The Problem with Puberty

• During puberty the biological clock does a phase shift the keeps adolescents up later. Unlike prepubescents and grownups, adolescents don’t release the sleep inducing chemical melatonin until 90 minutes after it gets dark. Schools that have shifted to later start times for high schools have been able to measure performance improvements. They also see higher levels of motivation and lower levels of depression. Teenage car accidents also drop. Schools are scheduled for adult convenience as there is no educational reason to start high schools as early as we do.

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