Why Spring Grove Schools Should Invest in Air Conditioning

By Addison Kessler

The Spring Grove Schools should invest in air conditioning because, even though it is getting colder out, it will last the school for 10 to 15 years. This topic has been brought up many times when talking about what to do with the extra money that the school acquires. Air conditioning is important during the warmer months because it will keep the students and staff from overheating while at school. In some of the classrooms, either the teachers have bought their own air conditioning unit or they have brought in a fan to keep the room cool. In other classrooms, they were previously another room but converted into a classroom, so they were already equipped with it.

Not having air conditioning in a school isn’t very common nowadays. And many schools around us already had central air conditioning for years. I think that it is unfair for the teachers to have to buy air conditioning units for their classrooms if they are on the hotter side of the school or on the top floor. If the school was able to install central air conditioning, the taxpayers would just about have to pay $20 more on their taxes a month. Which isn’t ideal, but if you think about it, would you pay $20 extra to keep your children or future children cool during the day at school?

The school has heat, but in reality, heat costs more than air conditioning does. Some studies show that when in an air-conditioned area, students are proven to do better on assignments and tests because they aren’t distracted by extreme heat or discomfort. It creates a conducive learning environment, which leads to improved concentration and academic performance.

Another example is that it will help prevent the growth of mold and mildew by maintaining and regulating the temperature in the classrooms and reducing humidity. While doing that, it also helps enhance the air quality in the building by filtering out pollutants in the air.

Air conditioning helps keep a comfortable learning environment that will eventually lead to students doing better on state standardized tests because they are more comfortable in their learning area and not as stressed out. Taking state-standardized tests as well as tests assigned by teachers is very stressful and nerveracking for most students. But keeping a cool and comfortable classroom will help them stay focused and be far more relaxed during the school day. State standardized tests are important to the school and show improvement in certain subjects taught by the teachers.

If students are hot and uncomfortable, they won’t be able to focus and test to their full potential, which will eventually come back to the teachers. And because the students didn’t do well on their tests, the teachers will have to reteach. That takes away the opportunity to learn new things throughout the school year. The students will either have to learn more in a shorter amount of time or they will just learn less in their school year.

We also have a summer school program called Lions Academy that takes place in the school building. Some of those kids don’t have a choice on whether they can or can’t go to summer school. So ultimately, those children are being forced to stay at the school (even if it is only for half of the day) and sit in the heat. How are the kids going to learn the things they need to work on, or the reason they are in summer school, if it is so hot they can’t concentrate?

In conclusion, central air conditioning would help the school immensely and help the students be more comfortable and less stressed out in the school environment.

Addison Kessler is a student at Spring Grove High School. She is one of 13 area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 25th year.