Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

Have you ever been tired when you wake up in the morning? I know that I’ve been. Lawrence junior high schools start at 8:08 in the morning. The bus comes to my house at 7:30 in the morning. If kids have school this early, how are they supposed to get enough sleep? According to the National Sleep Foundation, we’re supposed to get about 9-12 hours of sleep everyday. Waking up early doesn’t help teens get 9-12 hours of sleep.

If school starts later, getting the sleep could be easier. Teens Sleep Foundation took a poll. The poll stated that 24 percent of people want school to start later and 73 percent want the earlier time.

It’s not uncommon for kids to be tired in the morning. Some 60 percent of kids under 18 complain of beginning tired. 15 percent have actually claimed falling asleep during classes. The only problem of starting classes later in the day is that there would be bus issues. The only solution would be if we could her more buses. The problem with getting more buses is that it would cause air pollution, and would need more money for the busses.

I think that starting school later in the day will help the kids falling asleep, acting moody, focusing better, aggressive behavior, obesity and illnesses. Changing the school time may make all these things go away or make them better. If changing the time of schools, could change all of these things, then why wouldn’t you?

Campbell Drake,

Southwest Junior High