When the clocks move forward each spring for Daylight Saving Time, it may seem like a small change. In reality, losing an hour of sleep can affect students’ focus, routines and even their health. Because of these impacts, it may be time to rethink whether Daylight Saving Time should continue.

Student and staff health can be impacted majorly, because the human body builds an internal routine, or the circadian rhythm in scientific terminology. If you disrupt the routine, it can take a long time to get that person’s life back into routine right before time goes back again an hour in time in early November of 2026, which will change the new hour-ahead routine again.

For students, especially, the sudden change in sleep schedules can make the school day more difficult. Many students already wake up early for school and losing an hour of sleep can make it harder to stay alert in class, complete assignments and maintain a regular routine. Even though the change occurs only twice a year, the adjustment period can last several days to several weeks, depending on the person.

Megan Perkins, a sophomore at Wadsworth High School, believes that Daylight Savings should be removed because to its negative effects.

“It’s actually really frustrating, especially in the springtime, when we go forward an hour,” Perkins said. “The following day is always an exhausting day, especially during school hours. I’m feeling like I can barely function properly, because I lost that extra hour, and I can’t really gain it back because my sleep schedule has been ruined so suddenly.”

Teachers may also notice changes in the classroom after the time shift as well, as a disrupted sleep schedule can affect attention, energy levels and productivity. This may make learning more challenging during the days following the switch.

Because of this, some educators believe the time change creates unnecessary stress for both students and teachers. One of those teachers is Sarah Trausch, an English Teacher at Wadsworth High School.

“My first period students are sleepier,” Trausch said. “I don’t necessarily think it’s because of the time, or the hour loss, but more that it’s dark outside and the fact that they have to change their entire routines. I think that if there were to be a new system instead of Daylight Savings, it would be a better choice than what we are going through now with how adaptable the students can be without having to go back and forward an hour each year.”

Whether or not daylight savings is completely abolished, it needs to be changed because of how it is currently affecting high school students and staff negatively.