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Post by kellybelly77 on Sept 6, 2016 20:48:28 GMT
I joined a local facebook group for police scanner activity in our town. People post all the scanner calls they hear, plus other community watch kinda stuff. I have learned a great deal about the crime in our city which is handy, but I also learned that people call the police for the weirdest shit.
I don't know if this was an actual scanner call or not but someone posted the one of our local high schools was without A/C today as it had broken down and that she was irritated because the school made the decision not to send the kids home early. Now, this school didn't even have A/C until probably 12 to 15 years ago. I graduated high school 20 years ago (not this one, but another in town) and none of the schools in town had A/C at that point. It was about 15 years ago they started putting it in existing schools.
So there are a ton of comments and about 80% of them are people commenting that t they saw no reason to leave early for the day. Kids could deal with it for one day. Most of the 80% were people who attended high school in our town before the schools had A/C. 
The other 20% were concerned about kids with medical issues, concerned about the smell of BO and someone mentioned that kids nowadays are so used to A/C that they probably couldn't cope without it so they should send them home. Then school ended for the day and all the high school kids who were affected got on the post and started name calling and hassling people who said they could live without it for a day. 
Anyway, it got me thinking where the Peas would fall on this. Could your kids survive without A/C for a day? FTR, it was about 88 earlier when this was going on. They had the windows open and fans on.
My dd is a freshman at a different school but had she been affected, my response would have been to drink more water and suck it up.
Just curious! |
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Post by Linda on Sept 6, 2016 20:54:57 GMT
our schools have a/c but not all of them have heat - they did cancel school when it got got super cold here (single digits).
my youngest's class was without a/c the last week of school before summer - it was hot - they had windows open and fans going and the kids were drinking water.
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Post by ohiodianna on Sept 6, 2016 21:03:06 GMT
My kid's school has no AC. We have closed before due to extreme heat. Not this year 90 plus today. School as normal. We have also closed for extreme cold. Single to below 0 temps. Cold closing more because of waiting for bus
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Post by cmpeter on Sept 6, 2016 21:03:18 GMT
None of the schools here (PNW) have AC, so yes...everyone would survive.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,635 
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Post by amom23 on Sept 6, 2016 21:05:33 GMT
No AC here and although the beginning of the school year can have some hot days everyone survives.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,690
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Post by RosieKat on Sept 6, 2016 21:09:33 GMT
For a situation like you describe, no, I wouldn't expect them to cancel school. I will toss in the caveat that with humidity figured in, and depending on how internal circulation works in the building, even 88 can turn into dangerous heat. But in general, it might be miserable but functional, and that just sounds like a bunch of overprotective parents...
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smartypants71
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Posts: 5,992
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Sept 6, 2016 21:13:14 GMT
I don't know. It is really hot and humid here, so I bet it would be really uncomfortable.
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Post by myshelly on Sept 6, 2016 21:25:31 GMT
I'm in TX and I know I could not survive without AC, so I wouldn't make my kids do it.
I get cranky if the room gets above 73.
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sharlag
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I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
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Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Sept 6, 2016 21:29:36 GMT
Of course my kids would survive, but they'd be uncomfortable.
If I were a teacher, I'd be pretty miserable. Especially at my hot-flashing era of life. I'm quite accustomed to my air conditioned surroundings. And like some others have mentioned, humidity can make it feel even ickier.
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breetheflea
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Posts: 7,317
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Sept 6, 2016 21:30:56 GMT
No A/C at my kids school (PNW) plus none of the windows open and they can't prop open the doors that lead outside. When I am volunteering there once or twice a week I try not to wear long sleeves or sweaters even in the winter. The newer/rebuilt schools (anything before the 1970s) have AC.
My elementary was built in the early 1900's and my 5th and 6th grade classes were on the 3rd floor. The windows couldn't be opened because of bees or wasps nests... it was only a problem at the very beginning and end of the year that I remember and we were allowed to make paper fans!
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Post by compeateropeator on Sept 6, 2016 21:32:34 GMT
I don't believe any of the public schools in my state have AC, so I think it would be business as normal Unless it was so extreme that kids were passing out. However I have seen schools closed because their boiler broke down during the winter and the building was so cold.
if the school staff thought it was reasonable to have school I would accept their judgement and go along with their decision.
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Post by cmhs on Sept 6, 2016 21:34:17 GMT
A few moms are on FB whining about no ac in their kid's classroom. We're talking about a 100 year old building. Some of the rooms have window units some don't. Apparently, one mom is considering homeschooling as a result of this terrible situation. My eyes might get stuck if I roll them any further back in my head. It's not that hot here right now, the rooms have fans, and there's a water fountain right outside this particular room.
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DEX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,438
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Post by DEX on Sept 6, 2016 21:40:57 GMT
I got to thinking about this. Most schools nowadays have a communication method to contact parents. One solution would have been to send out a message to parents giving them the option of coming to get their child. Of course, you can never please everyone.  course, you can never please everyone. |
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Post by freecharlie on Sept 6, 2016 21:42:32 GMT
Lots of the schools around here have no a/c. We survive just fine and even sweat off a few pounds.
There have been districts that close due tonheat, but it is upper 90s-100s then.
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Post by anxiousmom on Sept 6, 2016 21:48:31 GMT
Things happen a/c goes out. I think I would take the 'suck it up and deal' approach and allow the school to make the decision. Down here, it stays hot long enough for the a/c to run most of the year, so getting it fixed would be pretty high on the list of priorities and the administration would be on it pretty fast if the heat inside the building(s) became dangerous.
My feeling is that if the boys can play sports and have practice in the same weather, then they can probably tolerate a couple of hours of school without a/c.
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Post by pastlifepea on Sept 6, 2016 21:58:21 GMT
Tampa, FL...I'm going with probably not.
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Post by Merge on Sept 6, 2016 22:00:02 GMT
The A/C never worked in my room last year (in Houston) and the windows didn't open and nobody gave a damn.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:33:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 22:00:29 GMT
In our district only the middle school has central a/c. The rest have only window units in some areas (usually offices, labs or rooms with expensive equipment).
Most kids will be fine but a lot of them and staff will be very miserable and not teaching/learning their best.
My dd has type 1 diabetes and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Her JRA causes fatigue andhot flashes and makes her extremely sensitive to heat in a way she never used to be. At the end of last year I had to ask that fans be placed in her classrooms and she sit near them. Today was the first day and it was HOT today, but hasn't been too bad the last few days so it wasn't too horrid. Tomorrow however is supposed to be just as bad and I hope she's ok. I forgot to mention the fans when I spoke to her caseload teacher/counselor. If the heat continues I will have to ask for fans for her again.
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Jili
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SLPea
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Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Sept 6, 2016 22:15:03 GMT
We have it where I work, but only within the past 8 years or so. It's a blessing, truly. We have a two-story building, and when you put a lot of sweaty, smelly bodies in a small classroom, it can get very hot. The A/C here works pretty well in the classrooms, but there's really nothing in the cafeteria and gym. Today it was about 80 degrees in the cafeteria, which is workable. It was in the mid 90s here today with high humidity, and that should be the case for the next few days, so I suspect that as the week wears on the temperature will really climb in those areas because it really won't have a chance to cool down.
I cannot recall any kind of 'heat day' or school being dismissed early over the years, but it's a fact that no one learns or teaches well in that kind of environment, and staff does worry about students with medical issues and those who literally just pass out from the heat. The good news is that it only lasts for a short while in September, and then we struggle with a heating system that can't keep up. LOL.
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Post by mellyw on Sept 6, 2016 22:25:46 GMT
I have no problem saying I kept my DD out of school for a couple days beginning of her 8th grade. No A/C in the school, temps in the low 100's with high humidity, means my Type 1 Diabetic daughter would have been physically ill. Her body composition & high heat do not mix. She'll get blood sugar readings well above 500 (a good blood sugar range in about 80-120), & went into diabetic shock one time. I kind of enjoy her being alive.
It lasted about 3 days, & as soon as it was back down in the lower 90's, she was back in school.
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Post by secondlife on Sept 6, 2016 22:28:29 GMT
I didn't have AC in the building I went to elementary and secondary school in. We closed and cancelled sports practices in excessive heat, so it's not just kids nowadays they make accommodations for. I recall that if the feels-like temp was over 92-93, they would shut down for the afternoon.
I sent my daughter to an outdoor camp in the heat of summer so that tells you how I feel about hot weather for us. But there are kids who are sensitive to it and even 90* is hot enough to cause all kinds of symptoms in some people.
I do think schools act more out of fear of liability than out of necessity sometimes. I don't know the answer though - I just know you can't please everyone.
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Post by 950nancy on Sept 6, 2016 23:00:45 GMT
Our school had air conditioning, but the district often didn't turn it on until later in the year. My classroom did not have windows or any way to circulate air. Kids got sick quickly and then were home for several days. I would often teach lessons outside to keep kids from getting sick. I'm all about suck it up, Buttercup, but can see both sides of this issue.
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Post by kellybelly77 on Sept 6, 2016 23:12:19 GMT
The temps this afternoon were about 88 at the time of the reporting and the humidity was in the 50's. Someone shared a graph from the weather service that said with those conditions just be cautious.
The school actually reported later on that the A/C had been fixed but that it was a big building and since it had been off all weekend it was just going to take time to cool the building but it should be back to normal tomorrow. People were reporting temps in rooms of low 80's.
I saw one parent say that everyone who thought it was okay to keep the kids at school must also think it's ok to keep kids and dogs locked in hot cars. That ilicited the largest eye roll I have!!
I keep my office temp around 80 at work so I may not even notice!
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Sept 6, 2016 23:13:37 GMT
Anyway, it got me thinking where the Peas would fall on this. Could your kids survive without A/C for a day? FTR, it was about 88 earlier when this was going on. They had the windows open and fans on. My kids' schools have no A/C and it does get into the high 90's F in May and June. My kids can survive. |
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Dani-Mani on Sept 6, 2016 23:14:07 GMT
I've lived in districts that dismiss early and I think it's 100% logical.
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Sept 6, 2016 23:17:37 GMT
Today was hot and humid. I guess we could survive a day but I have no windows or fans in my room so no air circulation. If they brought in fans, I suppose we'd be fine. We would be doing very low physical effort things though and I wouldn't expect much from the kids. They would be drained.
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psiluvu
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Post by psiluvu on Sept 7, 2016 1:32:12 GMT
I would roll my eyes right along with you OP.
Today was the first day of school here and it was about 95 degrees mid day and supposed to be about that for the next couple of weeks. No AC here. They survived. It is not even a thought to cancel classes. I figure if ds can practice footbal for three hours 3 x a week, he can sit in a classroom and work.
We are used to dealing with extremes here. In the winter it can be about -25 for a few weeks. School has never been cancelled for cold either although recesses are held indoors.
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Post by melanell on Sept 7, 2016 1:36:21 GMT
Our schools, for the most part, do not have a/c. They do have a ton of windows per room, which all open, and fans. We go to school Sept. through early June, so we're not in class very many really hot days.
And our kids survive. Now, if we were in school in July & August, or we lived someplace where the temps are still typically very high this time of year, it would be different.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:33:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2016 1:46:15 GMT
Locally, here in Maryland, there has been a huge stink because one district has a high percentage of buildings without air conditioning. The policy was that if at any point the *forcasted* heat index would reach 90 degrees during a school day, those schools had to be closed. This caused these schools to be closed 2 of the first 5 days last week. A new policy was ruled on the 30th to change the policy.
"Schools that lack air conditioning now may remain open unless the heat index is forecast to reach 90 degrees by 11 a.m. If the heat index is expected to reach 90 degrees by 3 p.m., parents may keep their children home and get an excused absence.
The original policy required officials to close schools if the heat index was forecast to hit 90 at any point in the day. The board voted 8-3 to change it."
I can see both sides of it. MOST kids are used to being in A/C and would likely not suffer well the non-A/C environment leaving teachers to have a room full of kids completely inattentive and possibly harder to control. In an era where room control is not easy on a good day.
Can I say once again, I'm so grateful to be done with having kids in school? Ay yi yi.
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Post by happyOCgirl on Sept 7, 2016 1:49:04 GMT
Well, the first day of school here the power was out all day. It was 104! Inside my classroom was 94. School was not cancelled. We do not have windows that open. School was not dismissed early. I think all it would take is one person in charge trying to teach in a room with 30+ six year olds in those conditions and they would have dismissed school early. There is no way anything of quality would be happening if we did not have some kind of air circulating to keep temps down.
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