3rd Quarter Blog

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Less sleep...but better test scores?

Recently, I was reading an article about how some schools have decided to start later this year, because studies show that a teenager's internal clock runs later than an adult's, meaning teenagers fall asleep later and wake up later naturally. Click here to read the article. According to the article, early results show happier, more productive students and a lower dropout rate in schools that have begun to start later in the morning. One school even advised teachers to lighten up on the homework load to give its' students more time to sleep.

This week in class we talked about how lack of sleep is becoming a badge of honor for New Trier students. With all their tests, projects, and quizzes students are often forced to stay up until unreasonably late hours to finish all their assignments. In class we also talked about how New Trier has some of the highest test scores in the state. How do these two statements relate? It seems like the constant pressure and lack of sleep that is typical at New Trier is actually raising our test scores. Do you think New Trier would benifit from a later start and less homework? Or do you think that our method is obviously working and New Trier should not change if it wants to stay on top?

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