Written by Lin Donn Illustrated by Phillip Martin

Daylight Savings Time was an idea first suggested by Benjamin Franklin 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 In response to the public outcry, the law creating DST was repealed.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 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!   

Opposition and Obstacles 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    

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