should schools be allowed to start before 8AM? Options

[*tweeak*]

I'm going to attempt to use this as a topic for a persuasive essay, but before we can get the topics approved, we have to basically debate with the teacher on it, so I'd like to be prepared for some of the arguements I'll be up against. Please provide thoughtful reasoning on your opinion, as to why it's important for schools to begin at one time or another

[mai_z]

[QUOTEFacts you say? Well then, if high schools were to start after 8, then both middle schools and elementary schools would have to start after 9 and 10. Schools would have to end later and shorten the time of after school activities(such as after school football practice or soccer). The school bus schedule after school would arrive around 5(for the elementary schools) in the midst of rush hour delaying the student's time time to get home.(yes, my school buses do go on the highway).[/QUOTE]

I went to the only arts school in the city for elementary school, so we were basically forced to start after 9 (we started at 9:30) because students had to get from all over the city to school. Classes didn't end until 4, and kids didn't get home till around five. 'What does this have to do with the topic?' you ask...well we had the highest average in the entire school board. It's virtually impossible to ask students to function at peak performance that early in the morning, because they need their sleep. If they had to get to school at 8, and perhaps wake up around 6:30, they would all be sleeping in class instead of learning.