Written by Lin Donn
Illustrated by Phillip Martin
Daylight Savings Time
was an idea first
suggested by
Benjamin Franklin. His
idea was to enjoy
more sunlight and
save on the cost of oil
for lamps. It sounded
like a pretty good idea.
But daylight savings time did not go into effect until World
War I, and then only to save on electricity to help the war
effort. The government was worried about complaints.
Sure enough, there were many complaints about the use
of Daylight Savings Time.
The farmers said it confused the hens. Of course, the hens
and roosters did not look at a clock, but the farmhands did.
The hens were used to a certain routine of care and activity.
When that routine changed, so did the number of eggs.
Parents were
worried about
kids and safety
when walking
to school in the
dark. Kids had
trouble going to
sleep.
Many adults complained they
couldn't sleep as well - not for
weeks after the time change.
Daylight savings time remained in place for two years during
World War I. But the complaints did not stop. In response to
the public outcry, the law creating DST was repealed.
The idea of saving power remains an important one for
countries around the world. In 1974, here in the United
States, daylight savings time was re-established by federal
law in an effort to save power although the start date and
end date of DST does change now and then.
In the USA, starting in
2007, we have a new
Daylight Savings Time
schedule. Currently, DST
begins at 2 am on the
2nd Sunday in March
and reverts to standard
time on the 1st Sunday
in November. Each time
zone switches at a
different time. (It used
to start in April and end
in October.)
In Europe, daylight savings time (called Summer Time) begins
and ends at 1am Greenwich Mean Time. It begins the last
Sunday in March and ends the last Sunday in October. All the
time zones in Europe change at the same moment.
Many countries around the world have tried Daylight Savings
Time. Some still use the system. Some don't. Some never
tried. Even in countries that use DST, the start and end dates
vary greatly.
Does the use of Daylight
Savings Time really save
power? Some people
argue yes. Some people
argue no.
One of these days, we
expect to see the
question of Daylight
Savings Time on a USA
national ballot. Which
way would you vote - to
keep it or to repeal it?
There is no right answer,
but the question would
make a lively debate!
To learn more about
Daylight Savings Time,
Sundial Time, Local Time,
and Standard Time, and to
play some games about
time, explore these sites:
The Trouble with Time
Time Games
Free Time Clipart
Opposition and Obstacles
Map of Countries who have and have not used DST
This presentation is brought to you by
Pete’s Power Point Station.
Visit us on the web at PPPST.COM