Should schools be closed at 35°C?

[DancingThroughLife02]

Not really an AIBU but looking ahead at the forecast for next week and it’s looking like a scorcher.

I work in a secondary school in a science classroom (which seems to get extra hot during practicals) and we have no fans or AC or anything at all to keep the children cool. Open windows don’t seem to help much. The thermostat in the classroom got above 30°C in the afternoon.

The children need to have their water bottles filled at break times and lunch times only and are not allowed to fill them during lessons - which I disagree with as so many come to me saying that they didn’t get a chance to fill theirs up in the 20 minute lunch break.

Last week I had children saying they were dizzy and feeling sick, and they’re made to go outside during breaks. I’m also not sure that anything I taught them during the extra hot days actually stuck in anyway as they all seemed melted onto the desks.

I know there is a legal lower temperature limit for classrooms/workplaces but maybe with the increasing summer temperatures over the last few years we need to start considering investing in ACs as the heat in summer seems to be more prolonged than a couple hot days and in the meantime consider health and safety of the students (and teachers as even I was beginning to feel a bit dizzy).

Good point. If they want our kids in they can supply schools with air con.

I didn't get that vibe from her post whatsoever. You're just being goady.

Not at all, but it’s been the same for years and years and no change, not saying that’s right, but we just have to adapt to it, there’s no mass hysteria

I think they might be a troll, having lived in a country near the equator we definitely had precautions over 33°C.

I’d stop replying to them as they’re not even opening the articles, which were very interesting.

What has been the same for years and years? What hasn't changed?

Are you talking about me??

Definitely no extra precautions taken when over 33, not a troll at all, look at Spain, Portugal, Italy etc, schools do not close

No! Schools absolutely need to be open!!!

Air con should be provided.

The heat and the way the schools operate

Not to mention girls who are having heavy periods and are made to go in full uniform to a school with no air-conditioning and lots of glass. 🙈

Sounds like it's going to be complete hell in schools next week all round. I feel hugely sorry for all the children. Never have I felt so lucky to be an adult.

1. The heat. No. Definitely not.
2. The way schools operate? Not sure as I don't have oversight over all the schools in the UK. Nor do you, I expect. If they have not changed the way they operate, they should though... due to changing circumstances.
3. I suspect you have not read the thread as many people here are saying that their schools have indeed changed the way they operate.

Italy where schools have already closed for their 3 month summer holiday? That Italy?

But that is exactly what this post is about, how do we adapt to it?

I have seen ideas such as:

• change the school day
• change the school year
• change the uniform
• get air con
• get awnings
• instal shutters
• set up shade in playgrounds
• plant more trees
• buy fans
• carry more water

Unless by "adapt to it" you mean put up with it?

I remember in northern Spain. School started at 8am. Lunch at 12.30. in severe heat school closed. You went home.

Maybe France which has closed 850 schools and where 1,500 more will let pupils leave early. They also banned alcohol at public events.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmdw4vn7y2o

It’s pointless posting heat stats for the uk. Some schools will be in shade or north facing valleys, some will have thick stone walls that stay cool and some are greenhouses or metal containers that heat up and trap heat.
Some rooms will be too hot to work in. We need to decide what that looks like ( given the uk has a large population who aren’t used to any abnormal heat).
Then see if the school can adjust its
provision.

It’s pointless posting heat stats for the uk. Some schools will be in shade or north facing valleys, some will have thick stone walls that stay cool and some are greenhouses or metal containers that heat up and trap heat.
Some rooms will be too hot to work in. We need to decide what that looks like ( given the uk has a large population who aren’t used to any abnormal heat).
Then see if the school can adjust its
provision.

"We have to adapt to it" yes and that requires making adaptations, not just carrying on as we were and hoping it will magically improve.

4 of the top 5 warmest years on record have been the past 4 years. Pretty much the same with the hottest ever days (4/5 from the past 6 years or so).

I am now VERY MUCH IN FAVOUR of being 'more like Italy'. 👍

But it’s pretty localised.
Toughing things out is a good skill. Not a popular idea but actually something we all know is true .

Oh yes, let's try and make wilting in a boiling classroom with your sweaty classmates into a virtue.

Let's call it 'character building' instead of 'a pointless waste of everyone's time and energy'. That'll make it better.

Possibly. Wouldn't be full all day, would it.

Well, doesn't not attending an online lesson carry the same penalties as not attending an in-person lesson?

As for kids not doing the work, wouldn't they have to hand in stuff the week after the heat to show that they had done the work each day? Or send photos to the teacher of their work each day to show that they had done it?

I’ve read the thread. I wasn’t talking about Uk schools. I suspect you haven’t read the thread.

There's a whole range of technological issues that a kid could give as a reason for not attending an online lesson, not least lack of access to laptops/wifi.

Then you get the ones who do log in but immediately open FIFA and spend all their time on that.

Requiring 'camera on' also requires a camera and good enough wifi to support it so a non-starter.

We know all this from covid!

They had high heat before that, always do 👍