For those in MA

[drwex]

especially if you have, have had, or will have school-aged children, please consider adding your name to this petition to set Massachusetts Middle and High School start times to 8:30 AM or later.

We have had two children go through this. One managed/manages it, but would enjoy life more if it wasn't a requirement. The other is just not coping with school starting at 7:30.

There is reasonable scientific evidence that these hours are not beneficial for children, particularly as they approach puberty. And frankly it'd just be a lot less stress on parents.

Thanks for your consideration.

Comments

[chhotii]

So, I looked for legislation to this effect. I found Resolve S.227 (the Senate version) and Resolve H.2038 (the House version), which state that a committee should study this issue and file a report on it. I don't know what I think of this. The evidence is strong enough that any reasonable committee, upon studying this, should conclude by writing a report saying "oh hell yes schools should start later". But the composition of the committee is such that it would include at least a couple of Baker appointees, and Republicans seem to have a strange way of looking at evidence (think about global warming...) especially when certain lobbies have an interest in an issue. The football parents do certainly have an interest in the issue, opposed to later start time, and seem to be the type of lobby that would effectively bend the ear of Republican appointees. In a world in which the head of the EPA can consider global warming a "hoax", a committee could easily decide that between football schedules and bus expenses there's no way schools could start later. I wish the State Legislature would have hearings on school start times, rather than have a committee study this issue basically in secret.

So why were these Resolves filed, rather than some stronger legislation? I don't think they are trying to kill the idea. Is it because the legislators who filed these honestly don't know whether later school start times would be a good idea? Is it because the idea is so new and radical here, they think this is the strongest measure that would have any hope? I plan to call Senator Creem, who filed S.227, and who also happens to be my Senator, to ask.

Meanwhile you could point your reps to Resolve S.227 and Resolve H.2038. I guess it's better than nothing that they talk about talking about the issue, and that you talk about them talking about talking about this issue.

P.S. Especially if your Representative or Senator is on the Education committee!!! Because of course this has been referred to the Education committee to consider, or not.