Letter: With start times, let's choose the wiser, kinder path

Posted 3/23/19

To the editor:

I know many in Barrington have been and remain opposed to later start times for the high school and middle school. I recognize that some of the reasons for opposing the change are …

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Letter: With start times, let's choose the wiser, kinder path

Posted

To the editor:

I know many in Barrington have been and remain opposed to later start times for the high school and middle school. I recognize that some of the reasons for opposing the change are entirely legitimate. Personally, I've supported the change from the start because 1) I recognize the validity of the science that has led to a strong consensus in the medical community that adolescents need to sleep later, and 2) I've seen vividly through experience that my own kids need that extra sleep time for optimal mental and physical health. I also have legitimate reasons to oppose the change (without going into details, it will make some things harder for me). But ultimately for me the mental and physical health of our kids trumps all other concerns.

I know this has been a very divisive issue in the community. I’ve heard the harsh words (sometimes coming from my own mouth), and I’ve watched as once close bonds of friendship within the community have dissolved. 

It's time for us to move on. 

The School Committee approved later start times two years ago. The voters of Barrington spoke very clearly on the issue in 2018 when the only School Committee candidate who opposed the change (a likeable and respected public servant) received the fewest votes out of four candidates and failed to be re-elected.

It's time to move forward with implementation, and that can either be done in a collegial way that best addresses the concerns of all parties, or it can be done in a way that is bitter and divisive and leads to more animosity and broken friendships, and ultimately a worse result for our kids. 

It's really up to us. I hope we choose the wiser, kinder path.

W. Peter Bilderback, PhD

Barrington

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