Do college freshmen arrive on campus expecting to be coddled the way they were back home? Many faculty would say so, but watch out—they will be even more coddled a few years hence.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has just recommended that middle and high schools not start classes until 8:30 am or later. In a news release the academy says:

Many studies have documented that the average adolescent in the U.S. is chronically sleep-deprived and pathologically sleepy

And it goes on:

The reasons for teens’ lack of sleep are complex, and include homework, extracurricular activities, after-school jobs and use of technology that can keep them up late on week nights.

What about staying out late just for fun? Yes, that’s part of the sleep-deprivation problem, too, but today’s teenagers just can’t help themselves.

. . . getting enough sleep each night can be hard for teens whose natural sleep cycles make it difficult for them to fall asleep before 11 p.m.—and who face a first-period class at 7:30 a.m. or earlier the next day.

Read more about it in the Washington Post blog Answer Sheet.