Why school should start later for teens | Wendy Troxel

Translator: Leslie Gauthier Reviewer: Joanna Pietrulewicz

Prevodilac: Mirjana Čutura Lektor: Mile Živković

It's six o'clock in the morning,

Šest ujutro je,

pitch black outside.

mrkli mrak napolju.

My 14-year-old son is fast asleep in his bed,

Moj 14-godišnji sin čvrsto spava u svom krevetu,

sleeping the reckless, deep sleep of a teenager.

spava nemirnim i dubokim snom jednog tinejdžera.

I flip on the light and physically shake the poor boy awake,

Palim svetlo i fizički prodrmam jadnog dečaka da se probudi,

because I know that, like ripping off a Band-Aid,

jer znam da je, kao kada odlepljujete flaster,

it's better to get it over with quickly.

bolje to brzo uraditi.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

I have a friend who yells "Fire!" just to rouse her sleeping teen.

Imam prijateljicu koja viče: „Požar!" samo da probudi svog uspavanog tinejdžera.

And another who got so fed up

I još jednu kojoj je sve dozlogrdilo

that she had to dump cold water on her son's head

da je morala da poliva hladnu vodu na sinovu glavu

just to get him out of bed.

samo da bi ga izvukla iz kreveta.

Sound brutal ...

Zvuči surovo...

but perhaps familiar?

ali možda poznato?

Every morning I ask myself,

Svakog jutra se pitam:

"How can I --

„Kako mogu,

knowing what I know

znajući ono što znam

and doing what I do for a living --

i radeći svoj posao,

be doing this to my own son?"

ovo da radim svom rođenom sinu?"

You see,

Vidite,

I'm a sleep researcher.

ja istražujem san.

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

So I know far too much about sleep

Tako da znam jako puno o snu

and the consequences of sleep loss.

i posledicama nedostatka sna.

I know that I'm depriving my son of the sleep he desperately needs

Znam da svom sinu uskraćujem san koji mu je kao tinejdžeru koji brzo raste

as a rapidly growing teenager.

očajnički potreban.

I also know that by waking him up

Takođe znam da mu buđenjem

hours before his natural biological clock tells him he's ready,

satima pre nego što mu njegov biološki sat kaže da je spreman

I'm literally robbing him of his dreams --

bukvalno kradem snove,

the type of sleep most associated with learning, memory consolidation

vrstu sna najviše povezanu sa učenjem, konsolidacijom pamćenja

and emotional processing.

i obradom osećanja.

But it's not just my kid that's being deprived of sleep.

Ali nije samo mom detetu uskraćen san.

Sleep deprivation among American teenagers is an epidemic.

Epidemija uskraćivanja sna vlada među američkim tinejdžerima.

Only about one in 10 gets the eight to 10 hours of sleep per night

Samo jedan od deset dobija 8 - 10 sati sna svake noći

recommended by sleep scientists and pediatricians.

kao što preporučuju naučnici i pedijatri.

Now, if you're thinking to yourself,

Ako mislite u sebi:

"Phew, we're doing good, my kid's getting eight hours,"

„Dobro je, moje dete dobija osam sati",

remember,

zapamtite,

eight hours is the minimum recommendation.

osam sati je proporučeni minimum.

You're barely passing.

Jedva da ste položili.

Eight hours is kind of like getting a C on your report card.

Osam sati je kao trojka u đačkoj knjižici.

There are many factors contributing to this epidemic,

Mnogi faktori doprinose ovoj epidemiji,

but a major factor preventing teens from getting the sleep they need

ali glavni faktor koji sprečava tinejdžere da dobiju potreban san

is actually a matter of public policy.

je, u stvari, stvar javne politike.

Not hormones, social lives or Snapchat.

Ne hormona, društvenog života ili Snepčeta.

Across the country,

Širom države,

many schools are starting around 7:30am or earlier,

mnoge škole počinju oko 7:30 ili ranije,

despite the fact that major medical organizations recommend

uprkos činjenici da glavne medicinske organizacije preporučuju

that middle and high school start no earlier than 8:30am.

da nastava od šestog razreda do kraja srednje škole ne kreće pre 8:30.

These early start policies have a direct effect on how much --

Politike o ranom početku imaju direktan uticaj na koliko -

or really how little sleep American teenagers are getting.

ili zaista na koliko malo sna američki tinejdžeri dobijaju.

They're also pitting teenagers and their parents

One takođe dovode tinejdžere i njihove roditelje

in a fundamentally unwinnable fight against their own bodies.

u bitku sa njihovim sopstvenim telima koju u osnovi ne mogu dobiti.

Around the time of puberty,

Oko puberteta,

teenagers experience a delay in their biological clock,

tinejdžeri doživljavaju odlaganje svog biološkog sata,

which determines when we feel most awake and when we feel most sleepy.

koji određuje kada se osećamo najbudniji i najpospaniji.

This is driven in part by a shift in the release of the hormone melatonin.

Na ovo delimično utiče promena u oslobađanju hormona melatonina.

Teenagers' bodies wait to start releasing melatonin until around 11pm,

Tela tinejdžera čekaju da počnu oslobađanje melatonina do oko 23:00,

which is two hours later than what we see in adults or younger children.

što je dva sata kasnije nego što vidimo kod odraslih ili mlađe dece.

This means that waking a teenager up at 6am is the biological equivalent

Ovo znači da je buđenje tinejdžera u 6:00 biološki isto

of waking an adult up at 4am.

buđenju odrasle osobe u 4:00.

On the unfortunate days when I have to wake up at 4am,

Onim nesrećnim danima kada ja moram da ustanem u 4:00,

I'm a zombie.

zombi sam.

Functionally useless.

Funkcionalno beskorisna.

I can't think straight,

Ne mogu pravilno da razmišljam,

I'm irritable,

razdražljiva sam,

and I probably shouldn't be driving a car.

i verovatno ne bih trebala da vozim auto.

But this is how many American teenagers feel every single school day.

Ali američki tinejdžeri se ovako osećaju svakog školskog dana.

In fact, many of the, shall we say,

U stvari, mnoge, recimo,

unpleasant characteristics that we chalk up to being a teenager --

neprijatne osobine koje pripisujemo tinejdžerskom dobu:

moodiness, irritability, laziness, depression --

ćudljivost, razdražljivost, lenjost, depresija

could be a product of chronic sleep deprivation.

su možda posledica hroničnog uskraćivanja sna.

For many teens battling chronic sleep loss,

Za mnoge tinejdžere koji se bore sa hroničnim nedostatkom sna,

their go-to strategy to compensate is consuming large quantities of caffeine

način na koji to nadoknađuju je unošenje velikih količina kofeina

in the form of venti frappuccinos,

u obliku velikih frapućina,

or energy drinks and shots.

ili energetskih napitaka i žestine.

So essentially,

U suštini,

we've got an entire population of tired but wired youth.

imamo celu populaciju umorne ali prestimulisane omladine.

Advocates of sleep-friendly start times know

Pobornici početka nastave koji omogućava duži san

that adolescence is a period of dramatic brain development,

znaju da je mladost period dramatičnog razvoja mozga,

particularly in the parts of the brain

naročito onih delova mozga

that are responsible for those higher order thinking processes,

koji su odgovorni za procese razmišljanja na višem nivou,

including reasoning, problem-solving and good judgment.

uključujući rasuđivanje, rešavanje problema i dobro prosuđivanje.

In other words, the very type of brain activity that's responsible

Drugim rečima, baš ona vrsta moždane aktivnosti koja je odgovorna

for reining in those impulsive and often risky behaviors

za zauzdavanje onih impulsivnih i često rizičnih ponašanja

that are so characteristic of adolescence

koja su toliko karakteristična za mladost

and that are so terrifying to us parents of teenagers.

i toliko zastrašujuća za nas, roditelje tinejdžera.

They know that like the rest of us,

Oni znaju, kao i svi mi,

when teenagers don't get the sleep they need,

da kada tinejdžeri ne dobiju potreban san,

their brains, their bodies and behaviors suffer

njihovi mozgovi, njihova tela i ponašanje trpe

with both immediate and lasting effects.

i trenutne i trajne posledice.

They can't concentrate,

Ne mogu da se koncentrišu,

their attention plummets

pažnja im drastično opada

and many will even show behavioral signs that mimic ADHD.

i mnogi će čak pokazivati znake ponašanja slične hipekinetskom poremećaju.

But the consequences of teen sleep loss go well beyond the classroom,

Ali posledice gubitka sna kod tinejdžera prevazilaze granice učionice,

sadly contributing to many of the mental health problems

i nažalost doprinose mnogim problemima duševnog zdravlja

that skyrocket during adolescence,

koji se umnogostručuju u mladosti,

including substance use,

uključujući narkomaniju, alkoholizam,

depression and suicide.

depresiju i samoubistvo.

In our work with teens from LA Unified School District,

U našem radu sa tinejdžerima

iz Objedinjenog školskog okruga u Los Anđelesu,

we found that teens with sleep problems

otkrili smo 55% veću verovatnoću

were 55 percent more likely to have used alcohol in the past month.

da su tinejdžeri sa poremećajima sna pili alkohol u prethodnom mesecu.

In another study with over 30,000 high school students,

Drugo istraživanje sa preko 30.000 srednjoškolaca

they found that for each hour of lost sleep,

je otkrilo da je za svaki izgubljeni sat sna

there was a 38 percent increase in feeling sad or hopeless,

postojalo povećanje od 38% u osećanju tuge ili beznadežnosti

and a 58 percent increase in teen suicide attempts.

i povećanje od 58% u pokušajima samoubistva kod tinejdžera.

And if that's not enough,

I ako to nije dovoljno,

teens who skip out on sleep are at increased risk

tinejdžeri koji preskaču san imaju povećani rizik

for a host of physical health problems that plague our country,

za mnoštvo fizičkih zdravstvenih problema koji muče našu državu

including obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

uključujući gojaznost, bolesti srca i dijabetes.

Then there's the risk of putting a sleep-deprived teen,

Postoji i rizik stavljanja neispavanog tinejdžera

with a newly minted driver's license,

sa sveže odštampanom vozačkom dozvolom

behind the wheel.

za volan.

Studies have shown that getting five hours or less of sleep per night

Istraživanja su pokazala da je pet ili manje sati sna dnevno

is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

isto kao i voziti sa alkoholom u krvi iznad zakonske granice.

Pobornici početka nastave koji omogućava duži san

Advocates of sleep-friendly start times,

and researchers in this area,

i istraživači u ovoj oblasti

have produced tremendous science

su došli do izvanrednih rezultata

showing the tremendous benefits of later start times.

koji ukazuju na izvanredne prednosti kasnijeg početka.

The findings are unequivocal,

Rezultati su nedvosmisleni,

and as a sleep scientist,

i kao stručnjak za san,

I rarely get to speak with that kind of certainty.

retko mogu da govorim sa takvom sigurnošću.

Teens from districts with later start times get more sleep.

Tinejdžeri iz okruga sa kasnijim početkom dobijaju više sna.

To the naysayers who may think that if schools start later,

Za nevernike koji možda misle da ako škola počinje kasnije,

teens will just stay up later,

tinejdžeri će jednostavno ostati duže budni,

the truth is,

istina je,

their bedtimes stay the same,

vreme odlaska u krevet ostaje isto,

but their wake-up times get extended,

ali vreme ustajanja se produžuje

resulting in more sleep.

dovodeći do više sna.

They're more likely to show up for school;

Veće su šanse da će doći u školu;

school absences dropped by 25 percent in one district.

izostanci su se smanjili za 25% u jednom okrugu.

And they're less likely to drop out.

I manje su šanse da će napustiti školu.

Not surprisingly, they do better academically.

Ne iznenađuje činjenica da imaju bolje ocene.

So this has real implications for reducing the achievement gap.

Ovo daje stvarne implikacije za smanjenje razlika u uspehu.

Standardized test scores in math and reading

Rezultati na standardnim testovima iz matematike i čitanja

go up by two to three percentage points.

se poboljšavaju za 2 - 3 procentnih poena.

That's as powerful as reducing class sizes by one-third fewer students,

To je moćno kao i smajenje broja učenika u razredu za jednu trećinu

or replacing a so-so teacher in the classroom

ili zamena osrednjeg nastavnika u učionici

with a truly outstanding one.

zaista izuzetnim nastavnikom.

Their mental and physical health improves,

Njihovo duševno i fizičko zdravlje se poboljšava

and even their families are happier.

i njihove porodice su čak srećnije.

I mean, who wouldn't enjoy a little more pleasantness from our teens,

Kome ne bi prijalo malo više prijatnosti od naših tinejdžera

and a little less crankiness?

i malo manje mrzovolje?

Even their communities are safer

Čak su i njihove zajednice bezbednije

because car crash rates go down --

jer se broj sudara smanjuje,

a 70 percent reduction in one district.

smanjenje od 70% u jednom okrugu.

Given these tremendous benefits,

S obzirom na ove izvanredne prednosti,

you might think,

možda biste pomislili:

well, this is a no-brainer, right?

pa, ovo je prosto, zar ne?

So why have we as a society failed to heed this call?

Zašto onda kao društvo nismo uradili pravu stvar?

Often the argument against later start times goes something like this:

Često razlog protiv kasnijeg početka izleda otprilike ovako:

"Why should we delay start times for teenagers?

„Zašto bismo odlagali početak nastave za tinejdžere?

We need to toughen them up so they're ready for the real world!"

Moramo ih očvrsnuti da bi bili spremni za stvaran svet!"

But that's like saying to the parent of a two-year-old,

Ali to je kao da roditelju dvogodišnjaka kažete:

"Don't let Johnny nap,

„Ne dajte Džoniju da spava preko dana

or he won't be ready for kindergarten."

ili neće biti spreman za obdanište."

(Laughter)

(Smeh)

Delaying start times also presents many logistical challenges.

Odlaganje početka takođe predstavlja mnoge logističke probleme.

Not just for students and their families,

Ne samo za đake i njihove porodice

but for communities as a whole.

već i za zajednice u celini.

Updating bus routes,

Ažuriranje autobuskih linija,

increased transportation costs,

povećanje troškova prevoza,

impact on sports,

uticaj na sportske aktivnosti,

care before or after school.

briga o deci pre i posle škole.

These are the same concerns that come up in district after district,

Ovo su iste brige koje se iznova javljaju

time and again around the country

u mnogim okruzima širom države

as school start times are debated.

kada se raspravlja o vremenu početka nastave.

And they're legitimate concerns,

Ovo jesu opravdane brige,

but these are problems we have to work through.

ali ovo su problemi koje moramo rešiti.

They are not valid excuses

To nisu opravdani izgovori

for failing to do the right thing for our children,

da ne bismo uradili pravu stvar za našu decu,

which is to start middle and high schools no earlier than 8:30am.

da škola od šestog razreda do kraja srednje škole ne počinje pre 8:30.

And in districts around the country,

I u velikim i malim okruzima širom države

big and small, who have made this change,

koji su napravili ovu promenu,

they found that these fears are often unfounded

zaključili su da su ovi strahovi često neosnovani

and far outweighed by the tremendous benefits for student health

i da ih daleko premašuju izvanredne prednosti

po zdravlje i uspeh učenika

and performance,

and our collective public safety.

i našu sveopštu javnu bezbednost.

So tomorrow morning,

Sutra ujutro

when coincidentally we get to set our clocks back by an hour

kada sasvim slučajno pomeramo satove za jedan sat unazad

and you get that delicious extra hour of sleep,

i kada dobijete taj slatki dodatni sat sna,

and the day seems a little longer,

i kada dan izgleda malo duže

and a little more full of hope,

i ispunjen sa malo više nade,

think about the tremendous power of sleep.

pomislite na izvanrednu moć sna.

And think about what a gift it would be

I pomislite kakav bi poklon to bio

for our children to be able to wake up naturally,

našoj deci kada bi mogli da se probude prirodno,

in harmony with their own biology.

u skladu sa svojim biološkim satom.

Thank you,

Hvala

and pleasant dreams.

i slatki snovi.