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Adolescents pay high cost when losing sleep

The public and private school system should be designed such that no child need be deprived of his or her basic fundamental sleep needs. Insofar that it is a basic need for the individual to thrive, it is a fundamental human right.

What is now obvious is that "sleeping" has been marginalized in contemporary society and is far from considered a basic human right, much less a need. There is a systemic submission and complicity for interrupting adolescent sleep daily.

Further, adolescent sleep is interrupted in the worst way possible, unimaginable in any other aspect of life, to the shrill hammering scream of an alarm clock.

The highest charged and longest REM sleep cycle of the night occurs in the last 75 minutes of an entire nine-hour night's sleep. This is cut short daily.

This is analogous to a long, drawn-out symphony rising mezzo forte to fortissimo in a final chorale only to be summarily switched off in mid-symphony daily in a methodical fashion.

We snuff out that final hour of sleep all in the name of progress and getting things done. I've got news for you. A whole lot of stuff is getting done while young students are sleeping.

When sleep needs clash with culture, convenience, and cost, all the nods of affirmation slow to the rise of fierce opposition and doubt. How much is this worth to change the schools start times?

When you consider that sleeping is achieving, mood enhancing, energizing, motivating, instructional, the war on drugs and cancer, building self esteem, and the secret to longevity, I think it's worth millions.

Barrington 220 is in the final month of deliberation to change the school start times for the benefit of all students. I hope other school districts are paying attention.

Nitin Soorya

South Barrington

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