7:30 am or 8:30 am?

THERE is this proposal from one of our lawmakers to move the start time of classes from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. This has gathered mixed reactions from Filipino citizens. My curiosity led me to read on some researches about what time is the best to start classes especially for elementary pupils.

One study I came across made three conclusions. Starting classes at 7:40 am has its own benefits such as less morning transitions because the children go to school upon waking up, therefore, more prepared to learn. They also observed that children seemed to be more alert at the beginning of the day and stayed more energized throughout the day.

One disadvantage though is tardiness for some pupils. The 8:40 am start was seen to capture elementary pupils’ prime learning time. It has also impacted the teachers professionally because they feel more relaxed, less rushed and more energized to teach. The less desirable time to start classes is at 9:40 am because this means pushing more academics until the later part of the afternoon where children are reported to have decreased energy; and late start also means late dismissal causing parents to worry because their children have to come home late. (Elementary Feedback on Changed Start Times, University of Minnesota, c. 1998 Center for Applied Research and Educational Environment)

Another research showed that early start time is a risk factor for poor school performance mainly caused by sleep deprivation (Earlier School Start Times as a Risk Factor Poor School Performance: An Examination of Public Elementary Schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Journal of Educational Psychology 2015). However, according to the National Sleep Foundation (2011), the sleep deprivation can be associated to modernday elementary pupils taking on additional responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and more particularly the use of media.

As a teacher, I have observed these things in my pupils. Most of my pupils are alert in the morning, and since school is the first thing in their mind upon waking up, their mind is more focused and prepared to learn especially when they were able to sleep enough. A few of my pupils come to class late and still sleepy. Late bedtimes make it difficult for children to wake up in the morning; consequently, affecting all other performances throughout the day. Thus, the implication is on home training - parents ensuring that their children go to bed early, so they could wake up early. When children are trained early, it becomes part of their system as they become adults.

I agree with the findings of the study that it is not beneficial for elementary pupils to have classes until the later part of the afternoon because their ‘study energy’ decreases with the hours of the day. Besides, early start also means early dismissal and more home/family time for both pupils and teachers. Lastly, in a country where most jobs start at 8:00 am, starting classes at 8:30 am could have a negative impact to many working parents.