Oct 05 2008
“Difficult learning conditions”
The following was written by John Naisbitt, one of our Social Studies at Hinsdale Central who teaches in the “west wing” of the building. As many parents noted during open house at the end of August, the temperature and humidity in the building can be oppressive - even at night. What is equally important to realize, as John points out, is that this impacts learning, not just comfort. It is also important to note that this is not just a “hot day” issue, but occurs on days where the temperture is comfortable outside.
During August and September and again in May and June the conditions in many classrooms in Hinsdale Central are unbearable. The heat and humidity can reach unhealthy levels and stay that way for days and weeks. The learning environment is compromised as students and faculty suffer under sauna-like conditions.
On days that the outside temperature is in the 90s it can reach 100 degrees in the classroom with high levels of humidity and the only air movement is generated by fans. The fans produce little relief and serve only to move hot air and make it hard to engage students. Communication between the teacher and student is very difficult when three fans are going. When the outside temperature is in the 80s the classrooms settle in at 90+ degrees. Learning is made difficult as students complain about the heat and seem fatigued and lethargic. They dread coming into non- air conditioned classrooms. Many students are visibly sweating and often ask to get water. The conditions disrupt the learning in the classroom.
Critically, on days that the outside temperature is comfortably in the 70s our classrooms can still easily reach 84-86 degrees. Even with the windows open we struggle to generate any breeze in many parts of the building.
Last week when the temperature was in the 60s — many classrooms struggled to get the interior temperature below 80. Coupled with the humidity levels the heat in many rooms impacts learning for up to 15 weeks a year. This is NOT just a problem on hot days. It is a problem throughout the late summer, early fall and spring. Residual heat keeps the temperature in many rooms in the 80s and 90s for most of the first and fourth quarter. These are not approximations– these reflect data collected from interior digital temperature gauges.
Students and faculty at Hinsdale Central deserve better. We learn and teach despite the difficult learning conditions because we are committed. We learn and teach despite the unhealthy learning environment. It is time that the District 86 Administration and School Board show that they too are committed to creating an acceptable learning environment for students and faculty at Hinsdale Central.
John Naisbitt
Social Studies, Hinsdale Central
