My Story

Maddie Smith

Broadcast Journalism Story

Topic: High School Teens Not Getting Enough Sleep

Angle: Students Not Sleeping Enough

B-ROLL [STUDENTS WORKING ON HOMEWORK, GOING ON FACEBOOK, TALKING ON PHONE] [STUDENTS] [CAMERA ON NEWS REPORTER]  [STUDENTS ASLEEP IN CLASS, NOT ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION] [STUDENT]

A-ROLL High schoolers are constantly staying up late. When they aren't doing school work they are often socializing into late night hours. "I HAVE 3-5 HOURS OF HOMEWORK A NIGHT. I HAVE SO MUCH HOMEWORK I BARELY HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE UNTIL SUMMER COMES AROUND." Around 2/3 of the students at Eastview alone are not getting enough sleep. So there is one big question, are teachers pushing the student too far? "I THINK THE BIG PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WORK TIME IN CLASS. IF WE HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WORK IN CLASS, IT WOULD CUT THE TIME I WORK AT HOME IN HALF." "I GET HOMEWORK FOR EVERY CLASS ALMOST EVERY NIGHT. IT'S VERY STRESSFUL ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE TO BALANCE IT WITH 2 SPORTS AND A JOB EVERYDAY." It is said that on average a teenagers in high school should be getting around 9 hours of sleep. Also most teenagers say they can't physically fall asleep until around 10 or 11. Because school starts at 7:30, going to bed at those times makes getting enough sleep impossible. "I USUALLY CAN'T FALL ASLEEP RIGHT AWAY, EVEN IF HOMEWORK ISN'T KEEPING ME UP. WHEN I HAVE A LOT OF HOMEWORK I USUALLY ONLY GET ABOUT 5 HOURS OF SLEEP, BUT EVEN WITHOUT IT I ONLY GET ABOUT 7." There have been talks around the country about later start times at high schools. It has been said that it could make a huge difference on how students perform in school. "IF SCHOOL STARTED JUST AN HOUR LATER, I FEEL LIKE I WOULD BE A LOT MORE ENERGIZED AND READY TO GO TO SCHOOL. AS OF RIGHT NOW, I RARELY GET ENOUGH SLEEP AND I WONDER EVERY TIME I WAKE UP IF I'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY." Reporting for the flash, this is Maddie.