Schools
Delayed Start Time For Westfield High School? Here's How Readers Feel
Westfield teens may be able to catch some extra z's if a new NJ bill is passed. Readers feel mixed about this potential change.
WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield High School students may be able hit snooze a few more times if New Jersey passes a new bill to make high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
The new bill, sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), is a response to the mental health crisis facing teenagers at this time, especially due to the pandemic.
Lawmakers specifically cite a study linking sleep and mental health, which found that teens who attend school earlier in the morning are at a higher risk of experiencing depression and anxiety.
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Read more: NJ High Schools Could Start At 8:30 A.M. If This New Bill Passes
Patch asked Westfield readers on Facebook how they feel about the high school potentially starting an hour later, and we received many mixed responses.
Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Here's how some Westfield readers responded:
"Let them sleep." — Joseph Bresnahan
"Stupid, because kids will get home later, and be up getting school work done later." — Mike Saulnier
"The body releases the sleep hormone melatonin later at night in teens than in kids and adults. This resets the body's internal sleep clock so that teens fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the morning." — Grace Ribaudo
"Bitter because 30+ years ago I went to Pingry so, no matter when WHS started, I still would've had to be out of the house around 6:30 AM to catch the bus." — Lauren Koons
"How about us adults. Work sucks!!!" — Denise Focker.
If passed, the new bill would not go into effect until the start of 2024-25 school year. The legislation would not impact elementary and middle school students.
However, Chatham's school district will push back the start time of all schools next year so students can get more sleep. This includes elementary, middle and high school students.
Will Westfield Schools follow suit? Only time will tell.
Do you think Westfield students should get more sleep in the mornings? Comment your thoughts down below.
The poll on Westfield Patch's Facebook can be viewed here:
Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.
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