A Cool Solution for Hot Classrooms and School Activities: Improve Focus, Learning, and Safety

School is back in session! For many parents, it's a bittersweet time, the end of summer fun, a return to the school year routine, and a chance for our kids to annoy someone else for a change. But there’s a new annoying feature to the start and end of the traditional school year—heat waves.

Many locations in the US now experience seven or more additional days of extreme heat compared to the 1970s. The hotter months start earlier and drag on later into the year, affecting school days and after-school activities more than ever.

As temperatures rise, the effects are not just felt in the weather, but also in the profound impact on our children's safety and learning experiences. Over the past decade, there's been a growing awareness of the dangers of heat exposure, particularly for student-athletes engaged in strenuous physical activities.

This concern extends beyond the sports field, as hot classrooms can negatively impact students' ability to concentrate, retain information, and perform well on tests. Research has shown that even a small increase in classroom temperature can decrease cognitive function and academic achievement.

Children are more susceptible to higher environmental temperatures due to a lack of understanding, faster metabolic levels, and less surface area to dissipate body heat. “A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than adults,” explains Connie Kostacos, MD in her article “Heat Stroke and Kids: What to watch for and know.” Many school districts have implemented better safety mechanisms to promote heat safety in the classroom, school sports, after-school activities, and competitions.

It's not just outdoor activities and sports that are affected by heat. Research shows that hot classrooms negatively impact student learning and test scores. One study found that math scores for 10-12-year-olds rose by an average of 2.8% when classroom temperatures were lowered from 78 to 67 degrees (Haverine-Shaughnessy & Shaughnessy, 2015). This suggests that students perform better academically in cooler environments.

As the school year begins, classroom temperatures in parts of New York state are expected to reach the mid-90s. This raises concerns about how students can be expected to learn in such hot conditions. As New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) president Melinda Person said, "When schools are too hot, students can't learn, and teachers can't teach. Even animal shelters have maximum heat limits. Our schools do not, and it is disrespectful to both our students and educators."

A new report by NYSUT, "Overheated: Excessive Classroom Heat," includes testimony from hundreds of educators and parents across NY state about the effects of extreme temperatures in New York State Schools and the latest research on the adverse impact excessive heat has on both student health and academic performance. New York State lawmakers have passed bill Senate Bill S3397A that would establish maximum temperatures in school buildings. The law would require districts to address heat conditions when classroom temperatures hit 82 degrees and vacate classrooms entirely at 88 degrees. (As of this blog's publication date, the bill is waiting for the Governor's signature.)

Students in schools without air conditioning face a multitude of challenges, including:

• Impaired Learning: Research shows that hot classrooms negatively impact student learning and test scores, with one study indicating a 2.8% increase in math scores when temperatures were lowered from 78 to 67 degrees.
• Health Risks: Extreme heat can lead to heat stroke, a serious medical condition. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their bodies' inability to regulate temperature as efficiently as adults.
• Discomfort and Distraction: High temperatures can cause discomfort, making it difficult for students to concentrate on their studies.
• Inequity: Schools with a higher percentage of Hispanic and Black students are more likely to lack air conditioning, exacerbating educational inequities.

Schools with a higher percentage of Hispanic and Black students are a particular concern because they often have less air conditioning, which creates more challenging learning environments.A study from the Harvard Kennedy School found that "cumulative heat exposure inhibits cognitive skill development and that school air conditioning can lessen this effect." Data from 10 million PSAT-takers reveals that hotter school days before the test lead to lower scores, with extreme heat being particularly damaging for low-income and minority students.The study suggests that heat directly reduces the "productivity of learning inputs," and that air conditioning in schools can nearly eliminate these negative effects. In fact, "without air conditioning, each 1°F increase in school year temperature can reduce learning by one percent."Until our education system invests in air conditioning for all students in all climates, you may want to consider adding a new tool to your child’s back-to-school list: Cooling Gear from ThermApparel! Our Cooling Vests work in all climates, whether you live in the humid or arid south or the non-airconditioned north, allowing your child to concentrate on their work and perform at their best. 

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Here’s how ThermApparel Cooling Vests can help students and teachers:

Improved Classroom Instruction:

• Enhanced Teacher Comfort and Focus: Comfortable and cool teachers can focus on delivering engaging and effective lessons.
• Increased Energy and Stamina: Staying cool helps teachers maintain their energy levels throughout the day, allowing them to be more present and attentive to their students.
• Reduced Stress and Burnout: ThermApparel Cooling Vests can help mitigate the effects of heat, promoting a positive and productive classroom environment.

Enhanced Student Learning:

• Improved Focus and Concentration: Students who are comfortable and cool are better able to focus on their studies, leading to improved retention and academic performance.
• Increased Engagement and Participation: When students are not distracted by discomfort, they are more likely to actively participate in class discussions and activities.
• Reduced Absenteeism: ThermApparel Cooling Vests can help keep students healthy and in school, ready to learn.

"I’m a 5th through 12th grade strings teacher in suburban Kansas City Missouri. Being a traveling teacher can get hot and overwhelming. At the start of the year, I have numerous events where I travel with 50 of my orchestra students through our feeder pattern elementary schools to perform and recruit 5th graders into beginning strings, in the heat, on a school bus with no AC, and this is a 6-hour event. Then there is our district-wide strings rental fair that I host where I’m everywhere and everything to everyone all at once. Thankfully, in both situations, I have my ThermApparel UnderCool Cooling Vest that I can wear to stay cool and that allows me to do what I love and be at my best for my students and community. There are so many things I love about these Cooling Vests! My top two would be the quick, 30-minute refreezing of the Cooling Packs in ice water and the invisibility of the vest underneath my clothing. As a traveling teacher, I keep a small cooler of ice water in my backseat to recharge the cooling packs on my lunch break or have my extra set all ready to go on hot days, and the invisibility of the vest under my clothes keeps the curious questions at bay, although I’m always sharing about it! My ThermApparel Cooling Vest is great for anyone who wants to stay cool and have the ability to do whatever it is they’re doing for longer, and in a safer, healthier way. I can honestly say you will not regret adding one of these to your life and highly encourage you to get one today." ~ Emily, Strings Teacher, Kansas City, Missouri

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