Daylight savings is quickly approaching, but recently, the question of whether or not DST (daylight savings time) should even exist has been a prevalent topic of discussion. States like Arizona and Hawaii no longer have DST, and neither do the American territories Guam, American Samoa, The Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Not to mention, most countries follow standard time all year, but the US switches between it and DST.
Daylight savings is an outdated practice, and there really is no reason for the US to have the shift. DST was implemented around WW1, when power and fuel needed to be conserved. However the idea of time zones actually goes back to the 1800s. USA Facts, an organization formed by the CEO of Microsoft dedicated to sharing data and statistics, explains that “time zones in the US began in the late 1800s to help railroad companies coordinate along time and to reduce the likelihood of trains crashing due to differences in how time was kept.” The need for DST is obviously no longer relevant. The US has an organized time system now and does not face these problems, but still, daylight savings exists.
People may ask “what’s the difference if we have a time shift”? While it may seem harmless, DST is actually detrimental for our health. Research shows that daylight savings has a negative impact on sleep quality, mood, alertness, and metabolism. Dr. Zee, an expert in sleep medicine, states that, “[i]f we adopt permanent standard time, our internal clocks will more likely be in sync with the rotation of the Earth, seasonal changes and the sun clock.” Northwestern Medicine states that “during the week after the shift to DST, research shows an associated rise in cardiovascular disease, with a 24% higher risk of heart attacks.”
But how does this directly affect the Lower Merion student body? Well, sleep health is vital, especially for students. According to the CDC, “children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk for many health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, and injuries… They are also more likely to have attention and behavior problems, which can contribute to poor academic performance in school.”
LM staff, teachers, and students are made to deal with the effects of DST, while already having very early start times. Students are reasonably upset about this. One student explains just how redundant they believe daylight savings is: “we don’t need it anymore, daylight savings really does not matter to me. I don’t want the whiplash. The temperature has already changed, I don’t want the time to change too.” However, other students actually prefer DST, sharing that, “in the long run it does have a positive effect,” and that “it’s just a change in schedule.” However, it is very possible that their opinions will change with the change in start times. Next year, when students won’t have to wake up before sunrise as often, will daylight savings really do anything? Or will it just cause students to walk home in the dark?
Lower Merion, as a school district, cannot make the change to standard time, but students can make the switch easier for themselves. By prioritizing catching up on sleep, maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, and not overworking themselves, students can make the change bearable. But if DST has such negative effects, isn’t it better to not have daylight saving time at all?
