Raising the heat

Are classroom temperatures affecting student learning?

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Photo Credit: Jewel Quigley

Chilly? Desha McCarthy may be cold now, but it may feel like a scorcher in her next period class.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the history classrooms weren’t sweltering at 200ᵒF and the math classrooms weren’t arctic at -23ᵒF?

Recent problems with classrooms temperatures have aggravated the students of Glen Rock High School.

Over the years, various complaints have been made regarding the fluctuating temperatures of classrooms. Students are uncomfortable in the rooms, making it harder to concentrate in class.

“The math room after gym is really hot. And I’m already sweating, so it sucks,” said junior student Sabrina Castaldi. “Yes, I’m sitting there fanning myself and chugging down water after water, sweating… It’s too… distracting.”

Junior Alexa Garrido agreed with Sabrina’s statement, adding, “My algebra room is like freakishly hot. Yes, it’s too… hot to learn.”

History teacher Mr. Lyon voiced his opinion on the topic, as well, saying, “The first week when it was very, very warm, we called it in and it was fixed for a while then it broke again.”

“It’s pretty significant when a room is too hot and when it’s too cold, kids always leave to get their jackets,” he said.

While it remains to be seen if the room climate can or will be rectified, Mr. Lyon suggests that students may not have it too bad here at GRHS.  “It’s nobody’s fault,” he said, “The complexity of the machine, and the weather change is not easy to maintain. And we have to deal with it.”

“When I was a peace corp volunteer in the country of Georgia, I had to get up to cut fire wood for school,” Mr. Lyon said. “But I did not mind it. It does make a huge difference in kid’s learning and their ability to listen.”