School starts too early? Parents demand later start times!

School starts too early? Parents demand later start times!

At the heart of the debate about starting school in Germany is the issue that concerns many parents and young people: Should schools start later? This question heated up people's minds and sparked a lively discussion in letters to the editor and comment columns. The trigger was a worried mother whose daughter had to catch the bus at 6:13 a.m., an agonizingly early hour for many students. The differences in getting up often depend on where you live. While some children accept this early rising, other parents demand that school times be adjusted. School leaders recognize the problem and describe the issue as a complex system that is crying out for change Augsburger Allgemeine reported.

Where is the sleep? Many teenagers find getting up early a real torture. During puberty, the chronotype changes, which means that teenagers stay awake longer in the evening and need more sleep in the morning. In Switzerland, many schools start at 7:30 a.m., which means that students often sit exhausted in class, especially after the holidays. A revolutionary approach comes from schools in Basel, which have started all classes from 1 to 9 at 8 a.m. for ten years. This decision is based on the biological needs of the adolescents, who require a later start to classes to accommodate their changed sleep patterns, such as SRF determines.

Scientific findings and adaptations

The discussion about starting lessons early is not just a question of well-being. Scientists, including sleep researcher Michael Feld, have found that teenagers are more tired in the morning than before or after puberty, which results in a loss of quality in lessons. Sleep remains essential for healthy development. Lack of sleep can lead to serious health problems, such as high blood pressure or depression, prompting school administrators to consider later school schedules, such as ZDF reported.

In Germany, on the other hand, school starts at 8 a.m. in most schools. However, many students and experts have expressed concerns because they believe this early start is having a negative impact on student performance. Some German schools, such as the Dalton Gymnasium in Alsdorf, already have flexitime models, but these are only an exception. The general school landscape could benefit from more flexible school times, but reforms are currently not in sight.

The future of school times

Despite the resistance, progress is being made and the possibility of starting school later is becoming more and more discussed. In cities like Kriens in the canton of Lucerne, early hours have already been abolished to meet the needs of students. The Zurich city parliament has also approved a later start to secondary school, but implementation will take time. Thomas Minder, the top Swiss school principal, recognizes the advantages of a later start but highlights the need to prepare young people for early working hours.

The topic of starting school remains explosive and could soon take a similar turn in Germany. If the voices for a later start to school become louder, this could not only improve the well-being of the students, but also increase teaching success. What remains is the question: Are our schools ready to adapt to the biological rhythms of young people?