| |
 |
Should school start later in the day
|
Wu Yan
A PROFESSIONAL market research company recently studied the effect on the city's students of getting too little sleep. According to that study, shortage of sleep has had a negative impact on 30.8 per cent of SZ's primary and middle school students, who say they often feel very tired and sleepy in class.
This survey also indicates that the students usually get up at 6.22am on average and go to bed at 10.09pm on a daily basis, while 70 per cent of whom do not take a nap at noon.
The study has led some to believe that school should start has sparked heated debate at two of the city's most important gatherings: the convention of the municipal committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Second Session of the Third Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress.
Wang Rong
Primary school teacher
Students in my school are required to arrive at school between 7.20am and 7.40am, while the teachers arrive ten minutes earlier. Then the students' morning reading session begins at 7.45am.
As a matter of fact, almost all the students in the city have to get up before 7.00am. Those who live far from their schools have to get up before 6.30am. The schedules of the student buses confirm this. The first student buses start to pick up students from 6.30am. Those who need to take the buses have to leave their beds at least 25 minutes before the bus comes.
Because of their required early arrival at school, many students have no time to eat breakfast. Neither do they have time for physical exercise after arriving at school. So, many of them have developed permanent bags under their eyes.
Chang Wei
Middle school principal
I believe sleep deficiency of most students in the city can be attributed to the fact that they go to bed too late rather than their early start.
Since SZ schools have lightened the homework load of students, it is reasonable to say that the students have enough time to sleep. However, surveys show that most of the city's students go to bed around 10pm. You may ask the reasons. One reason is that many parents who stay up late affect their children. Another reason is that some parents hire private tutors to teach their children or send them to training classes. This means putting pressure on the children's academic work and keeping them away from sleep.
An old Chinese saying goes that the best time of a day is in the morning, when the air is fresh, and is good for reading and physical exercise. If we postpone the school arrival time, many parents will still send their children to school early because they themselves have to start work early. Then, during the interval - after their arrival and before the school begins - who will be responsible for the safety of the students?
Du Qin
Governmental staff member
The period of sleep between 4am and 7 or 8am is very important for the growth of young people. Getting up too early and depriving them of sleep will surely affect their mental and physical development. This is why developed countries like USA and Japan begin their kindergartens and schools after 8.30am daily.
But in SZ, students are asked to arrive at school at 7.30am or much earlier. Sleep deprivation is pervasive among our students.
|
|
|
|
