The Importance of Having Adequate Sleep for Students

           Students are accustomed to having many assignments. Besides, they also have many activities outside the school. For instance, they join extracurricular programs, they have part-time jobs, and maybe they just hang out with their friends. They have hectic schedules. It makes the students lack of sleep. Carskadon (1990) adolescents themselves have consistently reported that they are not getting enough sleep. People sometimes underestimate the importance of sleep. They think that sleep never affects students performance. On the other hand, the students should sleep adequately in order to have good performance in class. Additionally, the number of hours of sleep is positively correlated with measures of academic achievement (Forister, et al 2007)

Recent scientific research has strengthened the notion that sleep may play an important role in learning and memory, with several studies finding an inverse relationship between sleep and academic performance at both the secondary and post-secondary level (Curcio, Ferrara, and Gennaro 2006). The students need to sleep to refresh their mind. Therefore, they can learn better after they get enough sleep. In addition to that, the students who have sufficient sleep will have good performance in class. Several surveys of sample sizes ranging from 50 to 200 high school students reported that more total sleep, earlier bedtimes, and later weekday rise times are associated with better grades in school (Manber et al, 1995). Moreover, Wolfson and Carskadon (1998) enlighten in general, students with higher grades reported longer and more regular sleep. Specifically, they reported more total sleep, and earlier bedtimes, on school nights than those who have lower grades. The learners who have adequate sleep are those who have organized sleep schedules well. Wolfson and Carskadon (1998) clarify that high school students who had longer total sleep times, small weekend delay or low weekend oversleeps were defined as having adopted adequate sleep habits.

If the students have no sufficient time of sleep, they will have problems in the class. Mindell and Owens (2010) say that not getting enough sleep may result in problems with attention, memory, decision-making, organization, and creativity, all of which are clearly important for success in school. Indeed, those things are crucial abilities for students, for instance, the students have to pay attention to the lessons given when the teaching and learning process is in progress. Paying attention is indispensable to make the students understand about the lessons given by the instructors. According to Bolles, we remember what we understand, we understand only what we pay attention to, we pay attention to what we want (Bucks County Community College, 1999). If the students do not pay attention to the lessons in the class, they will find difficulty in apprehending the instructional materials. Besides, they should have good memory to remember anything that they have learned and comprehended. Memory is the means by which we draw on our past experiences in order to use this information in the present (Sternberg, 1999). The students will find difficulty in recovering their memories without sleep. It helps them recover their memories after learning many lessons in the class.

Furthermore, rest deprivation really influences pupils performance. Quine (1992) declares that persistent sleep problems have also been associated with learning difficulties throughout the school years. Not only does the lack of sleep impact on the students’ performance, but it also impacts on the learning process and students behaviors. Studies of excessive sleepiness in adolescents due to narcolepsy or sleep apnea have also reported negative effects on learning, school performance, and behavior (Dahl, Holttum, and Trubnick, 1994). The reasons are definitely related to the habits of sleep. Wolfson and Carskadon (1998) give their accounts that those who are reported having poor academic performance are more likely to less sleep, go to bed later, and have more irregular habits. The learners who categorize lack of sleep if they have badly sleep habits. For instance, they often oversleep and have unorganized sleep schedules. Wolfson and Carskadon (1998) explain students with shorter sleep times, large weekend delays or high weekend overslept were defined as having adopted less than adequate sleep habits.

People may say that there is no relationship between adequate sleep and the students’ performance. This statement is absolutely nonsense. Indeed, both sufficient sleep and learners’ performance have a strong connection. Epstein, Chillag, and Lavie (1995) surveyed Israeli elementary, junior high, and senior high  school students reported that less total sleep time was associated with daytime fatigue, inability to concentrate in school, and a tendency to doze off in class. Those happen because many people do not care about their physical strength. In this case, they ignore how much they sleep. The National Institutes of Health suggests that school-age children need at least 10 hours of sleep daily, teens need 9-10 hours, and adults need 7-8 hours. Duration of the sleep should not less or more. It should be adequate. Research by the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School suggests that sleep plays an important role in memory, both before and after learning a new task (2007). Additionally, the students who are lack of sleep will get trouble in learning process. Wolfson and Carskadon (1998) explain sleepy adolescents that is, those with inadequate sleep may also encounter more academic difficulties.

In conclusion, students should rest sufficiently to recover the strength of their bodies. It will make them learn better. Gradually, their performance in the class will improve because they do not feel sleepy anymore when the teaching and learning process is in progress. And then, they can focus on the lessons given by the instructors in the class. Therefore, it is much better to have sufficient time of sleep so that the teaching and learning process can be optimal.

References

• www.simplypsychology.org
• www.faculty.bucks.edu
• www.healthysleep.med.harvard.edu
• Wolfson,Amy R; Carskadon, Mary A. 1998. Sleep Schedules and Daytime Functioning in Adolescents.

Raadhiyah Mardiyyah

Argumentative/Academic