Pathways coordinator Morgan Parker weighs in on proposed shift to start time

By Talan Collins

In VPS high schools including River, school would start at 8:40 in the morning, a change Parker says she senses most are not ‘thrilled about.’ She adds that out of the possibly 40 students that have come up to her already, only a couple have felt ‘happy’ about getting to sleep in a bit later. Of the many who have approached her, she explains their frustration. After school, “they’re either playing sports or worried about [their] job.” 

“From a career counseling perspective, I am a little disappointed about it because we have so many students after school that work or take care of their [younger] siblings. They’re in charge of going and picking them up after school and making sure they get home. I’ve heard from a lot of students that it’s going to complicate the things they like to do after school that are preparing them for graduation and the things they are going to do for the rest of their lives.”

On a personal level, Parker says she’s “a little bummed about [the change]. I love coming to work early because my brain works really well in the morning and I love being able to do things after work.” 

However, professionally, Parker explains she understands “the research behind it and understanding that teenage brains operate better at a different time of the day.” She argues that from a research perspective, there’s evidence that starting “closer to 9:30 or 10:00 for certain age groups” would have a greater impact on factors such as student attendance and performance in the classroom.