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I went to middle school and high school in South Florida in the 1980s. I honestly don't remember about my middle school building, but I don't recall being excessively hot, so I guess it must have had A/C. I do specifically recall that my ancient high school building, which had been built well before A/C came along, had high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that opened outward and upward (so they could stay open even in the rain). But each classroom also had an A/C unit mounted to the ceiling . . . and it was used almost every day.
My district has buildings from very old (1873) through quite new, built within the last few years. Many of the old schools are not air-conditioned. Some of those have room A/Cs in the office areas. The latest bond issue we voted on, last fall, was to air-condition the rest of the schools, among other issues.
When we moved to Colorado in 1980, the mantra of many people was "you don't need air conditioning here". There was all this talk of the "dry heat". However, it is not uncommon for the temp to get >100 degrees in the summer, and sometimes June and September are quite warm as well, impacting the schools.
A building full of people can be pretty uncomfortable when it gets hot outside.
I think with all the technology in schools these days it's absolutely required to have AC.... computer labs need AC, projector screens, smart boards, various AV equipment need AC to function properly, where as in back in the day you didn't have this stuff.
Went to school in the 80's (Montgomery Co., MD). And there was A/C in all the schools I attended.
Our biggest complaint was that it seemed like they were all on some set schedule. So the A/C didn't start being turned on until late May. So the hot days in April would be sweltering. And the heat didn't come on until November. So the cold days in Oct would make life miserable.
Grew up in south Florida. Every public school I attended had A/C. For context, I'm 54. I'm sure A/C was more standard there since you'd literally die in the summer without it.
I worked in Naples public schools until 5 years ago. All schools had AC, but Florida gets very HOT. Actually, if the outside temp got over 95 degrees (not unheard of), outdoor recess was cancelled. Kids could get heatstroke running around outside in that. On one of those days a Coach took the temp on the basketball court which was 125 degrees. No children should be playing basketball in that heat.
Many new schools don't have windows that open for cross ventilation. And with allergies nowadays, central air can be helpful. Libraries really need the books in a controlled environment. It's also 2015 and not 1975.
I think with all the technology in schools these days it's absolutely required to have AC.... computer labs need AC, projector screens, smart boards, various AV equipment need AC to function properly, where as in back in the day you didn't have this stuff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ss20ts
Many new schools don't have windows that open for cross ventilation. And with allergies nowadays, central air can be helpful. Libraries really need the books in a controlled environment. It's also 2015 and not 1975.
I have to say, these two posts crack me up. So it's for the benefit of the equipment, not the students and staff, that some schools air-condition? Oh, well.
I think with all the technology in schools these days it's absolutely required to have AC.... computer labs need AC, projector screens, smart boards, various AV equipment need AC to function properly, where as in back in the day you didn't have this stuff.
In the 80s, in my schools, the "computer lab" rooms were the ONLY rooms that got retrofitted with AC (usually the installation of window units). Well, the computer labs and the administrators' offices.
I heard that school was cancelled because the A/C was on the fritz. Huh?
When did A/C start in schools? Shux, I went to a high falutin' Catholic high school whose tuition my parents couldn't afford -- but they sacrificed and managed somehow -- and it didn't have A/C. Same with my college even in summer session.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that my edification began in 1949 (kindergarten) to June 1966 ) college graduation) when even most middle class residences didn't have A/C.
Guess I'm behind the times.
My kids school district still does not have AC they sweat their balls off. And they do a summer camp program there an on 90 degree days it looks like a slow moving zombie fest
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No children should be playing basketball in that heat.
