Susan Rees, RN: June classroom heat bad for learning

The month of June is an exciting time for students and educators alike, for obvious reasons. However, with this anticipation comes a bit of dread of the coming heat in Northampton.

Our schools lack air conditioning in most of the classrooms. Here at Jackson Street School where I am the nurse, I can report that we have classrooms that exceed 90 degrees on the hottest days. Additionally, many of our windows are difficult to open, and go unrepaired in spite of advocacy by our teachers and principal.

A major study from Harvard in 2017 has found clear associations between poor learning outcomes and high heat, showing that the odds of failing a test on a day where temperatures are hotter than 90 degrees is 12% higher than if the test was taken on a 72-degree day. The study goes on to state that, on average, student achievement fell by the equivalent of 1% of a year’s worth of learning for each additional degree Fahrenheit in temperature during the year preceding the exam. But having air conditioning in classrooms changes everything, the research showed, offsetting nearly all of the damaging impacts of cumulative heat exposure on student achievement.

As citizens, we are keenly aware of the struggles to fund our schools. In addition to paying our educators a living wage, we owe it to our children to provide an environment in which they can thrive.

Susan Rees, R.N.

Florence

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