Your Voice: Let students sleep, promoting environmental initiatives (long letters)

Hong Kong students are facing a critical issue: early school start times. While I understand the established schedule benefits both teachers and students, it immensely impacts students’ sleep, hindering our physical, mental and academic development.

Studies from the American non-profit organisation National Sleep Foundation confirm that aligning school schedules with student sleep patterns is necessary for their overall health and well-being.

Researchers have found that adolescents have a natural sleep-wake cycle that does not line up with the typical 8am school bell.

Teenagers require eight to 10 hours of sleep per night, but the average secondary school student only gets around six to seven hours on school nights. This chronic sleep deprivation leads to a list of problems, including an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Your Voice: Self-regulation, academic stress, fake degrees, mental health (short letters)

It is unethical to force students to operate on a schedule that goes against their biological needs.

One of the most compelling arguments for delaying school start times is the improvement it would have on academic outcomes. The American Academy of Paediatrics found that later school start times are associated with longer sleep duration, improved attendance and better grades.

For example, when a school in Seattle, United States, pushed back the school start time by 55 minutes, it saw a 4.5 per cent increase in students meeting academic standards. Similar improvements have been documented in schools around the US that have implemented later school start times. Allowing students to get the amount of sleep they need positively impacts their classroom performance.

Perhaps most importantly, delaying school start times is an equity issue. The students who stand to benefit the most are those from more disadvantaged backgrounds, including those who live far away from school.

Disadvantaged students are more likely to lose sleep because of factors like long commutes or home responsibilities.

Changing school schedules is a straightforward yet simple way to ensure all students have equal learning opportunities.

It is time for schools to heed medical experts’ advice and prioritise student health, academic success and their futures. It’s the right thing to do.

Tips for creating the perfect sleep environment

Agnes Cho, Tak Nga Secondary School

I am writing to express my strong support for the Green Star environmental initiative recently implemented at my school. Its emphasis on environmental conservation and green living habits is commendable and underlines the urgent need for sustainable practices.

These environmental initiatives are beneficial for schools and have far-reaching effects. Research has shown that recycling and reusing materials can significantly reduce the pressure on landfills, minimise pollution and conserve valuable resources.

A United States Environmental Protection Agency study found that recycling one ton (907kg) of paper can save 17 trees, about 26,500 litres of water and around 2,300 litres of landfill space.

These statistics highlight the concrete impact of simple green actions on our environment.

Schools are instrumental in instilling green values and teaching students to be proactive about creating a more sustainable future.

The success of Green Star in engaging students shows how effective schools can be in promoting eco-friendly practices.

A comprehensive curriculum that integrates sustainability and the environment into various subjects should be implemented to add to these efforts.

Incorporating topics such as climate change, resource conservation, and sustainable living practices into the curriculum will help students develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and a lifelong commitment to green actions.

Should schools be required to have a subject dedicated to climate change?

Hands-on learning experiences such as beach clean-up events, planting projects and waste reduction campaigns can also empower students to apply this new knowledge to their daily lives and make a difference in their local communities.

They will nurture a sense of environmental responsibility and inspire family and peers to become proactive advocates for a greener, more sustainable world.

I urge schools to expand their environmental initiatives beyond the classroom and provide students with the resources needed to become responsible caretakers of the environment. Investing in environmental education and encouraging responsibility means a more sustainable future for all.