Daylight Savings: necessary or not?

On November 6th, daylight savings ended, and the clock turned backward by one hour. Daylight savings, though it can confuse some, is when the watch is turned forward by one hour in the spring. The opposite happens in November when daylight savings ends, and the clock is turned backward by one hour. This change can be remembered by the helpful saying: “Spring forward, Fall backward.”
There is an ongoing debate on whether daylight savings time is still necessary in our modern world. Though daylight savings was implemented due to the work time of farmers, it is worth considering whether continuing this in today’s world will still benefit citizens all over the globe.

Many find that daylight savings time messes up their work/school and sleep schedule. Particularly in spring, when the clock is turned an hour forward, numerous find it upsetting that they lose an hour of sleep, forcing them to get up earlier in the morning. Priyanka Anand, a Grade ten student at King, has a few words to share. “I like daylight savings in fall but not so much in spring,” says Anand. “Either way, I think it’s helpful for how our weather works. Otherwise, it would be dark really early or bright really late, so I approve of daylight savings.”

As Anand previously mentioned, a significant benefit of daylight savings time is that it prevents very dark mornings and very bright evenings. This ties back to farmers, allowing them to work extra hours during the winter months.

Nabiha Tahseen, another Grade 10 student at King, agrees, “It works for our weather because our days in winter are shorter, so it makes sense for it to get dark earlier.” Tahseen adds to her earlier statement by saying that she does not think the daylight savings debate is entirely needed. “It’s not as if it’s detrimental or anything, and I don’t see the need to change or make a fuss about it.”

Various people, however, feel that daylight savings are optional in our modern world. Swadana Devadas, another student at King, opposes daylight savings. “I find daylight savings pointless as it doesn’t really matter what time it gets light or dark,” says Devadas. “In winter, there is less daylight because of the time change, plus the fact that the days are shorter, so it could just stay the same as always.”

Whether or not society believes that daylight savings is necessary or not, the abolishment of this process is very unclear. Many areas across Canada do not participate (such as Saskatchewan, parts of Quebec and Southampton Island). While many bills on this matter have been passed in Ontario, it is a gamble whether or not we will see a world where daylight savings is still enforced soon.