Not only is the early start time hindering students’ ability to learn due to sleepiness, but it also affects their health and mood, which might explain the sassy attitude students have in the mornings. Lack of sleep can contribute to aggressive and inappropriate behavior with teachers and even friends. Also, instead of sleep, many students have to rely on the poisonous Monster drinks and sugary coffee. But that isn‘t even the worst of it.

Drowsiness while driving can lead to devastating consequences. Teen drivers make up more than half of all falling-asleep-at-the-wheel accidents each year, according to The National Institutes of Health. Researchers from the British journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine in Australia and New Zealand reported that sleepiness while driving can have the same effects as drunk driving. Drowsiness can affect coordination, reaction time and judgment. Studies show that those who have been awake for 24 hours, not far from finals week when students have to pull “all-nighters,” drive with the equivalent ability of someone with a blood alcohol level of .10 percent.

To change the time school started definitely wouldn‘t be easy, but it would be worth it.

Considering CA’s education is ranked 49 in the nation, according to the California Faculty Association at Cal State Los Angeles, anything is worth a shot, but making classes later would almost guarantee better grades due to happier and more alert students.