TAB school reporter Laura Lovett tweets…
Start times in Newton will not be changing this fall. Earlist time for possible changes is fall 2017 #highschoolstarttimes @newtontab
— Laura Lovett (@lauralovett7) March 15, 2016
UPDATE: Here’s the TAB’s story.
This is the result of our electing a group of pathetically incompetent losers to run our schools. The School Committee is well aware that every study and all the evidence proves early morning start times are physically and emotionally unhealthy for teens. Yet, they leave in a place a daily threat to the health and wellbeing of thousands of Newton school children. It’s unconscionable!… and exactly what I expected from people who have their heads up their assess.
I know some people will take offense to what I’ve written. So go ahead and tell me I’m wrong. But just keep in mind that we’re talking about the same School Committee that has proven itself oblivious to the harm done by school sponsored football, a sport linked to countless traumatic brain injuries and life changing orthopedic issues.
These School Committee members deserve impeachment, not the empowerment of elected office. Mayor Warren should be ashamed of himself for allowing early morning start times AND tackle football to continue. He has demonstrated a complete lack of leadership on these issues. You get what you vote for folks. Unfortunately, your children are paying for those votes with their health.
@Mike: Sounds like you may need to lecture our teachers, not the school committee. From Laura’s article…
This is the result of our electing a group of pathetically incompetent losers to run our schools. The School Committee is well aware that every study and all the evidence proves early morning start times are physically and emotionally unhealthy for teens. Yet, they leave in a place a daily threat to the health and wellbeing of thousands of Newton school children. It’s unconscionable!… and exactly what I expected from people who have their heads up their assess.
I know some people will take offense to what I’ve written. So go ahead and tell me I’m wrong. But just keep in mind that we’re talking about the same School Committee that has proven itself oblivious to the harm done by school sponsored football, a sport linked to countless traumatic brain injuries and life changing orthopedic issues.
These School Committee members deserve impeachment, not the empowerment of elected office. Mayor Warren should be ashamed of himself for allowing early morning start times AND tackle football to continue. He has demonstrated a complete lack of leadership on these issues. You get what you vote for folks. Unfortunately, your children are paying for those votes with their health.
@Mike: Sounds like you may need to lecture our teachers, not the school committee. From Laura’s article…
I was concerned about this issue when my son entered kindergarten.
He graduates in June.
I hope for those behind him something is done. I have read more print and on-line articles about this and from personal experience with all three of my children and their friends, even 15 minutes…heck even 10, would make a difference.
I was concerned about this issue when my son entered kindergarten.
He graduates in June.
I hope for those behind him something is done. I have read more print and on-line articles about this and from personal experience with all three of my children and their friends, even 15 minutes…heck even 10, would make a difference.
http://www.startschoollater.net/about-us.html
http://www.startschoollater.net/about-us.html
http://learninglab.wbur.org/2015/12/22/districts-explore-later-start-times-for-high-schools/
http://learninglab.wbur.org/2015/12/22/districts-explore-later-start-times-for-high-schools/
If my company moves or changes what time I need to be in the office 8:30 AM vs 9 AM, I don’t have a choice. I show up. If my company moves, either I deal with the new commute or get a new job. Keeping things the same is easy – you have your child care all set; you are used to the commute, etc.
Sometimes change is hard . . . .but we still need to change.
If my company moves or changes what time I need to be in the office 8:30 AM vs 9 AM, I don’t have a choice. I show up. If my company moves, either I deal with the new commute or get a new job. Keeping things the same is easy – you have your child care all set; you are used to the commute, etc.
Sometimes change is hard . . . .but we still need to change.
This is old news. The Boston Globe printed this information that the EARLIEST, if EVER, would be the fall of 2017 – ran in the Globe about 10 days ago.
I like to think that something doesn’t become “news” until it is published on Village 14.
This is old news. The Boston Globe printed this information that the EARLIEST, if EVER, would be the fall of 2017 – ran in the Globe about 10 days ago.
I like to think that something doesn’t become “news” until it is published on Village 14.
I’m also disappointed with our School Committee Members but for different reasons. They took a deaf ear in dealing with the Day Jr. High Principal. Time to elect new people.
I’m also disappointed with our School Committee Members but for different reasons. They took a deaf ear in dealing with the Day Jr. High Principal. Time to elect new people.
There was a Boston Globe article last week about districts around the state exploring later high school start times. Newton is mentioned about halfway through the article as considering a change as early as 2017. Many of us expected that time frame, based on the rather deliberate pace the School Committee has taken studying the issue. For some reason, the School Committee felt a need last night to formally announce the 2017-18 date as a possibility.
The Globe article was interesting because it reveals some of the positive changes that have occurred at (if I remember correctly) Nauset Regional since start times were moved back there (better grades, less tardiness among them).
Seems to me about 8:30 a.m. would make sense as a start time for our high schools. And the students’ needs should outweigh those of the staff… the staff survey results notwithstanding.
There was a Boston Globe article last week about districts around the state exploring later high school start times. Newton is mentioned about halfway through the article as considering a change as early as 2017. Many of us expected that time frame, based on the rather deliberate pace the School Committee has taken studying the issue. For some reason, the School Committee felt a need last night to formally announce the 2017-18 date as a possibility.
The Globe article was interesting because it reveals some of the positive changes that have occurred at (if I remember correctly) Nauset Regional since start times were moved back there (better grades, less tardiness among them).
Seems to me about 8:30 a.m. would make sense as a start time for our high schools. And the students’ needs should outweigh those of the staff… the staff survey results notwithstanding.
Andy, the day after that Boston Globe article, in the Corrections column on page two, they announced that Newton would be at the earliest, if ever, beginning a change in the fall of 2017. So, the SC announcing it last night was not the first time I heard about it.
Andy, the day after that Boston Globe article, in the Corrections column on page two, they announced that Newton would be at the earliest, if ever, beginning a change in the fall of 2017. So, the SC announcing it last night was not the first time I heard about it.
If you are concerned, please visit newtonhighschools.com and sign up. Community involvement is necessary.
The article says, “Only 47 percent strongly agree or agree that start times should be later, compared with 66 percent of high school students.” Laura’s use of the word “Only,” is unfortunate. This is something where the details of the survey are important. 21% of the teachers had no opinion or were unsure. 31% of teachers disagreed that high school should start later. So, for teachers that have an opinion 60.3% think starting late is good idea and 39.7% think it is not a good idea.
The school committee has not released the actual details of the surveys. My guess is the question was simply worded “Do you think that a late starting time is a good idea?” If so, teachers likely replied to the extent that it directly affects their own schedules. Most teachers care about their students, and as such, if the question was “Do you think that a late starting time is a good idea if it promotes better student health and education?,” the answers would have been more dramatic.
The medical evidence overwhelming supports the benefits of a later start times. Surveys won’t change this. All the surveys conducted so far have constituents with opinions preferring a late start time. Every day we delay our children are subjected to lower test scores, worse classroom performance, worse mental health, worse physical health, and a much higher chance of getting into an automobile accident. We should have made the change a long time ago.
If you are concerned, please visit newtonhighschools.com and sign up. Community involvement is necessary.
The article says, “Only 47 percent strongly agree or agree that start times should be later, compared with 66 percent of high school students.” Laura’s use of the word “Only,” is unfortunate. This is something where the details of the survey are important. 21% of the teachers had no opinion or were unsure. 31% of teachers disagreed that high school should start later. So, for teachers that have an opinion 60.3% think starting late is good idea and 39.7% think it is not a good idea.
The school committee has not released the actual details of the surveys. My guess is the question was simply worded “Do you think that a late starting time is a good idea?” If so, teachers likely replied to the extent that it directly affects their own schedules. Most teachers care about their students, and as such, if the question was “Do you think that a late starting time is a good idea if it promotes better student health and education?,” the answers would have been more dramatic.
The medical evidence overwhelming supports the benefits of a later start times. Surveys won’t change this. All the surveys conducted so far have constituents with opinions preferring a late start time. Every day we delay our children are subjected to lower test scores, worse classroom performance, worse mental health, worse physical health, and a much higher chance of getting into an automobile accident. We should have made the change a long time ago.
For years the School Committee has been aware of epidemic stress levels in our high schools. For more than a decade they’ve been aware that sleep deprivation contributes to stress, and stress has physical and emotional consequences that teens are particularly susceptible to. Sleep deprived teens are more likely to get sick. They’re more likely to become depressed. They’re more likely to use drugs. And in some extreme cases, more likely to commit suicide.
It defies logic that the School Committee would knowingly and willingly leave thousands of students exposed to these daily risks. Frankly, I’m years past the point of being baffled by the School Committee’s lack of action on high school start times. I’m beyond pissed-off that a handful of otherwise intelligent people have failed to grasp the necessity and urgency of this change. What the hell are they waiting for? They are courting disaster!
For years the School Committee has been aware of epidemic stress levels in our high schools. For more than a decade they’ve been aware that sleep deprivation contributes to stress, and stress has physical and emotional consequences that teens are particularly susceptible to. Sleep deprived teens are more likely to get sick. They’re more likely to become depressed. They’re more likely to use drugs. And in some extreme cases, more likely to commit suicide.
It defies logic that the School Committee would knowingly and willingly leave thousands of students exposed to these daily risks. Frankly, I’m years past the point of being baffled by the School Committee’s lack of action on high school start times. I’m beyond pissed-off that a handful of otherwise intelligent people have failed to grasp the necessity and urgency of this change. What the hell are they waiting for? They are courting disaster!