Finally, A School That Understands Teenagers!
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You're lost in the world of dreams and sleep. You roll over, smiling as you encounter a swimming pool filled with chocolate. And then 'poof' - Your wonderful dream becomes a nightmare where someone is screaming "GET UP!!" - No this isn't some boot camp, but just what every teenager goes through each morning!
Now, there seems to be one school that finally understands that requiring teens to show up at the ungodly hour of 9.00am is not just cruel but also detrimental, to both the kids and the school.
The Monkseaton High School in North Tyneside, Britain recently decided to experiment to see if there is any difference in student behavior if they just pushed back the start of their day by one hour, from 9.00am to 10.00am - And the results as we teens could have told you, are . . . . . . astounding.
Since implementing the later start, Monkseaton has seen a 28% drop in truancy, hardly any tardiness, and best of all, higher test scores. One of the reasons of course, is that the teenagers are much happier to have the extra hour of sleep, but there is also a scientific reason behind why they need the extra sleep.
The school's decision to push back the time was based on research conducted by Oxford professor Russell Foster, a neuroscientist, who concluded that teenagers have different sleep cycles than adults. Why? Because in young adults, the hormone melatonin that induces sleep, is secreted later than it is in adults, explaining why teenagers go to bed late and wake up late.
While adults are alert and ready at 8 AM, adolescents are not fully awake until 10 AM, sometimes even noon. Memory tests prove that the more difficult classes should be in the afternoon when teenagers are most alert.
Teachers may argue that their students perform better in the morning, but in reality it is because they in "the zone" while their students are still mildly sedated, making the students easier to control. By lunch, teachers are exhausted and kids are ready to go, giving the impression that students lose concentration over the day.
According to the scientist, teenagers remain 2 time zones behind their adult counterparts from ages, 13-21. After that, this time shift slowly reverses, so by the time a person approaches 50, they are waking up at the same time they did when they were 6.
The Monkseaton school officials are definitely encouraged by the results and plan on voting in June to make it a permanent change - Now if only the rest of the high schools in the world would listen and follow their example, and allow all teens could get some extra zzzz's. Personally, as a tired sixteen year-old, a late start would help me and my chemistry grade tremendously . . . . . .Is anybody listening?
sources: dailymail.co.uk,blog.taragana.com
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325 Comments
fire_kitten13over 9 yearsi wish our school could do that! that's the best!
bluetoothover 9 yearsIf your like me, you could sleep all day and just watch the recordings the next day.
gigglerover 9 yearsAWESOME!
blossomover 9 yearsso cool
fizzypop11over 9 yearsi want my school to be like that- bluetoothover 9 yearsAgree. You could watch the recordings the next day if you went to ecot.
nikukyuover 9 yearsAll of us are having a on-going conversation! Yay! Feel free to goin in-the more the merrier!
emmabookworm5over 9 yearsI wish that they would do that at my school too. I wake up at 6:30 every morning for school, but I'm lucky. I don't even know when my older sister wakes up...- fizzypop11over 9 yearsI have to wake up at 6 because i have a looooooong commute to school which starts at 8:15
crystalmoriover 9 yearsI had the same problem last year, but now we only live like 5mins away from the school I go to.
tamrnover 9 yearsThat would be awesome
ts1989over 9 yearsI am almost A teenager. I will be in 3 years!!
bigmeloover 9 yearsCool! When I become a sophomore in high school, I can't wait to embrace the feeling of a 'Sweet 16'! /(>.<)\
- nikukyuover 9 yearsWhat's school like there in America? In Japan, there's only one teacher who teaches you the whole day.(except music, home ec, and sometimes math). I don't know about America, but here at the start of the new school year ( April ), if you're stuck with a bad teacher, well, that's it. And you only can learn with kids from your home room class.(the same members all day). Next, recess. We have ten and twenty minute breaks alternating. Other random facts about Japanese elementary schools: we can only eat school lunches, and we can only eat in classrooms.( there's no such thing as a cafeteria ) We use gyms as auditoriums. Also in my school you can't bring the following; accessorys, watches, phones, and anything that's not related to learning. We also don't have busses in most schools-we have to walk. Also, what we learn is different each day. Math And Japanese are a must, but other than the two what you learn is different. Jealous? What fact surprised you most?
cheetahluverover 9 yearsWell I'm in middle school so its probably a little different, but you are so lucky to have recess! I either have gym or health, which is no fun. However, I don't have just one teacher, I have multiple so if you really don't like one, at least you're only stuck with them for 1 hour. >.<- crystalmoriover 9 yearsWow, that's really different than the middle school I went to. It's sad that you don't have recess, though. Why did they do that?
- nikukyuover 9 yearsYou don't have recess?! Recess is savior! ( just kidding...? )
- cheetahluverover 9 yearsI know right! And we have math at the end of the day, which is killer!!!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsAghhhh I feel so bad for you!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsBTW, nikukyu, I've heard that the school year is very different in Japan. Would you tell me more about this? Over here, school starts in either August or September and goes until May or June. We then have approximately 2 months of summer vacation before school starts again.
ravermccare23over 9 yearsWow, nikukyu! You have a very cool culture! in america, it actually isn't much different. we still have similar classes, and some schools here also do have one teacher for every kid. I was very surprised about when you said that you can't bring watches. i usually do!! no one has a problem here, for very much. I am in middle school, and it is pretty cool. do you cook in home ec, because we do and it is really fun. thanks for writing that, it was very helpful to know and really fun to read!- nikukyuover 9 yearsAww I'm so glad it was fun to read! You guys at DOGO had made my day-I'm not kidding. I wasn't having to best day of my life today, but I cheered up a LOT, thanks to all my buds here! ( I'm going to refere you guys as my buds-even if you don't think I am! To me you guys are! ) xxx
- bigmeloover 9 yearsThat's what I think, too! Even if I don't know you guys that well, you guys have the capability to boost my spirits. For that, I will present to you - the (totally not invisible) trophy of honor!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsAwkwardly curtesys and smile. Stumbles off the stage with tears of happiness!
- crystalmoriover 9 years*bows* I receive it with honor. (gets all embarassed)
- bigmeloover 9 yearsWe all have our moments... :)
frankiebabyover 9 yearsI wonder what school is like in Japan! it seems really cool, and I feel bored in america. we mostly just go to classes and then switch but with the same kids. I have Math, SS, Science, English, Art, FCS, Band, Gym, MST, Library, and Lunch. Next semester I will have Study Skills and Writing Lab instead of MST and Library. It can be fun sometimes. I Have a question for you Nikukyu-when you go off into different schools, will you still have the same teacher, because I used to in elementary school, but now it is different in middle school. You have some very fun facts about Japan! I would love to go there and try it out! I would like to learn Japanese! I am taking spanish next year, so at least i will have more than one language to speak from.- nikukyuover 9 yearsMmm it's cool but I want to go to an American school someday! Hey, how about we trade places for a week! That'll be awesome!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsWhat does SS, FCS, and MST mean? Oh, and to answer your question; in most of my country, I think you'll have different teachers when you go to different schools. Most schools here don't have pre-school, elementary school, and middle school in the same place. I hope that helped!
- frankiebabyover 9 yearsSS is social studies, FCS is family consumer science, which is just another word for home ec. MST is not that popular, but it is called math science technology, and it is really fun!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsOhhhhh ok! Thanks!
wildpeepover 9 yearsfirst we go to L.A , sience , soilcal studies , then the cafeteria to eat lunch then recceses then math then go home
peacheslarueover 9 yearsCool! But i have a teacher for each subject
bibliophileover 9 yearsMe too... well for each period...
happypug12over 9 yearsMy teacher is my mother, so I have 1 teacher for each subject, like nikukyu. : )
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsWell, we have different kinds of schools and things are run differently in each of them. At most schools up until junior high school (what's known as middle school in Japan, I believe), you have one teacher that teaches you everything. There are four core subjects: Math, language arts (AKA English), Science, and social studies. Social studies includes everything from world history to the current politics and the way the government is run. We mostly only learn about America, though. The subjects are the same every day, but not always taught in the same order. Also, if your level of talent in a certain area is higher than the rest of the class, you might get put in special classes with different teachers at certain times.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsOh, and come to think of it, we had a different teacher for music. About once a week she'd come in and give us lessons, but the rest of the time I think we just had the same teacher. That was in primary school, though. (second and third grade)
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsI don't know if this is true for every school, but at the jr high I went to, we were allowed to choose two electives- classes that we wanted to take, that weren't decided for us. Though, that school was pretty unusual. Even the Kindergarteners had electives. But I think in most schools, you start having a few more teachers in jr high. In high school there are certain subjects you need to graduate, but we have a lot more freedom and can choose several electives. In America, we're generally allowed to bring electronics to school as long as we don't use them in class. From middle school on down, some schools allow kids to bring their electronics to school but not to use them at all. I guess this is so that if they want to go somewhere after school with their electronics, they don't have to stop at home first to get them. Most schools don't have uniforms, but they do have a Dress Code. Basically, we're allowed to wear what we want, but only within certain parameters. It can't be too distracting.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsAnd in high school, a different teacher teaches each class. We have a certain amount of time to get from one classroom to the next between classes, and that's also when we hang out with our friends and stuff. We're allowed to use electronics at lunch time. Middle schoolers have to eat in the cafeteria and aren't allowed to use their electronics, but high school students can sit pretty much anywhere on campus. At some schools, they're allowed to leave and go get lunch themselves (providing they can drive or get there somehow), but I don't think we have that here. I think your parent has to come sign you out if you want to go somewhere for lunch. Whether a school has buses or not depends on how big the school is, how many kids go there, and probably how close or far they live. I hope this was helpful and that I've been able to answer some of your questions. Sorry the comment is so long. I guess I got carried away.
- frankiebabyover 9 yearsI guess it is pretty similar with my middle school, except i travel with the same kids. when I am in high school, i will be able to go out for lunch.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsThank you crystalmori for writing and explaining so much to me! I learned a lot:D You really are amazing at words!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsYou're welcome, nikukyu! And thank you for the compliment. I had heard that English is a mandatory subject in Japan, but wow, you're really good at it! I was pretty surprised at the 'no accessories or cafeteria thing', but now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen girls wear any necklaces or anything with their uniform. The 'no buses' thing was actually not that surprising since you have the Shinkansen, but the fact that you have different classes every day is pretty cool. I guess it kind of surprised me, but it also didn't surprise me. ^_^' I guess that doesn't really make sense, though.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsWell, I started learning since I was born. When I was in 4th grade I got grade pre-first in the most difficult English test association in my country. ( the highest level is grade first-native level ) When I took a test, everyone looked at me strangely cuz all of the people there was in university or or adults:D I stuck out like a sore thumb lol😆. I passed! Yeah, I think I'm more or less good at English. But I'm still far more bad at English than you guys. Sometimes I stumble with words. But I think it's cool that I can think with two languages! Also, it's great cuz I can see original American shows or movies! I'm not great at spelling though...
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsThat's awesome! Right now, if I watch anime or something without subtitles, I can only understand about a fourth of it, and I only know hiragana, so reading is even harder. I love Japanese, though. I plan to keep studying it and hopefully become fluent within the next year or so. That's going to take some effort, though. ^_^
- bigmeloover 9 yearsWow! That's so cool! I'm Chinese, only I was born & I live in America. Currently, I have learned English, Chinese, & Spanish. Being multilingual is a real accomplishment, so don't give up guys! Keep on studying, listening, & learning. Just remember that the amount of effort you put in determines the amount of success that comes out, but trust me, you guys are totally doing fine. When it comes to being a polyglot, there's absolutely nothing wrong!
- happypug12over 9 yearsI have always wanted to learn Spanish! I also want to learn Arabic, because I'm half Arabic. I actually look more Irish than Arabic.
- bigmeloover 9 yearsReally? That's so cool! I've never heard of such a combination before! Plus, I've heard that the Arabic language should be pretty easy to master, but I don't know about the writing!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsWow bigmelo! You are so amazing!
diamondkidover 9 yearsThat's very cool Bigmelo- bigmeloover 9 yearsAw, really? Thanks so much!
- bigmeloover 9 yearsReally? Thanks! I never thought of myself that way before. I see others who have mastered more than ten languages, & I think to myself, 'Now why can't I be as smart?' But when you delve in the thoughts of your conscience, you realize that you're perfect exactly the way you are.
- happypug12over 9 yearsWow, nikukyu. You really have an amazing culture. I never knew that! I don't know what Public school is like in the USA because I'm home-schooled, but I do have to have made my bed, eaten breakfast, and showered and gotten dressed by 9:00 or I lose my computer privileges for the day. I do like being home-schooled though, and English is my favorite subject because there are so many options, and it's all about using your creativity! : )
- bigmeloover 9 yearsReally? That's cool! I've always wondered what it's like to be home-schooled...
- nikukyuover 9 yearsI want to try homeschooling for a week or something!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsWow. I tried homeschooling once, but it didn't work out. I guess I needed more of a social life. I've always kind of been a people person. But I agree with you. I love reading and writing and learning new words! I used to have like a bazillion stories I was working on, but now I've cut it down to 2-4.
- happypug12over 9 yearsCool, crystalmori! Do you plan on publishing your stories? I'm writing about 6 stories, which I am going to self-publish. You can self-publish for free on Amazon. And reading is my favorite! I can read for hours on end without stopping. And I am a really social person also, and I play outdoors all the time with the neighbors, which helps me from getting bored. : )
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsYes, I'm planning on publishing this crazy series about a criminal who turns good but then gets killed and reincarnates (gets reborn in a different body). So the main book will be about the life of the girl she turns into and how her dark past and current happy life give her insights into almost every kind of human life. I also hope to make a prequel about her previous life (the one as a criminal). Maybe. There's no real plot yet, it's still kind of in the idea phase, but rather than over-thinking it I think I want to just let it flow and it'll turn into something. I guess it's mostly about the unique way she sees things as a result of going through all those experiences.
- bigmeloover 9 yearsYour idea sounds fantastic! It feels as if your stories could be converted into a hit movie franchise as well!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsI know! I really want to read it!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsReally? o ^.^ o <-- (partying) That makes me so happy!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsThank you, bigmelo! I wasn't very sure if this idea would be popular, but hearing you say that gives me so much more confidence. I'm happy that you like the idea.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsThat's sounds really good! I love writing as well, but most of the times i can't catch up on spelling...it's like the words are flooding away and I have to do something about it! I was writing about a character( you don't know if the character his/her or the name until the end. ) Anyway, he has this "condition" where he's wired really differently from everybody else. Only a handful of them exists. But other than that, he's just a normal kid. Anyway, he loves the woods and was there one day when he saw the most beautiful deer he ever saw. He doesn't know it, but acually he was hypnotized. He wants to see the deer so badly, and goes to the woods again, only to meet a mysterious mute girl. After seeing her, his life is SO dreamlike and strange. And well, long story short, he realizes that he could only see the deer/girl because of his condition. He discoveres that his mom was an Askew ( the name of the condition ) as well. His learns that the girl was cursed to be a deer on starry nights, and his grand-grand-grandmother was the one who had castest it. Determined to get things right, he makes a trip... The story goes on and on. Writing this comment, I realized it sounded like a bad story:( I'm still learning. You sound like a much good writer than me! At least I had fun writing it! What do you guys think? Do you think it's good? ( sorry I got carried away there )
- happypug12over 9 yearsYour story sounds SO unique, nikukyu. And that's what makes a story different and interesting. If all books were the same, well, let's just say I would be VERY bored. For me, my best story inspiration comes from my dreams. And if you want exciting and awesome dreams, just drink apple juice before you go to bed.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsYour story idea actually kind of reminds me of this one that I have where a guy becomes a horrible criminal because a witch took away his ability to feel. Years later, her son joins the gang to restore the first guy's missing heart.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsOf course, the story actually has a lot more complexity to it, but I found the similarity to that part of it very interesting.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsIt doesn't sound bad at all. My first story was about finding an arrow that led to a secret treasure room (that was basically the whole plot XD), and I was about ten when I wrote that. I started a series about 2 years later about this girl who finds out that she's the last Enchantress, Guardian of the unicorns. She's all alone in the world, but there are others who share similar situations, just like how in real life, no two people are exactly the same, but we can still relate to each other. I am considering finishing it but haven't been really into it lately, so I've moved over to other things. If you try to force a story into existence, it just turns out bad. That's what I've found over the past few years. You might think it's lame now, but that doesn't mean you should give up. I encourage you to keep on writing no matter how lame you think your story is, because every little bit of it is a step to becoming better.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsThank you so much for encouraging me! You really helped me, you are so nice-everyone on DOGO is! Gosh, I'm starting to tear up a little. Excuse me while I'm a crybaby * sniff sniff *
- bigmeloover 9 yearsDon't worry - even those who look like they have a resilient personality have a sensitive side. :)
- frankiebabyover 9 yearsI am on another website with Peacheslarue, and i see some mean comments to others. That is why this website is better!
- bigmeloover 9 yearsI like this website because everyone encourages one another to be at their highest point. If it weren't for Dogo News, I don't know what I'd do!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsDefinitely, banding together and helping each other is the best way to get through life. We all go through hard times. No one needs more problems heaped on their plate. By being honest with our feelings and encouraging each other, we can gain true strength. I just wish more people would realize that. To show the world that 'we may be only humans, but we can still do something great. There's a strength inside of us that is waiting to be awakened, and that can (I think) only happen when we band together and watch out for one another'- that is my dream.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsI know! When I had a bad day at school, I would go to dogo! Even if. Don't have a bad day, well, you guys probably know that I like to hang out here a lot! One time I found dogo in my schools computer, and a comment acually made me choke up! ( it was a comment from peacheslarue, and the article was "plight of the artic penguins" I think. )
- peacheslarueover 9 yearsAww! Your so sweet!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsNo, you are!
- peacheslarueover 9 yearsNikukyu, you are such a good friend!!
- bigmeloover 9 yearsI know, right? Nikukyu has been so nice to many users in her time on Dogo News, & for that we'll always remember her!
- happypug12over 9 yearsYeah, nikukyu is one of my best friends on Dogo News!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsAnd all good writers have a tendency to get carried away. most of us, at least.
- happypug12over 9 yearsSo true!
- nikukyuover 9 yearsLol!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsSorry, you didn't even ask me what it was about. I just got carried away.^_^' Sorry. But I'm interested in hearing about your stories, too, as well as any feedback you have on my previous comment.
- peacheslarueover 9 yearsI know this is kind of a wierd comment but when i was little i had a stuffed animal orca named mori. Sorry!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsXD. That's awesome.
- peacheslarueover 9 yearsikr
- bigmeloover 9 yearsOh my god! That's so ironic!
- diamondkidover 9 yearsI know
- nikukyuover 9 yearsMori means "forest" or "jungle" in Japanese.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsOmg you could do that?! Please tell me more!
hemmguinover 9 yearsI think the facts that surprised me most were the one about not being able to bring accessories, watches, phones, etc. to school, and the one about not having cafeterias. It sounds like a cool school though!- nikukyuover 9 yearsMmm maybe! Though I wish I could go to an American school just for a day...
- bigmeloover 9 yearsIn American schools, students are provided with many privileges. There are an abundance of super-lenient teachers who are willing to pretty much do almost anything to make their pupils happy. But there are also super-strict teachers who go by the 'my house, my rules' thing, but don't worry, there aren't many of them. You'd be surprised to know that kids in my school & several other schools where I live swear, curse, & even enter physical combat - & even get away with it! And it's not like I live in a 'bad area' at all. I actually live in a semi-expensive region. Too bad; I thought that teachers really did have 'eyes in the back of their heads'. Oh, well then.
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsYeah, our school's kinda weird. We have seven different teachers a day, and all of them have their own rules. Some let us listen to music in class and some don't. Some allow cussing and some don't. But, well, there's too much to really stop it. If a teacher tries, then half the time I'll hear two or three other swear words from my classmates while the first one is still being chewed out by the teacher. Our freshman class has a really bad reputation, but on the bright side, it makes me look like an angel. There's only been one fight that I've heard about all year, though.
- nikukyuover 9 yearsThank you crystalmori and bigmelo! I learned a lot!
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsSometimes it's actually really nice to have a strict teacher or substitute.
- cheetahluverover 9 yearsThat is soooo true..Like at my middle school we wake up at 7:30. :P
- bigmeloover 9 yearsI so feel you. I attend middle school at 8:00, only I wake up at 7:00. It gets tiring after a while.
- peacheslarueover 9 yearsAt my middle school i have to wake up at 6:30 cuz school's 8:10 and i liv like 40 mins away! And on days when i have chorus (choir) i have to wake up at 6:00 cuz chorus starts at 7:33 and i liv far. Actaully i only liv only 25 mins away but traffic....
