It is proven by multiple studies that temperature plays a major role in academic learning as well as daily attendance, but what is not mentioned is the severity of temp when there is a school with no heat or AC and it is unsafe to open windows. To give a little background, Warwick Public Schools high schools are under construction right now due to the poor conditions of the buildings. Warwick is currently in a state of debt, meaning we can not get or have heat or AC due to budget restrictions. Although we are currently under construction, our new schools will not even have AC or heat, we will have proper duct and framework but only tempered air. This means the air is slightly dehumidified, which does nothing for students who spend the majority of our day here. It is currently unsafe to open windows due to the construction happening all around our buildings. This brings major issues when teaching or trying to get an education. As students, we get headaches from severe heat in the classroom. We see more students passing out in classrooms from nausea, weakness, and exhaustion.
These issues all cause a decrease when it comes to attendance. It becomes exhausting spending a 7-hour day in a classroom with no AC or fans that could keep teenagers and teachers cooled down. As the year goes on and it becomes closer to June, students begin to leave early to avoid the severe heat waves. This decline in student attendance has a significant negative impact on academic performance. Leaving early and not coming to school at all is more normalized now. The school’s staff tries to cut down on absences, but there are key factors that go through a teenager’s head, such as not wanting to attend school. We have the mindset that we are just going to sweat, be uncomfortable and not do much. As it gets warmer, students are more tempted to not attend school and enjoy the day outside of school. A solution needs to be made for this issue to better the students’ motivation to attend school comfortably.
