Every first Sunday of November, students gain one hour of sleep back, while every second Sunday of March, we lose one as finals and the spring sports season looms. With “fall back” approaching quickly, we need to reevaluate our policy regarding daylight savings to realize that adopting permanent Daylight Savings Time (DST) would be better for students as well as their mental health. This means we would adopt the time between March and November for the duration of the entire year.
While gaining an extra hour of sleep may sound pleasant, according to Insider, studies have shown an increase in suicide rates after each time change. It creates a disruption in the circadian rhythm of our sleep cycles, which takes a toll on mental health. Along with this, suicide is the second leading cause of death for high schoolers according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
Adopting permanent DST is not a solution to suicide, but it would help combat one factor that can lead to it. Permanent DST would also increase the efficiency of students.
DST would also allow daylight in the evening hours. Instead of the sun setting at 4:30 p.m. during the winter, it would set at 5:30 p.m. Student-athletes would still see the sun as they leave school. Swimmers, for example, wake up in the dark and make their way into school. When they leave these doors again after practice, it is dark once more.
This also means if we adopted permanent DST, student drivers would have a lower accident rate. Higher accident risk occurs when it is dark outside, and when coupled with the exhaustion of a long day at school, accidents become even more likely.
Adopting permanent DST, however, is trickier than dropping out of it altogether and adopting standard time year-round. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would adopt DST nationwide, needs to be passed by Congress first.
Luckily for us, President Donald Trump is in favor of passing this bill, having proudly proclaimed in a tweet, “Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me!”
While adopting permanent DST won’t be easy, it would help increase the safety and efficiency of students as well as help to combat one cause of suicide.
![Making up a large portion of the film industry, many popular movie remakes and sequels have been released recently. Similar to film remakes, theater teacher Amie Gosset often uses play adaptations of famous movies for theater productions. “It’s challenging because people have an idea of what the film is, whether it’s an iconic film or one they really liked. [Consumers] come in with a preconceived notion of how the [film] should be. Then, [they] are either surprised because they like the new version or disappointed because it’s not what they’re used to.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC_0042-1200x801.jpg)
![Complex global supply chains supply the goods for everyday luxuries, such as the coffee at West High’s Blue Brew. Low tariffs enabled much of the prosperity of modern history. “Higher tariffs lead to higher costs. A tariff is a tax on an imported good, and someone has to pay for that tax, and typically that [will] end up impacting consumers,” economics teacher Rachel Money said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Flag-1.png)
![Despite the numerous health and ethical concerns of energy drinks, popular influencers still flood their social media platforms with numerous posts, and drinks sell out as energy drink companies continue dropping new flavors. The energy drink industry, worth an estimated $99 billion, has maintained a large growth rate, yet is no stranger to controversy. “[The] curiosity of teens needs to be considered. Showing them other alternatives that are safer — like a small cup of coffee — or having them research and discover on their own [would be safer,]" health teacher Jessica Wheeler said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC0038-2-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Sally Peters stands in the history hallway, contemplating her choices in the 2024 United States and Missouri elections on Nov. 5. As a member of Diplomacy Club, Peters has discussed key candidates and issues in contemporary American politics. “[As students], we're starting to become adults. We're realizing how much the policies that are enforced and the laws that make it through the House and Senate are starting to affect us. [Opportunities such as] AP [U.S.Government] and Diplomacy Club [make elections feel] a lot more real,” Diplomacy Club vice president and senior Nidhisha Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Flag-1-1.png)
![Mounting school pressure can leave many students overworked and overstressed. Schools must give students the necessary resources to help assuage student mental health issues and prevent the development of serious crises. “The biggest thing [schools] can do [to protect student mental health] is offer more time [to do work], like a study hall, or offer more support from teachers so that students don't feel stressed out and can get help in areas that they need,” senior Bhavya Gupta said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/unnamed-4.jpg)
![Eyes tracing his book, freshman Auggie Prsha works to translate a passage in Latin teacher Tom Herpel's classroom. Prsha decided to take Latin after hearing about the fun classroom activities, but he quickly began to see the effects of learning a foreign language in the world around him too. “Sometimes in English class, I can [recognize] some Latin words, and I notice Latin in other places [as well]. I enjoy the people [and] learning from Herpel,” Prsha said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/prsha.jpg)
![Senior Griffin Beno waits in the counseling hub. Students were allowed to visit counselors without an appointment on Aug. 15 and 16 to adjust their schedules, resulting in long wait times. “There [were] not as many [people at open hours last year], but I think that was because we didn't get the word out as well,” counselor Jen Wibbenmeyer said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-17-8.20.51-AM.png)
