 9:30 a.m.
Why sleep is so essential.
"Sleeping in School" by MC Quinn is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Forcing teenagers to wake up too early is one of the least forgivable public policy tragedies in America. The American Academy of Pediatrics (“AAP”) has said that no teenager should have to start classes until 8:30 – but when you look at their actual research, you realize that’s still too early, and must just represent the best they thought they could possibly get. Teenagers need 8.5 to 9.5 hours a night, and it’s physiologically virtually impossible for them to get to sleep before 11. If you figure realistically they don’t get to sleep before 11:30, and give them nine hours, and an hour to get up and get to school, you’re at 9:30.
Getting enough sleep matters – a lot. The lead author of the AAP policy statement on high school start times, pediatrician Judith Owens, wrote:
Chronic sleep loss in children and adolescents is one of the most common – and easily fixable – public health issues in the U.S. today. The research is clear that adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight or suffering depression, are less likely to be involved in automobile accidents, and have better grades, higher standardized test scores and an overall better quality of life. Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn.
The research Owens cites is as indisputable as the science behind global warming. And teen sleep loss is a hell of a lot easier to deal with. All we have to do is say: start school later.
Oregon is snoozing on giving its students the sleep they need.
Some places have taken steps toward doing the right thing. Seattle has pushed back high school start times to 8:45. California has passed a statewide law saying 8:30 for high school, 8:00 for middle school. Still too early, especially for middle school.
But most places, including most places in Oregon, are still torturing teenagers. In Portland Public high schools the usual time seems to be 8:15. Beaverton, 7:45. Tualatin, 8:05.
Why the lack of action? It’s mostly inertia.
"File:JuliusErvingSlamDunk1981.jpg" by Jim Accordino at https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmyack205/ is licensed under CC BY 2.0
There are obstacles, but they’re hardly as big as Kareem, or Dr. J., or even David Thompson.
“You’d have to change the bus schedules.”
I’m sure that’s a logistical problem, but … really? That’s a reason to keep torturing children?
“It would mess up high school sports.”
Well, if only one school did it I can see that would be a problem, but if ALL the schools changed their schedules, all of them could push back game times. Maybe we’d need to buy some more lights for ball fields. (Maybe we could ask Nike to pay for them.)
“Some teachers won’t like it.”
Sure – but doubtless some would prefer it. And teachers are professionals who care about kids; lay out the research for them and they’ll adjust.
The real reason is just the all-purpose “change is hard.” It takes work. It takes work in addition to whatever normal grind, or pop-up crises, you’re dealing with. It’s not that people reject the science. I’ve talked to several of the members of the Portland School Board about this. They all understand the science. They agree, in theory. But they haven’t done anything.
Who can make this change happen?
This is a job for the Oregon Legislature. Frankly, I think it’s one of those situations where the people on the ground need a higher authority to force them to do what they know is the right thing. On their own, school board members and administrators will dread the hassle of change and the certainty that some people will complain. But order them to change, and they can tell the complainers “the Legislature made us do it,” and they’ll have to suck it up as far as hassle is concerned.
Come to think of it, it might be kind of like single-family zoning. The research is clear that single family zoning drives up housing costs and contributes to climate change. But city councilors know that if they mess with single family zoning, a lot of people will scream OH MY GOD YOU’RE DESTROYING MY NEIGHBORHOOD THE HORROR THE HORROR!!! But House Speaker Tina Kotek was able to push through a first-in-the nation bill forcing local governments to allow duplexes in single family zones.
And by the way – I think it’s a political win with the general public. When I polled on this in my last City Council race (after you explained the research to people), they were for it. And I don’t see why there would be a divide on this between Portland and the rest of the state.
So, how ‘bout it, Speaker Kotek? You up for another huge research-driven accomplishment? And how ‘bout it, Governor Brown? Jerry Brown vetoed this idea, by the way – they had to wait for Gavin Newsom to sign it. You can show that when it comes to teenagers’ health, you’re the better Brown.
Don’t be a sleep denier.
Remember: the science on this is as solid as the science on global warming and as solid on the science on wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. So, if you’re not a climate denier, or a mask denier, you shouldn’t be a teen sleep denier either. Get on board. Pester your legislators. Make it happen.