Common Sense vs. Government Thinking in Springfield

Written by David E. Smith

During an Illinois Senate committee hearing this week, an interesting exchange took place between Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake) and Senator Craig Wilcox (R-Woodstock) that highlighted the differing approaches often seen between liberal and conservative thinking.

Senate Resolution 752, sponsored by Senator Edly-Allen, is a non-binding measure encouraging Illinois public school districts serving grades 6–12 to consider later school start times based on adolescent sleep research. The resolution argues that teenagers’ biological sleep cycles naturally shift later during puberty, making very early school schedules unhealthy and counterproductive.

A resolution often begins as an idea that eventually becomes a law.

Senator Edly-Allen admitted she filed this resolution at the request of sleep-deprived students in her district who apparently believe Springfield should regulate bedtime problems.

The real issue isn’t sleep. It’s more about dissolving parent’s rights.

This resolution is a minor issue when compared with the many wicked bills that have become law that truly usurp a parent’s authority, and many of which parents are unaware.

For example, laws that affirm a minor’s desire to transition and to get an abortion without the parent’s knowledge. Laws that require exposing children as young as kindergarten to matters of sexuality, grooming them for early experimentation. Laws that require teaching them that homosexuality is normal and just another lifestyle. Laws that require tampons in boys school bathrooms.

Keep in mind that the parents that have been paying attention have discovered that the state has been slowly taking over their role as it pertains to raising their own children. And this is just another small step toward that end.

Notice that the sponsor admits that it was children’s requests behind the resolution and not parents.

Concerns about whether students are getting enough sleep are legitimate and deserve thoughtful attention from parents, teachers, and school administrators alike, especially since inadequate sleep can negatively affect students physically, mentally, emotionally, and academically. The resolution also notes that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends middle and high schools begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m., while some studies suggest start times closer to 9:00 a.m. may provide even greater benefits.

Still, as someone who naturally rises early, my first thought is fairly simple: if students need more sleep, perhaps they should be encouraged by parents to go to bed earlier so they can wake up rested and ready for the day ahead. That is exactly what Senator Wilcox challenged in this 5 minute debate in which he offers some common sense approaches:

It was also noteworthy that the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Crest Hill), appeared surprised that the resolution did not receive automatic unanimous support and that Senator Craig Wilcox wanted to question the underlying logic of the proposal. She likewise expressed a bit of frustration that a formal roll call vote was even necessary, with Senator Wilcox casting the lone “NO” vote.

It is important to note that this proposal does not mandate later school start times statewide. Instead, it encourages local school districts to develop plans that better align school schedules with adolescent sleep patterns while recognizing that transportation, staffing, extracurricular activities, and community needs vary widely across Illinois.

The resolution passed committee by a roll call vote of 12–1 and now heads to the full Illinois Senate for consideration.

We appreciate Senator Wilcox for raising thoughtful questions during the debate and attempting to bring a measure of common sense and broader perspective to the legislative process.