A. Siegel: Keeping Students Awake ... and More Productive ... - Living on The Huffington Post

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:23 AM EDT

Article Source: The Huffington Post

education, green, economic, building, architecture, environmental, green-living, going-green, green-buildings, green-schools

Seeded by Edward Curtis

The Washington Post featured a local high school's green renovation in Titans of Ecology, which began:

At the brand-new T.C. Williams High in Alexandria, a modern "green" school, students say the environmentally friendly design has led to a serious lifestyle change: They can't doze in class anymore because sunlight pours in from practically every angle.

This points to one of the real benefits of going green, of being environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

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2.3

{"commentId":1713574,"authorDomain":"thebeanfield"}

Edward Curtis

This is an interesting article. I love it when everything sort of comes together...

{"commentId":1713574,"threadId":"252908","contentId":"1442010","authorDomain":"thebeanfield"}

1 vote

#1 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":1713615,"authorDomain":"willo"}

Will Eifert

I think I could probably doze off in class if they had a lamp pointed directly into my eyes. :)

{"commentId":1713615,"threadId":"252908","contentId":"1442010","authorDomain":"willo"}

1 vote

#2 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:36 AM EDT

{"commentId":1714600,"authorDomain":"thebeanfield"}

Edward Curtis

You know, there was a classroom I remember from my own high school, that had a sort of checkerboard pattern on the floor in green and white. For some reason, I swear it was that pattern that put me to sleep -- and not the teacher, who was one of those who would embarrass you for dozing off (one day he picked up my books and slammed them down in front of my face to wake me up).

In all seriousness, I try to turn off the lights in my classroom whenever I can. Luckilly I have enough natural light coming in on sunny days, so this is possible -- and I really feel as though there's a decrease in the overall "crankiness factor" when I can do this.

{"commentId":1714600,"threadId":"252908","contentId":"1442010","authorDomain":"thebeanfield"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":1714859,"authorDomain":"ffeineandsugar"}

ffeineandsugar

Just don't fall asleep in my class. I keep a Burger King crown in my file cabinet. The rule is that if I can get the crown on your head, you get to give me 15 minutes after school. ;:-)

The grumpy, cost-conscious, parsimonious, throws-nicklels-around-like-manhole-covers, cheapskate, tightwad, swallows-charcoal-excretes-diamonds, skinflint parent quoted is far too common, as are even more Scroogelike characters who don't have any investment in education at all. Fighting to get any green renovations done to aging buildings is almost impossible - I couldn't even get my past principal to look at the facts on green roofs, despite the fact that our building is routinely unhealthy from the heat levels. And don't get me started on IAQ issues - ugh! Friday I refused to even let 1st period into the room because the place smelled of dead mouse. My adminstrator had to find an empty classroom to move us into.

Fortunately, I'm married to a bau-biologist, and so come next week when it heats us again, I'm going to have my son break out the old CO2 meter and take some measurements that might prove some points at his school. Its part of his science fair project. I'll then compare readings with my school, if I feel like stirring up more trouble, and see what results we get. Almost a certain guaranteed u-g-h. Its even worse in winter, with less ventilation and a 70 year old boiler spewing diesel fumes into the air. Long story made short - we need more schools like what they have in Alexandria, not fewer. Ask the corporate world to work in these conditions and the lawsuits would fly faster than you can say OSHA (or OSh**)!

Sorry if I'm rambling - hot button issue gets me steamed. But you can understand why the passion here. Where's the grant $$$? Let's get this party started and get renovating!!

{"commentId":1714859,"threadId":"252908","contentId":"1442010","authorDomain":"ffeineandsugar"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":1714885,"authorDomain":"thebeanfield"}

Edward Curtis

The grumpy, cost-conscious, parsimonious, throws-nicklels-around-like-manhole-covers, cheapskate, tightwad, swallows-charcoal-excretes-diamonds, skinflint parent quoted...

Oh wow... great rant. Seriously. No worries about rambling and ranting on this one. I try not to think too much about the air quality in my school. I'm floating between two classrooms this year (2nd year in a new school), and there's a classroom that, on warm days, has a distinct aroma of maple syrup. I try not to think too much about what's causing it.

{"commentId":1714885,"threadId":"252908","contentId":"1442010","authorDomain":"thebeanfield"}

#2.3 - Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:26 PM EDT

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EDWARD CURTIS

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A. Siegel: Keeping Students Awake ... and More Productive ... - Living on The Huffington Post

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