Dear President,

How much sleep do you get each night? 10 hours, 9 hours? No? Well that’s how much you need. Most schools start around 7:15- 8:15. Kids need sleep, like 9-11 hours, at least enough to last the day and be able to focus. Schools need later start times, so students can learn to their full ability.

Most kids usually go to bed at 9-11. Students that live close to school can wake up at 6:30-7:00, while others wake up at 5:30-6:30. So that ranges from around 6-10 hours of sleep at best. Personally I get around 7 hours and 30 minutes of sleep each night. With homework, sports, chores, and other activities it’s hard to keep a schedule. This is why I am always so tired.

Now an obvious solution to most is to go to bed earlier. Well it’s not as easy as it seems, according to Amy Norton In Stop Starting Schools So Early, Doctors Say. “Many people think the answer is for kids to just get to bed earlier, Owens noted. But it's not that easy, she said, because biology has other plans.” As in, physical our bodies won’t let us, our bodies release hormones telling when to and when not to sleep. So, really it’s not our choice.

When you don’t get enough sleep you are probably really tired. When you are tired you can’t think straight, it’s hard. When kids have the pressure of tests and not being able to think straight, obviously they won’t be doing their best. When you are not doing the best you can it’s like failing. I know school is supposed to challenging but, being tired all day and not being able to focus can make us stressed. Being stressed at age 13 is not good.

The obvious solution is to change schools start times to a later start time. Well at least maybe public schools for a start. Kids do have priorities after school but education is more important. I know this isn’t the worst thing happening in america, but at least it’s a step to making America great again.

Sincerely, K.G.L.