It's a change that could create logistical difficulties for some families and student athletes, but one that other Maine school districts are considering, given the potential educational benefits. The Gorham School Board's interest is based on medical sleep research that says teen-agers' inner clocks tend to keep them up late and make it hard for them to wake up early. Schools elsewhere that have instituted later starting times report that the change has made students more alert. Staff photo by John Ewing Julie and Cindy Doxey of Gorham get ready for school. Conversely, Gorham's school board also is wondering if elementary schools in town should start earlier.
Young children tend to be most awake in the early mornings and get sleepy in the afternoons.
While some schools in other states have changed school starting times, Maine schools have been slow to pick up on the trend. Some Maine school districts simply resist breaking with tradition or say the switch is unrealistic because of the difficulties of fitting sports practices and games into a school day that starts later in the morning and therefore ends later in the afternoon. Other districts have had some preliminary discussions about the issue, including Portland and Cape Elizabeth, and are likely to consider it again in the future. Gorham stands out, however, in the active consideration it plans to give the topic. The school board has made looking at school starting times one of its goals for the year.