by Anton Dedvukaj
Picture this: It’s Monday, October 31, 2022. You’re out and about with your friends late at night, going trick or treating and taking part in all of the traditional Halloween festivities. That’s all well and good, until the next morning hits. All of a sudden, it’s Tuesday, November 1, and despite the fact that you were understandably out really late last night, you still have to drag yourself to school on about five hours of sleep.
The debate over whether or not school should close on the day after Halloween has been a popular one for a while now. In recent years, it has taken a backseat, largely due to the fact that Halloween has been on weekends the past two years. However, now that it’s on a Monday this year, the debates have swung back in full force. Debates over whether or not we should have days off after Super Bowl Sunday have been prevalent for similar reasons.
On one hand, I do understand the opposition. It is another day off of school, which is never fun for the administration to work around. Especially given the required number of school days that each school year has, this would likely be an annoying workaround.
However, I do see the merit in the idea that we should have a day off, or at least a delayed opening. A large number of high school students worldwide already show immense signs of sleep deprivation, so making them go to school at normal time after a day where it is widely understood that students will be up late doesn’t seem like such a good idea.
I am well aware that the idea that the school will actually incorporate days off after these events is highly unlikely, if not impossible. However, I do also believe that there is a legitimate argument to be made that students will be able to function better if their sleep schedule is compromised in order to have fun on days like Halloween.
A later start to school on these days would at least make it easier for students to be able to go about their day without feeling the worst effects of sleep deprivation. While I’m highly doubtful that such a change will actually take place, I also think that there is a point to be made here about how early school starts in general, and how students shouldn’t have to sacrifice their sleep schedule just to have a little bit of fun.
