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Plastic Bottles & Ocean Pollution—great images of the ocean, sea creatures, and plastic bottle pollution.

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Plastic Bottles & Ocean Pollution—great images of the ocean, sea creatures, and plastic bottle pollution.

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All medications and vaccines have potential risks that must be carefully weighed against the benefits that medications and vaccines offer to prevent illness. Vaccination is one of the most successful public health interventions in reducing disease spread, preventing complications and even deaths fro…

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Self-preservation should be humankind’s first ethical priority and therefore rapid space settlement is necessary

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Self-preservation should be humankind’s first ethical priority and therefore rapid space settlement is necessary

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Self-preservation should be humankind’s first ethical priority and therefore rapid space settlement is necessary

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Human survival is currently threatened by many existential risks. Because humankind is the only known species capable of complex morality, if humankin…

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Do Security Cameras in Schools Make Students Feel Safer?

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Do Security Cameras in Schools Make Students Feel Safer?

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In the wake of deadly shootings like those at Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School and many others, officials have implemented a variety of security measures to try to make school buildings safer.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, in the 2015-16 school year, 94 percent of public schools reported that they controlled access to school buildings by locking or monitoring doors. Eighty-one percent reported deploying security cameras and 25 percent of schools said they used dogs to detect drugs.

But is all this activity making students feel safer? New research from the University of Virginia says "yes and no."

The study found that cameras positioned outside of schools - at entrances, exits and in parking lots - do appear to be associated with students feeling safer, said Catherine Bradshaw, a professor in the Curry School of Education and Human Development who was the primary investigator of the study.

"But inside the school, these cameras may have a different impact on students," she said. "In fact, our findings suggested that for some students, in particular African-American students, they may feel like Big Brother is watching them."

The data were collected beginning in the spring of 2014 at 98 middle and high schools across the state of Maryland. More than 54,000 students of varied backgrounds completed the study's surveys. Data also were collected by trained external observers. The results were recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Prior to the study, little was known about cameras' effects on students' perceptions of safety, particularly for minority students. Bradshaw said she and her colleagues conducted this particular study because of the increasing trend in the use of cameras, metal detectors and police officers (or school resource officers) to try to improve school safety. They decided to explore the differences in perceptions by students' race because of the broader conversation nationally about students of color receiving harsher disciplinary treatment in schools and not feeling as safe in schools compared to their white peers.

What Security Looks Like in Schools

Security can look different depending on whether a school is in an urban, suburban or rural area, Bradshaw said. Many urban schools have metal detectors, have a school resource officer on duty and perhaps bars on some windows to try to restrict access. There is also an increase in the use of bulletproof glass and other procedures to try to restrict access into schools.

Many schools are making considerable financial investments in security measures and beefing up their procedures for screening visitors who try to come into the school. "Quite often you're asked to show an I.D. that might be run through a machine to be able to log in visitors to the school, or even conduct background checks on visitors," Bradshaw said. "Sometimes they will even print out a name badge that has a picture of your face on it."

And then there are the closed-circuit security cameras. "You see them all over the place in schools these days, but interestingly, the cameras are rarely used for real-time surveillance. For example, if there is a fight in a back hallway, chances are no one is monitoring the live footage. But school administrators might pull the tape afterward to investigate the incident."

In suburban and rural areas, schools use fewer cameras and metal detectors, Bradshaw said, "and maybe one school resource officer is employed for multiple schools, rather than one assigned uniquely to each school like we see in more urban schools."

Because of growing concerns about the recent uptick in school shootings, like the one that resulted in the deaths of 17 people last February in Parkland, Florida, officials continue to seek ways to prevent more violence and death. Bradshaw said it's a tough issue. "As parents, you want to try to figure out how to keep the bad guys out, but we also need to be thinking more about what could we be doing every day to prevent these kinds of issues?'"

While these school security measures are well-intentioned, "It's important for schools to think about how these different strategies might be perceived in some settings relative to others, and in turn, how people from different backgrounds might perceive them differently.

"Although we can't draw causal inferences from this study," she continued. "I think these findings suggest that adults might feel better about having the cameras there and other similar types of these security measures in place. But kids may have a different perception."

Bradshaw added that the cameras are very expensive and that in instead of looking for quick solutions, policymakers should consider other types of investments focused on the prevention of behavioral and mental health concerns.

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Do Security Cameras in Public Schools Make Students Feel Safer?

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In the wake of deadly shootings like those at Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School and many others, officials have implemented a variety of security measures to try to make school buildings safer. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, in the 2015-16 school year, 94 percent of public schools reported that they controlled access to school buildings by locking or monitoring doors.

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Appeals court rules unconstitutional a Nevada school's uniform

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Appeals court rules unconstitutional a Nevada school's uniform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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U.S. Doctors Urge Later School Start Times for Teens

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U.S. Doctors Urge Later School Start Times for Teens

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MYTH #1:

BOTTLED WATER IS BETTER THAN TAP.

Not necessarily. While labels gush about bottled water that "begins as snowflakes" or flows from "deep inside lush green volcanoes," between 25 and 40 percent of bottled water comes from a less exotic source: U.S. municipal water supplies. ( Bottling companies buy the water and filter it, and some add minerals.) That's not really a bad thing: The Environmental Protection Agency oversees municipal water quality, while the Food and Drug Administration monitors bottled water; in some cases, EPA codes are more stringent.

MYTH #2:

PURIFIED WATER TASTES BETTER.

The "purest" water - distilled water with all minerals and salts removed - tastes flat; it's the sodium, calcium, magnesium, and chlorides that give water its flavor. The "off" taste of tap water is the chlorine; if you refrigerate it in a container with a loose-fitting lid, the chlorine taste will be gone overnight.

MYTH #3:

BOTTLED WATER WITH VITAMINS, MINERALS, OR PROTEIN IS MORE HEALTHY THAN REGULAR WATER.

" Vitamins, color, herbs, protein, and all the other additions to water - those are a marketing ploy," says Marion Nestle, Ph.D., professor of nutrition studies at New York University. Plus, the additives are usually a scant serving of the vitamins you really need in a day, adds Amy Subar, Ph.D., a nutritionist with the National Cancer Institute. Enhanced waters usually contain sugars and artificial flavorings to sweeten the deal and can pack more calories than diet soda. When it comes to providing fluoride, tap water usually wins, though that element is increasingly being added to bottled waters.

MYTH #4:

YOU NEED EIGHT 8-OUNCE GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY.

The Institute of Medicine recommends about 91 ounces (a little more than 11 8-ounce glasses) of fluid daily for women. But here's the thing: It expects 80 percent of that to come from water, juice, coffee, tea, or other beverages and the remaining 20 percent from food. That means if you drink a 12-ounce cup of coffee and a 12-ounce can of diet soda, you only need 48 more ounces (three 16-ounce glasses, or four soda cans' worth) for the day.

MYTH #5:

AFTER AN INTENSE WORKOUT, BOTTLED WATER IS BEST.

There's a reason volunteers hand out Gatorade during marathons. If your workout lasts longer than an hour, you need to replace the water and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, that you've lost (that's what sports drinks generally do). For less intense workouts, regular water is fine.

MYTH #6:

WATER BOTTLES AREEASY ON THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEY CAN BE RECYCLED.

Wouldn't it be nice? And it's not just the bottles. Eco-costs include manufacturing, trucking, shelving, and marketing. And meeting the annual U.S. demand for plastic bottles requires enough oil to keep 100,000 cars on the road for a year, says Janet Larsen of the Earth Policy Institute. Sure, the 70 million empty water bottles the U.S. produces per day can be recycled, but the sad truth is, about 86 percent of them end up in the trash. Hardly worth it, for what flows out of the tap and into a reusable glass for free.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

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MYTH #1: BOTTLED WATER IS BETTER THAN TAP. Not necessarily. While labels gush about bottled water that "begins as snowflakes" or flows from "deep inside lush green volcanoes," between 25 and 40 percent of bottled water comes from a less exotic source: U.S. municipal water supplies.

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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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I’m a Healthy Young Person. Why Should I Get a COVID Vaccine? | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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Even healthy, young people should get vaccinated. Here’s why.

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Are Moon Colonies Possible — or the Fantasy of Billionaires?

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Are Moon Colonies Possible — or the Fantasy of Billionaires?

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The economy of lunar mining and tourism

Credit: Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty

G rowing up, my brother and I couldn't get enough of Space: 1999, a mid-'70s series that hypnotized us with cool special effects, the crush-worthy Barbara Bain, who acted alongside her real-life husband Martin Landau, and its portrayal of the Moon as...

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Are Moon Colonies Possible - or the Fantasy of Billionaires?

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The economy of lunar mining and tourism G rowing up, my brother and I couldn't get enough of Space: 1999, a mid-'70s series that hypnotized us with cool special effects, the crush-worthy Barbara Bain, who acted alongside her real-life husband Martin Landau, and its portrayal of the Moon as...

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Surveillance Cameras:  Violation of Rights or Improved Security?

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Surveillance Cameras:  Violation of Rights or Improved Security?

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In one of their final actions of the current calendar year, the Fairfax County School Board in Virginia voted to allow schools to install indoor surveillance cameras in their buildings. The request for such cameras became a primary talking point during the first half of this school year, after massive food fights and other disciplinary problems came to light. While some parents and school board members argue that surveillance cameras will help to curb some of the behavior issues in schools, others worry that the new cameras will be a flagrant violation of student privacy rights.
An Overview of New School Policy
The Fairfax County School Board's vote allows schools to install surveillance cameras, but it does not require them. Each school within the county will be able to engage in public discussion between faculty, students and parents about whether cameras would be a help or hindrance for discipline issues. Principals would be responsible for making the final decisions in their own schools, ensuring that each administrator would make a determination of the need for surveillance cameras based on their own unique situations.

If a school decides to install the surveillance cameras, they will only be allowed in public venues like cafeterias, hallways and school lobbies. No school will be required to install surveillance devices, and they will not be allowed in locker rooms, restrooms or classrooms in the schools that do decide to use them.

According to the Washington Post, the vote took place earlier in December, with eight board members voting in favor of the cameras and four members voting against the measure. The decision came after numerous surrounding counties had already adopted similar surveillance policies. Fairfax County had held out against such a measure out of concern for student privacy.
Why Surveillance Cameras?
Surveillance cameras became a subject of controversy in September, when a majority of high school principals came together to request a policy that allowed them to put up cameras in public areas of their schools. The school administrators originally made the request in response to growing problems like student-led flash mobs and massive cafeteria food fights, according to the Fairfax Times. However, principals also believe surveillance cameras could help deter bullying behavior, illegal drug trafficking and a host of other discipline issues.

"[Allowing surveillance cameras inside schools] gives the communities the discretion to use the cameras, in the cafeteria to help them deal with the issues that are happening," Elizabeth Bradsher, Fairfax County School Board member, told the Times. "I think it's time we move forward and realize this is the world we live in and flash mobs can happen...We had one school that lost [audio/video] equipment to the tune of $3,200 this past week."

James L. Raney, a board member at large who favors the use of the devices, agreed that the cameras would improve student safety and promote better behavior in schools overall. Raney told the Washington Post, "We have food fights, bullying, theft and criminal street gangs operating in our schools. I want to do everything I can to improve the safety and security of students because I don't want to see anyone get hurt."

WTOP reports that two major food fights near the end of the previous school year may have led to the decision to request the surveillance cameras a few short months later. On May 12 at Westfield Springfield High School, a massive food fight turned violent when a student set off a fire alarm. Just a few days later, another large food fight broke out at Centreville High School, where four students were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
More Discipline or Less Privacy?
While the majority of the school board approved the measure to allow for installation of surveillance cameras, those opposed to the decision voiced their concerns as well. The four board members who voted against the decision said that the addition of surveillance cameras would not improve discipline in schools and would strip students of their rights to privacy. The Washington Post reports that there are no scientific studies to date that link increased surveillance with a decrease in behavior issues. However, lack of data has not stopped many other school districts nationwide from installing such devices.

"This proposal takes us down a wrong path," Sandy Evans, one of the school board members that voted against the measure, told the Washington Post. "Rather than creating an atmosphere of respect and trust, it tells our students, 'We're watching you. We expect bad behavior of you and we'll be darn sure to catch it on tape.'"

School board candidate Elizabeth Schultz also opposes the addition of surveillance cameras to public schools. In a live chat with the Washington Post, Schultz makes the distinction between public places like shopping malls that routinely use surveillance devices and the public school venue.

"The problem with cameras in schools v. public places is that children are required by law to be in school. They do not have the option. It is also an issue of developing a culture or respect, trust and formative behaviors." Schultz added that the general public does not walk into and out of public schools at will, like they do in other public venues.

"We're the government," Stuart D. Gibson, another board member that voted against the measure, explained in the Washington Post. "I don't think that it's right for us, as the government, to watch what kids are doing with cameras."

Will cameras make schools safer? Only time will tell, but in the interim, some schools are taking the leap and experimenting with the potential benefits of video surveillance on campus.
Questions? Contact us on Facebook @publicschoolreview.

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Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security? | PublicSchoolReview.com

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A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We'll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.

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School Uniform Shift in U.K. Allows Students to Express Own Identity

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School Uniform Shift in U.K. Allows Students to Express Own Identity

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Newsela | School uniform shift in U.K. allows students to express own identity

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Dress code allows both boys and girls to wear pants or skirts

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At the turn of the last century, gorillas - these strange, human-like creatures from ``darkest Africa'' - still flourished in the wild and thoroughly captivated the American public. But once relocated from their jungle habitat, gorillas languished. Zoos found it impossible to keep the animals alive for more than a few weeks since little was known about the natural history of gorillas. Even as late as the 1960s and '70s, most zoo gorillas were kept singly or in pairs in small, sterile concrete and tile cages and fed inappropriate foods. But things began to change as information from field and zoo biologists brought more understanding of both the physiological and psychological needs of these remarkable creatures.

Gorillas in today's zoos are typically kept in large, naturalistic exhibits, maintained in appropriate social groupings, fed nutritionally appropriate diets, and provided with excellent veterinary care. The result is that zoo gorillas exhibit behavior similar to their wild counterparts, reproduce consistently, and live longer on average than they do in nature.

In fact, recent advances in exhibit design, animal nutrition, genetic management, and veterinary medicine have revolutionized animal welfare and care in our zoos. Today, more than 90 percent of mammals housed in accredited facilities were born in zoos and not taken from the wild. They are under the charge of animal curators and caretakers who are trained professionals, with both academic and practical experience. Furthermore, accredited zoos have become ``learning organizations'' that constantly strive to improve the lives and health of the animals in their care.

So why should we have gorillas or any other wild animals in zoos today? Before speculating about the role of these institutions in contemporary society, I must first draw a distinction between accredited zoos and other kinds of facilities that keep wild animals for public display. All of my statements are focused exclusively on the 213 facilities accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. AZA members undergo a detailed peer-review process, which is more comprehensive than existing local, state, or federal regulations.

At a time when children learn more about the world around them from television and computers than from personal experience, modern zoos - and aquariums, for that matter - offer fun, safe opportunities to view living wild animals up close and personal. In 2002, over 140 million people visited AZA zoos and aquariums, more than attended all professional baseball, football, basketball, and ice hockey games combined. Modern zoological parks provide us a wonderful opportunity to build awareness and appreciation of wildlife in an increasingly urbanized populace - a group that is becoming progressively disconnected from the natural world.

Only a small percentage of our nation's citizens can afford to travel to exotic locations to view wild tigers, elephants, or giant pandas or to dive with sharks or moray eels. Zoos provide exhilarating experiences that can't be replicated on two-dimensional television or computer screens. Seeing, smelling, and in some cases even touching real, live animals is a powerful experience.

The best zoos include conservation, education, and science among their core missions, and the animals in their collections can be viewed as ambassadors for their counterparts in the wild. Many species are endangered or threatened and would have little chance of survival without human intervention. Increasingly, zoos are playing an important role in those efforts. Last year alone, AZA member institutions supported 1,400-field conservation and associated educational and scientific projects in over 80 countries worldwide. These ranged from restoring habitat for endangered Karner blue butterflies in Ohio to attempting to curb the illegal, commercial harvest of wildlife for meat in Africa to rehabilitating injured marine mammals and sea turtles and returning them to the sea.

Some critics have characterized zoos and aquariums as ``exploiting'' animals for personal financial gain, but that's not true of the professionals I know. As a curatorial intern at New York's Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society in the late 1980s, I went on rounds with the staff veterinarians as they cared for sick and injured animals. They worked long hours for comparatively little pay, and their dedication was inspiring. I also witnessed animal keepers weeping over the loss of their favorite animals and spending their own money to attend training programs to improve their knowledge and skills.

In my opinion, a society that values wildlife and nature should support our best zoos and aquariums. Habitat conservation is the key to saving endangered species, and professionally managed zoos and aquariums and their expert, dedicated staffs play a vital role by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts and by encouraging people to care for and learn about wildlife and nature.

Zoos and aquariums are reinventing themselves, but while many are in the process of rebuilding their aging infrastructures, still others retain vestiges of the past or have been hit hard by recent state or local budget cuts. Good zoos and aquariums are invaluable community assets, and they deserve our attention and enthusiastic support.
Michael Hutchins is director of the Department of Conservation and Science at the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

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At the turn of the last century, gorillas - these strange, human-like creatures from ``darkest Africa'' - still flourished in the wild and thoroughly captivated the American public. But once relocated from their jungle habitat, gorillas languished. Zoos found it impossible to keep the animals alive for more than a few weeks since little was known about the natural history of gorillas.

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Later High School Start Times a Challenge for Districts

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Later High School Start Times a Challenge for Districts

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It's no surprise to parents that most teens do not get enough sleep and often start first period cranky.

The start time of many high schools in the U.S. does not help. Many teens start learning before daylight breaks - about 40 percent of high schools start school before 8 a.m., according to data from the 2011-2012 school year from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Lack of adequate rest not only affects teens' moods, but their ability to learn, listen and concentrate, experts say.

But starting school later is associated with better academic performance, according to a February report by the University of Minnesota. Researchers studied data from the more than 9,000 students at eight public high schools before and after the schools made a shift to start classes at 8 a.m. or later.

Academic performance and attendance improved, and tardiness rates declined in schools with start times of 8:35 a.m. or later. The number of car crashes involving teen drivers went down, too, in a school that shifted its start time from 7:35 to 8:55 a.m. More than half of teens in the study who attended a school with a start time of 8:30 a.m. or later were able to get at least eight hours of sleep per night.

While the evidence may support a movement to start high school later, adjusting school schedules can be a logistical nightmare for administrators. Schools have to consider factors such as students who work or take care of younger siblings, athletics and after-school activities.

The biggest challenge for administrators? Transportation, school officials say. Many school districts use the same buses to transport elementary, middle and high school students. A change in start time at the high school level thus usually means a change in start time at elementary and middle schools, too.

Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs, Colo., was able to push back high school start times by transporting middle and high school students together on the same buses, says Superintendent Mark Hatchell. They also eliminated bus routes with few students, which also saved the district money.

"If you start too late, by the time your buses circle back and drop off middle school and elementary, then you are finishing in the dark, at least for us in the winter time," he says.

Classes at high schools in Academy School District 20 now begin at 7:45 a.m., versus 7:05 a.m., before the 2012 change. Hatchell says the later start time did not affect athletics or after-school activities.

"We've seen less tardies and, this is anecdotal, but happier students," he says.

Having students from the elementary, middle or high schools ride buses together was not a viable option for Ann Arbor Public Schools. The district conducted a study in 2012 to determine the costs and benefits of pushing back high school start times.

"I'm not saying it couldn't be done, but it would be a cultural shift of how we provide service here," says Liz Margolis, executive director of communications and community relations for the Michigan school district.

In order to push back high school start times, the elementary and high school schedules in Ann Arbor would have to be flipped. The idea received an overwhelmingly negative response from elementary school parents, Margolis says.

"A change to the elementary school start time, we really found, would disrupt the families' schedules," she says.

The district was also concerned about how the change would affect high school after-school activities, athletics and students who work after school.

Officials in Ann Arbor did find research that indicated some benefits related to academic performance and later high school start times, but ultimately believed the challenges would be too great to make a change.

For now, the first bell will still ring between 7:30 and 8:08 a.m. in Ann Arbor high schools.

A change in high school start times should be a community-by-community decision, Margolis says.

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Later High School Start Times a Challenge for Districts

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It's no surprise to parents that most teens do not get enough sleep and often start first period cranky. The start time of many high schools in the U.S. does not help. Many teens start learning before daylight breaks - about 40 percent of high schools start school before 8 a.m., according to data from the 2011-2012 school year from the National Center for Education Statistics.

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In the United States, the average This time varies, though, depending on the state. Except for eight outlying states, each state's average start time is between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.

Other start time factors include the location of the school district and the school type. For example, 54% of high schools in the suburbs start before 8:00 a.m. By contrast, over half of charter high schools start after 8:00 a.m., and high schools with fewer than 200 students begin around 8:15 a.m on average. (This study did not include data on private schools.)

Data on average middle school start times is less recent and does not include public charter or private schools. When assessed by the CDC for the 2011-2012 school year, the average start time at This is slightly later than high schools. The middle school start times varied widely, too, depending on the state. This study also noted the start time for combined middle and high schools; the average was 8:08 a.m.

Both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that both middle and high schools begin Both organizations want to ensure students get adequate sleep so that they are alert and prepared to learn at school.

Biology plays a large factor in the sleep cycles of children and adolescents. Around the beginning of puberty, most adolescents experience later sleep onset and wake times, also called "phase delay". This phase delay can shift the body's internal clock back by up to two hours. As a result, the average teenager cannot fall asleep until 11:00 p.m. and would do best waking up at 8:00 a.m. or even later.

A later school start time helps accommodate this biological need. Overall care for sleep hygiene, such as having a good night's sleep and following back-to-school sleep tips, can also help adolescents regulate their sleep.

Other factors that affect student sleep are . American middle and high school students often take on various extracurricular activities - such as sports, clubs, and jobs - which often extend into the evening hours. High school students also have more homework, late-night technology use, and fewer parent-set bedtimes, all of which may cause students to stay up later than is appropriate for getting adequate sleep.

Countless studies have shown that early school start times are associated with students getting less sleep, which negatively affects student academic performance. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. They may also experience irritability and fatigue.

Other concerns with early school start times and the resulting insufficient sleep include:

Increased likelihood for participating in risk-taking behaviors, such as bullying and fighting.

Greater chance of unhealthy behaviors including alcohol and drug use and tobacco smoking.

National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. Higher risk of athletic injury View Source .

An increase of depressive symptoms including suicidal ideation.

Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents.

A lack of sleep also has long-term physical and mental health consequences. Poor quantity and quality of sleep can lead to health concerns such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

Later school start times support the biological needs of adolescents; they increase the amount of sleep adolescents get. Other benefits of later start times include:

Improved attendance at school.

Decreased tardiness.

American Psychological Association (APA) APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 121,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. Better student grades View Source .

Fewer occurrences of falling asleep in class.

Reduced irritability and depressive symptoms.

Fewer disciplinary issues.

16.5% decrease in the teenage crash rate National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. A decline of motor vehicle crashes. One study showed a View Source after the school start time was pushed back one hour.

Disadvantages of Later School Start Times

While there are numerous benefits of later school start times, there are a few possible negative outcomes:

Scheduling conflicts. These may arise for athletic and academic competitions against schools with earlier start times and therefore an earlier dismissal.

Transportation challenges. Later start times will likely mean more busses on the road later in the day; this could create more traffic and increase travel delays.

Childcare. Some families rely on older students to care for younger siblings after school; this may be more difficult if high schools dismiss later than elementary or middle schools.

However, these problems can likely be solved with flexibility and thoughtful planning.

If you are concerned about a too-early start time for your child's school, consider contacting your school board or other educational leaders to discuss delaying school start time.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References

1. Consensus Conference Panel, Watson, N. F., Badr, M. S., Belenky, G., Bliwise, D. L., Buxton, O. M., Buysse, D., Dinges, D. F., Gangwisch, J., Grandner, M. A., Kushida, C., Malhotra, R. K., Martin, J. L., Patel, S. R., Quan, S. F., Tasali, E., Non-Participating Observers, Twery, M., Croft, J. B., Maher, E., ... Heald, J. L. (2015). Recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: A joint consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 11(6), 591-592.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25979105/

2. Wheaton, A. G., Jones, S. E., Cooper, A. C., Croft, J. B. (2018). Short sleep duration among middle school and high school students - United States, 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 67, 85-90.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6703a1.htm?s_cid=mm6703a1_w

3. Sawyer, H., Taie, S., & Westat. (2020, February). Start Time for U.S. Public High Schools. The Institute of Education Sciences.
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020006/index.asp

4. Wheaton AG, Ferro GA, Croft JB. School Start Times for Middle School and High School Students - United States, 2011-12 School Year. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015;64(30);809-813.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6430a1.htm

5. Adolescent Sleep Working Group; Committee on Adolescence; Council on School Health. School start times for adolescents. Pediatrics. 2014 Sep;134(3):642-9.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25156998/

6. Wheaton AG, Chapman DP, Croft JB. School Start Times, Sleep, Behavioral, Health, and Academic Outcomes: A Review of the Literature. J Sch Health. 2016 May;86(5):363-81.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27040474/

7. Watson NF, Martin JL, Wise MS, Carden KA, Kirsch DB, Kristo DA, Malhotra RK, Olson EJ, Ramar K, Rosen IM, Rowley JA, Weaver TE, Chervin RD; American Academy of Sleep Medicine Board of Directors. Delaying Middle School and High School Start Times Promotes Student Health and Performance: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Apr 15;13(4):623-625.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28416043/

8. The American Psychological Association. (2014). Later School Start Times Promote Adolescent Well-Being., Retrieved January 26, 2021 from
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9. Danner F, Phillips B. Adolescent sleep, school start times, and teen motor vehicle crashes. J Clin Sleep Med. 2008 Dec 15;4(6):533-5.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19110880/

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How Would Later School Start Times Affect Sleep? | Sleep Foundation

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Experts recommend middle and high schools begin no sooner than 8:30 a.m. Later school start times will increase adolescent sleep and improve their performance.

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https://parentingscience.com/school-uniforms-what-does-research-tell-us/                                                  https://classroom.synonym.com/reasons-school-uniforms-should-banned-7959850.html                              https://www.timeforkids.com/g56/debate-should-students-wear-uniforms-2/                                          https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-school-uniforms#:~:text=School%20uniforms%20may%20deter%20crime,%2C%20unity%2C%20and%20community%20spirit.

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The introduction of school uniforms may not be welcomed by everyone, including students who value their individuality and freedom of choice when it comes to wearing clothing. If opposition to a proposed school uniform policy runs high within your student population, you can use some thoughtful arguments to advance your position in persuading school officials to ban uniforms from your school.

Conformity

Dressing in clothes is a common way that tweens and teenagers express themselves as individuals. One main argument used in the debate against the introduction of a school uniform policy is it inhibits personal expression and individuality. While brand-name clothes have often been used to show off a student's social status, school uniform policies don't always discourage this behavior. Students can still show off their position within the school's social class with expensive cell phones, iPods and jewelry while wearing a uniform.

Negative Behavior

School uniforms don't level the playing field. Not all school uniforms are flattering to every body type. In all likelihood, the selected uniform will not fit well on every pupil in the student population. Overweight and even underweight students may hear taunting and harassing comments made by their peers because of their ill-fitting uniforms. Also, students who may have faced bullying in the past may continue to face the wrath of their tormentors, despite how they look in their uniforms, as bullies always find ways to harass their victims.

Cost

School uniforms cost money and can be a prohibitive expense for families, especially those struggling to make ends meet or those with more than one child in school. In many cases, purchasing one school uniform is insufficient, as students will need multiple uniforms to wear throughout the week as well as separate uniforms suitable for different types of weather. While some school districts supply uniforms for free, debate has resulted regarding whether that's the best use of taxpayer dollars.

Inhibiting Peer Relationships

Students who aren't able to explore their own personalities and express themselves as individuals, which occurs when wearing a uniform, may have their growth inhibited as they enter young adulthood. Despite the best efforts of educators to promote an inclusive environment for all students, cliques comprise many schools. Regardless of their negative reputations, cliques allow students to express themselves and find acceptance within their individual peer groups. Having students wear uniforms may prevent students from forming peer relationships that are crucial to social development.

About the Author

Edith Quinn has been writing since 1998 when she landed her first newspaper reporting job. Spending most of her career working for community newspapers, she has covered everything from ribbon cuttings to criminal trials. Her work has appeared in "The Daily Observer" and "Nepean This Week." Quinn has diplomas from both the print and photojournalism programs at Loyalist College.

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Reasons Why School Uniforms Should Be Banned | Synonym

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The introduction of school uniforms may not be welcomed by everyone, including students who value their individuality and freedom of choice when it comes to wearing clothing. If opposition to a proposed school uniform policy runs high within your student population, you can use some thoughtful arguments to advance your position in persuading school officials to ban uniforms from your school.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Learn how later school start times may help adolescents get sleep.