More students losing sleep, says Quebec survey

A vast survey conducted by the Hautes-Rivires school board inSaint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, in theMontrgie region, shows there is an increase in the number ofstudentsgraduating from high school, though manyarent getting enough sleep.

The researchers interviewed11,000 primary and secondary students, as well as 4,000 parentsto learn more about the lives of young people both in and out ofclass.

The good news: the vast majority of pupils enjoy school, with only 30 per cent of teens saying they arenot motivated to attend classes.

Since 2008, the graduation rate of high school students has beenincreasing in theHautes-Rivires school board, growingfrom 82to 87.1 per cent.

There are also fewer students leavingthe system without a diploma21.7 per cent today, downfrom23.8 per centin 2008.

However, 25 per cent of high school students say they rarely or never sleep at night, with 40 per cent getting less than eight hours of sleep.

For primary students, 30 per cent say they do not get enough sleep at night.

Security

93 per cent of elementarystudentssay theyfeel safe at school, even though nearly a quarter of them have witnessed bullying.

75 per cent of high school students saytheir school is a warm and friendly environment.

14 per centsay they have been bullied, while eight per centadmit to being bullies themselves.

Meals and Nutrition

34 per cent of high school students rarely or never eat breakfast in the morning.

In elementary school, 96 per cent say they eat meals with their families, though 28 per cent say they do not always have enough to eat at home.

Homework

30 per cent of high school students say they spend between twoand fivehours per day studyingand doing school work outside of class.

75 per cent say they have support at home, though42 per centof parents say they never know if their child has homework or exams.

Jobs for teenagers

55 per centof high school students work onweeknights, with31 per cent clockingmore than 15 hours per week.

44 per centsay theyfind it difficult to balance work and school.

Social media,video games and TV

Although Facebook is not supposed to be accessibleto children under 13 years old, 27 per centof primary school students say they regularlyusesocial media.

63 per centof high school students say theyspend between oneand three hours per day watching television, withsixper centwatching between seven and 12 hours a day.

52 percentspend between oneand three hours a day onvideo games and theInternet, while13.5 per cent spendbetween seven and 12 hours a day.

Reading

84 per centof high school students say they do not regularly go to the library in their neighbourhood or town.

63 per centof primary school children say their parents do not read to them.

Physical activity

76 per centof high school students say they do not take part inphysical activitiesorsportswith their families.

43 percentof children inprimary schoolsay theywould like to participate in more sports and otherphysical activitieswith their families.