5 ms·

That's a troubling thought down here in eastern Georgia, where it has been in the high 90F (35-37C) range for the past few weeks, with heat index north of 100F

That's a troubling thought down here in eastern Georgia, where it has been in the high 90F (35-37C) range for the past few weeks, with heat index north of 100F (38-40C), and no shortage of humidity. And that's not even remotely as bad as it gets closer to the Gulf coast. And it stays pretty unbearable until late October or so. Yes, I know the article wasn't insinuating that the entire country, regardless of climactic region, should hold outdoor classes. But enough of the US sits below "unbearable" latitudes enough of the year that I don't think this suggestion has much applicability beyond what is explicitly considered "the north". Besides, I've been to New York City in August and September before; depending on the day, the heat, and especially the humidity, can give the South a run for its money.

SamReidHughes 6y ago
They had schools before air conditioning. All we had when I was a kid were big oscillating fans on the wall, and that was the 1990’s. I think Georgia will have it easy, because winter will be the real impediment.
- badRNG 6y ago
  While I'm sure the kids could survive if given shade and water, I'd have to imagine completing assignments on a school-issued Chromebook or iPad at home where it is climate controlled is a far better learning environment than in triple digit heat index temps or the cold winter in northern states. Sure, there will be certain places and times where this might work, but probably not Georgia in the summer.
  - Frost1x 6y ago
    A reasonable portion of my K-12 education lacked AC. It's pretty difficult to focus on materials and learning when you're sweating or nearly sweating and about to fall asleep to help reduce your core body temperature. It's not very conducive for learning. Take some cognitively demanding task you have to do or struggle with and then try doing it in sweltering heat. At least for me, my patience recedes very quickly and I'm far more concerned with my immediate discomfort than I am dancing through some abstract ideas, making it very difficult to focus.
- Icemajor 6y ago
  I disagree, even by 2010 our school was planning around seriously hot days in August and September for football. Couldn't imagine that time period without the ice cold AC we had inside the school (this is SC)
- claudeganon 6y ago
  They had schools before year after year climate-change induced temperature increases and erratic weather as well. Conditions change and we change with them.
- Loughla 6y ago
  >They had schools before air conditioning And they didn't have school on hot days. Source: My school had no air conditioning outside of the nurse's office until I was in high school. If the temperature was above 89, school was cancelled for the day.
  - astura 6y ago
    What? None of my primary or secondary schools ever had a/c and I always went to school no matter the temperature, sometimes when it was over 90°. It was uncomfortable but it's not like I knew any different.
    - Loughla 6y ago
      We also didn't start school until after Labor Day, instead of the middle of August.
      - astura 6y ago
        I didn't start school until September.
  - blackoil 6y ago
    In my part of world, 89 is considered pleasant. Once it crosses 105, people will make some noise.
    - Loughla 6y ago
      Our high temperatures are usually accompanied by humidity levels in the 85-95% range. 85 with a 90% humidity is just awful.
ericb 6y ago
What about evening classes? For other cooler areas of the country, perhaps winters off, but not summers?
- EvanAnderson 6y ago
  In my area (Western Ohio, US) there would be a risk of the children being lifted and carried away (or just sucked dry) by the hordes of mosquitoes that come out in the evenings when it begins to get cool.
  - DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
    Would large tents + mosquito netting be a viable workaround?
- Fezzik 6y ago
  Where I am, the Pacific NW, the coolest parts of the day are (roughly) 2:00 AM through 10:00 AM. On 100F days it is still 90F at 8:00 PM, and the peak is around 4:00 PM. I’m not sure evening classes would change much, unless the temperature profile is drastically different in other parts of the country.
  - jpindar 6y ago
    Temperature profiles are drastically different in different parts of the country. In low humidity areas, it does cool down in the evening. I've lived in San Jose and I remember noting how different that was from the humid east coast. Wind patterns near the ocean can have the same effect in some places.
kkylin 6y ago
Exactly. This idea has merit and is worth thinking about. But in much of the Sun Belt, with some of the worst-hit states, it's going to be pretty hard to do until October or so: if it's not temp + humidity, it's sheer temp alone (like here in the Southwest). Not to mention we're in thunderstorm season. This can only be done with suitable outdoor spaces, which do not exist yet in sufficient quantities, and there's not enough time or money to build it now in time for August opening. (I'll admit I only skimmed the article. It may have addressed some or all of these points.)

SamReidHughes 6y ago

They had schools before air conditioning. All we had when I was a kid were big oscillating fans on the wall, and that was the 1990’s. I think Georgia will have it easy, because winter will be the real impediment.

badRNG 6y ago
While I'm sure the kids could survive if given shade and water, I'd have to imagine completing assignments on a school-issued Chromebook or iPad at home where it is climate controlled is a far better learning environment than in triple digit heat index temps or the cold winter in northern states. Sure, there will be certain places and times where this might work, but probably not Georgia in the summer.
- Frost1x 6y ago
  A reasonable portion of my K-12 education lacked AC. It's pretty difficult to focus on materials and learning when you're sweating or nearly sweating and about to fall asleep to help reduce your core body temperature. It's not very conducive for learning. Take some cognitively demanding task you have to do or struggle with and then try doing it in sweltering heat. At least for me, my patience recedes very quickly and I'm far more concerned with my immediate discomfort than I am dancing through some abstract ideas, making it very difficult to focus.
Icemajor 6y ago
I disagree, even by 2010 our school was planning around seriously hot days in August and September for football. Couldn't imagine that time period without the ice cold AC we had inside the school (this is SC)
claudeganon 6y ago
They had schools before year after year climate-change induced temperature increases and erratic weather as well. Conditions change and we change with them.
Loughla 6y ago
>They had schools before air conditioning And they didn't have school on hot days. Source: My school had no air conditioning outside of the nurse's office until I was in high school. If the temperature was above 89, school was cancelled for the day.
- astura 6y ago
  What? None of my primary or secondary schools ever had a/c and I always went to school no matter the temperature, sometimes when it was over 90°. It was uncomfortable but it's not like I knew any different.
  - Loughla 6y ago
    We also didn't start school until after Labor Day, instead of the middle of August.
    - astura 6y ago
      I didn't start school until September.
- blackoil 6y ago
  In my part of world, 89 is considered pleasant. Once it crosses 105, people will make some noise.
  - Loughla 6y ago
    Our high temperatures are usually accompanied by humidity levels in the 85-95% range. 85 with a 90% humidity is just awful.

ericb 6y ago

What about evening classes? For other cooler areas of the country, perhaps winters off, but not summers?

EvanAnderson 6y ago
In my area (Western Ohio, US) there would be a risk of the children being lifted and carried away (or just sucked dry) by the hordes of mosquitoes that come out in the evenings when it begins to get cool.
- DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
  Would large tents + mosquito netting be a viable workaround?
Fezzik 6y ago
Where I am, the Pacific NW, the coolest parts of the day are (roughly) 2:00 AM through 10:00 AM. On 100F days it is still 90F at 8:00 PM, and the peak is around 4:00 PM. I’m not sure evening classes would change much, unless the temperature profile is drastically different in other parts of the country.
- jpindar 6y ago
  Temperature profiles are drastically different in different parts of the country. In low humidity areas, it does cool down in the evening. I've lived in San Jose and I remember noting how different that was from the humid east coast. Wind patterns near the ocean can have the same effect in some places.

kkylin 6y ago

Exactly. This idea has merit and is worth thinking about. But in much of the Sun Belt, with some of the worst-hit states, it's going to be pretty hard to do until October or so: if it's not temp + humidity, it's sheer temp alone (like here in the Southwest). Not to mention we're in thunderstorm season. This can only be done with suitable outdoor spaces, which do not exist yet in sufficient quantities, and there's not enough time or money to build it now in time for August opening. (I'll admit I only skimmed the article. It may have addressed some or all of these points.)