How hot is too hot for school?

[teacherforhi]

All of our schools are air conditioned now, but when I was little, we would get out if the heat INDEX reached a certain point. As everyone in the South knows, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity." Pair 100 degree temperatures with 100 percent humidity and it quickly became unbearable.

 

[disfan07]

I'm in SoCal in the valley so we get nasty heat.

Some schools in our valley started 2 1/2 weeks ago, some started this week. Today, It got to 120 degrees outside. Yes...120. And all the kids still went to school.

 

[bfeller]

We have had heat cancellation days at our schools with no A/C. I think it is when it hits 100 in the school. Honestly, when it gets that hot no one is concentrating and I feel that it is a good decision to cancel.

I also went to schools way back when with no A/C but we didn't start school until the Wednesday after Labor Day. None of this starting in August.

 

[JoiseyMom]

For us, the heat is usually in May and June. They wouldn't cancel school at that point, but they would make it a 1/2 day instead. Some of our newer schools have AC most of them don't. I think the bus ride is gonna be worse then the school.

 

[minkydog]

I'm in SoCal in the valley so we get nasty heat.

Some schools in our valley started 2 1/2 weeks ago, some started this week. Today, It got to 120 degrees outside. Yes...120. And all the kids still went to school.

OMG Humidity or not, I think anything over 98 degrees is just too dang hot.

 

[scrapquitler]

Here in CT, we started school on Tuesday. It was something like 97 degrees on Tuesday and 95 today. No air conditioning in the schools. My daughter said it was ridiculously hot. No talk of cancellations.....

 

[disfan07]

OMG Humidity or not, I think anything over 98 degrees is just too dang hot

hahha...yeah its crazy. The only time schools get cancelled here are for wildfires. Last year some schools here got cancelled because of the Statoin Fire in Los Angeles National Forest because of the smoke around the schools.

But, truthfully, I dont think its too bad. It might be because I grew up in Northern Virginia so when it got to 100 degrees, we also had 100% humidity which was hell. I worked at a preschool camp in virginia in 2008 and we had 3 weeks of code red days because of the humidity. So personally, the dry heat is not too bad.

 

[stm61]

So, I guess for me it would depend entirely on how the school was constructed, whether they could cool it adequately with fans. 90 degrees wouldn't be a deal breaker for most people, unless they're stuck inside a windowless room for 7 hours straight.

Minkydog you just described my classroom! Former storage room turned classroom, no windows at all, no airflow. We have a/c, or so they tell us, but the only time it works right is in Dec. lol. The best part is we share a wall and a ventilation system with the kitchen. We can usually tell what they're making for lunch by 8:30. A previous principal used to insist all classroom doors be kept locked during instructional time. He said we gave him nightmares because there were some days both my doors were wide open in an attempt to get some air circulating. Oh yeah, we're in SC and it was 96 degrees out today.

 

[minkydog]

Minkydog you just described my classroom! Former storage room turned classroom, no windows at all, no airflow. We have a/c, or so they tell us, but the only time it works right is in Dec. lol. The best part is we share a wall and a ventilation system with the kitchen. We can usually tell what they're making for lunch by 8:30. A previous principal used to insist all classroom doors be kept locked during instructional time. He said we gave him nightmares because there were some days both my doors were wide open in an attempt to get some air circulating. Oh yeah, we're in SC and it was 96 degrees out today.

Ugh. You have my sympathy. It's a wonder you're not all flaking out with heat exhaustion. I'm a school nurse. In my last school I really had to sit on my PE teachers who would insist on having the kids play flag football or run track in 95 degree heat for 90 minutes at a crack. And the principal wondered why they'd end up in the clinic after PE. I did a booming business is water and cool rags (an deodorant!) Here in Atlanta, our ozone levels are usually in the "Unsafe for children and sensitive groups" during the summer and early fall. At least in my current school the admins limit the kids' outdoor time to 20 minutes on the really hot days. I haven't had a single case of heat exhaustion this year.

 

[HelenePA]

Minkydog you just described my classroom! Former storage room turned classroom, no windows at all, no airflow. We have a/c, or so they tell us, but the only time it works right is in Dec. lol. The best part is we share a wall and a ventilation system with the kitchen. We can usually tell what they're making for lunch by 8:30. A previous principal used to insist all classroom doors be kept locked during instructional time. He said we gave him nightmares because there were some days both my doors were wide open in an attempt to get some air circulating. Oh yeah, we're in SC and it was 96 degrees out today.

you also described my sons k "classroom" He's in a gym that was converted to six k and prek classes for the year.. there are NO windows that open, no doors are allowed to be open because they open to the outside and god forbid someone should walk by and come in... I have been worried sick about him this week... it was in the upper 90's today along with the rest of the week... I took a fan down on monday morning and asked they get it to him ASAP (I'm sure the office loves me!) I have asked him if its hot in there he says no I'm not sure if I believe him but he's not complaining my dd8 is but that is her normal self..

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm in SoCal in the valley so we get nasty heat.

Some schools in our valley started 2 1/2 weeks ago, some started this week. Today, It got to 120 degrees outside. Yes...120. And all the kids still went to school.

My kids would never be able to go to school if it was that hot. Mainly because I would not be able to get them to a car or bus. If I had to be outside in that weather I would be nothing more than a melted puddle of Mom.

 

[tvguy]

I went from Kindergarten to 12th grade in Sacramento where is frequently got to 100+ in June, September and October. No A/C. Went to college in Stockton, 50 miles down the road, most classrooms had no A/C and the dorms didn't. Wasn't an issue, when it got really hot we'd have class outside under a shady tree.

My kids high school had hot weather days, if the paper said it was going to be 98 or above, they got out an hour early, at 2 pm instead of 3.
They put AC in last year, no more hot weather days.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

All of our schools are air conditioned now, but when I was little, we would get out if the heat INDEX reached a certain point. As everyone in the South knows, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity." Pair 100 degree temperatures with 100 percent humidity and it quickly became unbearable.

I think this is a big part of this equation, also. I'm assuming NS is in the same weather pattern we are in Maine- the humidity is near 80. That, coupled with with temps pushing 100 is insane for our tender Northern bodies. Said tongue-in-cheek, but in all seriousness, this is nothing like we normally have in the summer. We don't have a/c in most places, buildings aren't designed to stay cool. Schools don't generally have need for fans and don't have them. We usually focus on keeping WARM not on cooling off. It is brutal to be sure.

My kids did have school today, but there are some districts that ended up doing early release. (One cancelled for tomorrow as well.) It completely sucks as today was first day back, but I can completely understand.

 

[C.Ann]

Funny you should bring this up.. I saw something on the news the other night - can't remember where it was - but school was already in session and it was brutally hot - no a/c.. They interviewed several teachers - as well as a number of students..

The teachers said it was basically a waste of time as it was far too hot and humid for anyone to focus on their lessons - let alone learn anything..

The students said it was impossible to concentrate (you could see the sweat just running down their faces) and quite a few said they were feeling physically ill.. (Nausea; headaches; etc..)

They did have windows opened - and fans running - but it was no match for the heat conditions in the school..

Personally, I think areas that have this kind of weather on a regular basis should be equipped with a/c.. When it comes to school budgets, it seems to me that it would be no more costly than wasting time on days that are not suitable for teaching/learning - and it would be a much healthier atmosphere for both the students and the teachers..

 

[stm61]

Ugh. You have my sympathy. It's a wonder you're not all flaking out with heat exhaustion. I'm a school nurse. In my last school I really had to sit on my PE teachers who would insist on having the kids play flag football or run track in 95 degree heat for 90 minutes at a crack. And the principal wondered why they'd end up in the clinic after PE. I did a booming business is water and cool rags (an deodorant!) Here in Atlanta, our ozone levels are usually in the "Unsafe for children and sensitive groups" during the summer and early fall. At least in my current school the admins limit the kids' outdoor time to 20 minutes on the really hot days. I haven't had a single case of heat exhaustion this year.

I'm going to the dollar store this weekend to invest in deodorant! The girls are ok, but oh my God, the boys stink to high heavens! Our district doesn't limit outside time because of heat or cold. The only time they don't go out is if it's raining.

you also described my sons k "classroom" He's in a gym that was converted to six k and prek classes for the year.. there are NO windows that open, no doors are allowed to be open because they open to the outside and god forbid someone should walk by and come in... I have been worried sick about him this week... it was in the upper 90's today along with the rest of the week... I took a fan down on monday morning and asked they get it to him ASAP (I'm sure the office loves me!) I have asked him if its hot in there he says no I'm not sure if I believe him but he's not complaining my dd8 is but that is her normal self..

Wow, they must be melting in there! The a/c in our gym went out during the teacher's work days before school started and they haven't gotten it fixed yet. They have doors on an inside hallway, but the outside doors are directly opposite them so they can't keep the gym doors open. The doors on the other wall are outside doors. There are no windows at all. The PE teachers have been taking them out every day because it's been cooler outside the building then in it. One of the 1st grade teachers also has no air and no working windows. They hooked up some kind of temporary unit just to get some circulation in there.

 

[bumbershoot]

I grew up in San Jose CA where it gets hot. Our elementary school didnt' have a/c, and I remember some very long hot days where we had the lights off and the windows open just hoping for breezes...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We've been in the mid 90's for several days. The humidity is awful. Kids have been in school with no AC, just one fan per classroom. It sounds like everyone was fairly miserable. They walked in the house this afternoon all red and sweaty. DS just ripped his shirt off when he walked in the door. They'd stood in the sun for 30 minutes waiting for their bus, which has a new route or something. I remember being that hot in school myself. But the thing that bothered me is (sorry if TMI, it's a nurse thing) that my son's urine was cloudy so he's probably getting a little dehydrated. I'm going to send them with extra waters today. ETA and btw, the reason they have no AC is because they're on the first floor. Second floor apparently has AC, but not first due to safety concerns: intruders could push AC units in to get inside. First I've ever heard something like this.

 

[Evi]

Sorry I think this post is so funny. When I was a kid and yes I was once a child hard to believe. No seriously we didn't have ac's in the class rooms they would just open the windows and when it was hot you could drink water in class that really was about it. Maybe they would cancel phys ed or sports. I went to camp too and they didn't send us home when it reached 100. I think if your really worried for your child because of a health condition or other reason maybe you should request to walk your child into school and see for yourself if you think its unbearable. I think if you dress your child appropriately and send them with a few bottles of water they will be ok. Give em a few bucks to buy a Popsicle or ice cream bar at lunch.

 

[mommasita]

Sorry I think this post is so funny. When I was a kid and yes I was once a child hard to believe. No seriously we didn't have ac's in the class rooms they would just open the windows and when it was hot you could drink water in class that really was about it. Maybe they would cancel phys ed or sports. I went to camp too and they didn't send us home when it reached 100. I think if your really worried for your child because of a health condition or other reason maybe you should request to walk your child into school and see for yourself if you think its unbearable. I think if you dress your child appropriately and send them with a few bottles of water they will be ok. Give em a few bucks to buy a Popsicle or ice cream bar at lunch.

I think we all agreed with this on this thread. Giving out tips to others, and us parents are sharing what we do to help. Just venting is all. And in today's day of UNIFORMS (at least for my 2 kids) there is no option but the UNIFORM.
I think along the same lines when I read a thread about a delay because it is cold. I can not imagine a few hours making a difference. It is never TOO cold to go to school. I can understand those places without the snow cleaning crews, as that is different. But summer and winter come yearly, and we are used to it.

Having said that. We have set records 3 days in a row, so this definitely is a first for this city at THIS time of year. I also seriously doubt, as others have said, how much they are really learning.

Tomorrow and Friday we are expecting "possible" thundershowers, and the heat should break by the weekend. Personally, I LOVE IT, but I am home, and spend my days floating on my pool.

 

[scrapquitler]

I think along the same lines when I read a thread about a delay because it is cold. I can not imagine a few hours making a difference. It is never TOO cold to go to school. I can understand those places without the snow cleaning crews, as that is different. But summer and winter come yearly, and we are used to it.

We've had delays due to cold weather here occasionally (like once every two or three years) and honestly, the only reason they do it is because when it gets super cold, they have lots of trouble starting the buses. They do the delay to give the bus company extra time to get all the buses running.

Last night I mentioned our high temperatures this week, and I said that I hadn't heard any talk of cancellations because of the heat...today I stand corrected. About 4 or 5 districts in my area have called for early dismissals today because of the heat. Our district is NOT one of them.