Later School Start For Teenagers Brings Drop In Absenteeism

krou writes "Monkseaton High School in North Tyneside, UK, began an experiment in October that saw its 800 pupils ranging in age from 13-19 attend school an hour later than normal, at 10am. Early results indicate that 'general absence has dropped by 8% and persistent absenteeism by 27%.' Head teacher Paul Kelley supported the idea because he believed that 'it was now medically established that it was better for teenagers to start their school day later in terms of their mental and physical health and how they learn better in the afternoon', and he now claims that the children are becoming 'happier better educated teenagers' as a result of the experiment. The experiment is being overseen by Oxford neuroscience professor Russell Foster. 'He performed memory tests on pupils at the school which suggested the more difficult lessons should take place in the afternoon. He said young people's body clocks may shift as they reach their teenage years — meaning they want to get up later not because they are lazy but because they are biologically programmed to do.'"

Comments

Re:What About The Parents?

[cayenne8]

"If your 12 year old is the kind of person who is going to get knocked up, I doubt starting school earlier is really going to change that."

That's the truth, if she's going to school earlier, that means she gets off earlier...and home before YOU do.

I was banging my girlfriend at her house almost every afternoon after school, before out parents got off work. A parent is NOT going to stop it, but it sure helps if you aren't so uptight as to freak out if you find contraception around.

Ahh...it sure was nice back in the day...didn't have to worry too much about condoms (most all my girlfriends were on the pill). Back then you could fuck just about anything that moved, and the worst thing that might happen was you caught something that could easily be cured with a shot.