The annual time change has started once again, but is this what people want? Many people have denounced the idea of keeping Fall Back and Spring Forward for many years, but here we are still doing the same thing. But why? What is the reasoning behind it and what do others think about it?
The United States of America began the annual time change in 1916 as a way to help lower costs of fuel and electricity as we are getting an extra hour of sunlight, according to Time Magazine. However, many people find that this law is outdated and we have no use for it. Since 2018, people have agreed that the US should no longer have a time change, and in fact, had won the argument. However, there are reasons the law has not passed. Many people want daylight savings time to end, keeping the daylight savings time as the time year round.
Natalie Flores, a 7th grade student at Santa Rosa Academy states, “I would rather spring forward because when the days are already getting shorter in the winter the time changes and it gets darker super early.”
If we did not have time change, the United States would be on standard time year-round. However, this is not what people want. They would rather spring forward and stay on that time. Thus, is why it is not passed. The legislature agreed that we would have to be on our “normal” standard time, not the Daylight Saving’s time.
While there is much commotion in this matter, many people are dragging it to the beginning. People believe that we did not need Time Change in the first place. Maria Burns, a freshman at Santa Rosa believed that time change is useless. Burns explains, “It is unnecessary because it is ineffective and throws off everyone’s sleep schedule. You will always have to wake up or go to bed when it’s dark no matter the time change.”
The reason behind all of this clock changing going back and forth goes to the beginning. Daylight Savings began during the First World War. Everything was costly, making poverty among citizens very common. The government had an idea to help with the matter. According to USA Today, by pushing back the clock by one hour, people would not need as much energy to power things with light. Rather, they would use the sun to help them go about their daily activities. No one did many things at night and did not need light. Because of this, it was a good choice to begin Daylight Savings time.
Though in the 1900s it was a good idea, the times have now changed. Many people have many things going on in the evening that require outside activity. But with the lights out, it has a negative effect on getting those things done. Along with that, school is starting later. So, kids no longer have to worry about the sun not being out to light their way. There is much confusion that goes along with this concept, but that has not stopped the government from wanting people to continue Fall Back and Spring Forward.
However, it is up to the people as well. The government has stated that they would stop the Time Change, if we stayed on Fall Back since that would be our normal time. Some are entirely fine with this choice. Burns explained, “I prefer the fall backward because it feels like we get to sleep in extra late.” It gives a chance to relax and enjoy the time, without feeling that it is flying by and someone is trying to keep up with it. With the Fall Back, many people find that they can finally relax after being in Spring Forward for so long.
With all of this being said, it is clear that no one has an entire answer. Daylight Savings time is going to continue through the years unless we all choose to stay on Fall Back then Spring Forward. But with everyone wanting to stay with Spring Forward, it is most likely that the United States of America will continue to push and pull the clocks.
