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Green Schools Improve Academic Performance
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by ishambat | November 13, 2010 at 04:36 am
173 views | 2 Recommendations | 7 comments
http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/schools-sustainability-learning-ability/
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When my high school turned green last year, I can't say I jumped up and down with excitement. Sure, it was cool to join in the hot trend of recycling our lunch trash and bringing our own water bottles. And our LEED certified buildings looked much better. Still, to me, the whole green school thing wasn't much more than a politically correct move that could help save the planet in a few decades. I had no clue my green school could also improve my education. But I'm learning: Studies show that a school that's good for the environment is better for academic performance, too!
If you've seen the recent documentary "Waiting for Superman," you know that America's public schools are in crisis with dwindling budgets, problem teachers and struggling students. With all these complicated problems to solve, I bet politicians and education reformers aren't thinking much about the color of the trash cans or the quality of the buildings. But maybe they should. According to the EPA, a healthy school environment "can improve health, increase students' ability to learn, improve test scores, and improve adult productivity in the school system." Other studies have supported this link between sustainability and learning ability and schools all over have taken action and are seeing results.
In my school, our new green library has sun streaming through the glass windows, which I'm so thankful for. I'm relieved there are no more ugly fluorescent lights to waste energy and highlight a bad acne breakout. But it turns out the daylight is more than just flattering.
"Daylighting has positive psychological and physiological effects," according to James R. Benya, a lighting designer and consultant who conducted the original groundbreaking study proving the connection between natural light and student performance. Another study found that students in classrooms with natural light advanced 20% faster in one year on math exams, and 26% faster in one year on reading tests, than those in classrooms without enough daylight.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 07:36 on November 13th, 2010
Does that include marajuana at recess?
at 17:45 on November 13th, 2010
That's funny. I've actually known of schools (in other countries) where kids could smoke marijuana and the teachers accepted it. There's probably more value though in making the schools green meaning environmentally non-destructive rather than green meaning smoking pot.
at 08:20 on November 13th, 2010
Go Green! We all should do something to recycle, not only at school or at work, but even in our house. Im happy you had such great experience
at 04:07 on November 14th, 2010
at 14:45 on November 14th, 2010
This setting appears to be both good for learning and for the environment, so two benefits are accomplished for the price of one.
Having classes on the grass is an attractive idea. In most American schools the only grass one sees is the football field, so classes need to be held at a different time than football practice.
at 18:34 on November 16th, 2010
Really? I guess I'm used to Aussie schools where there are large area of grass under shade trees. The grassed area at my local High School is at least twice the size of the sports field, much of that under shade.
at 19:47 on November 16th, 2010
There are some schools that are that way. But I've found that most Australian schools are just like American schools: One story, large area, not much greenery. Russian schools didn't have much greenery either, but they were generally five-story buildings with some space for sports fields - much less than in Australia or America.