Windowless Classrooms

[Anonymous]

I don't want to be "that" parent, but for those of you who have kids who have been in windowless classrooms, have you had experience with the principal making sure they are in classrooms with daylight the next year? Did you have success in asking that they rotate kids through the window and windowless spaces year by year? At first it didn't bother me that my child's class has no windows, but now it is starting to make me wonder if this will keep happening. FWIW the teacher does a great job with the space, my kid doesn't seem to care, and there are two exits (a door to another class).

[Anonymous]

I grew up in open space schools with no windows. All day. It didn't bother me at all. Maybe because I didn't know anything different.

Is your kid in this classroom the entirety of the school day? Or just for a class or two? I would ask the principal about class assignments, by grade or otherwise, regarding the use of windowless rooms in the school. I don't know the structure or layout of the school, but it's relatively common to add skylights or solar tubes to those types of interior rooms, to bring in some daylight. I'd probably ask the principal if something like that has been considered or is in fact, in the works. But capital improvements to schools can take a long time, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

It's illegal in other countries

[Anonymous]

What's the problem with a windowless classroom?

[Anonymous]

Please make that request, and enquire if they have a policy about it.

Research has shown that workers, and even more so children, need natural daylight to regulate their moods and their focus. It's critical.

Our principal was very upset the year the elementary school got so overcrowded that she had to open up an inside, windowless room that was being used as the meeting/computer room. Since this is the only windowless room the school has, the children go on to a natural daylight classroom the year after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Please make that request, and enquire if they have a policy about it.

Research has shown that workers, and even more so children, need natural daylight to regulate their moods and their focus. It's critical.

Our principal was very upset the year the elementary school got so overcrowded that she had to open up an inside, windowless room that was being used as the meeting/computer room. Since this is the only windowless room the school has, the children go on to a natural daylight classroom the year after.

Our school is in the same boat. We ran out of classrooms and portables so we ended up dismantling our computer lab and turning it into a classroom. It's the only room without windows so next year the students won't have the same issue.

[Anonymous]

If it’s one hour a day I think the kids can handle it. All day though would be a bit onerous.

[Anonymous]

Ha - my entire middle school was windowless (except for the offices on the second floor), and my high school was largely windowless (one tiny window in each outer classroom). It never bothered me.

[Anonymous]

I taught in a windowless classroom for 2 years. I also shared the room with 2 other teachers (I'm not a homeroom teacher). Unfortunately this room was also located right next to the boiler room so it was so hot and the air was completely stagnant. One of the years I was pregnant and some days I would feel woozy due to the extreme heat and lack of fresh air. Not to mention my Vitamin D levels plummeted. I brought in a fan but it only helped a little. I kept complaining to admin but because I wasn't a classroom teacher and the kids were only in there for about 30 minutes a few times a week they weren't concerned about the students being impacted. It was a really crappy few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha - my entire middle school was windowless (except for the offices on the second floor), and my high school was largely windowless (one tiny window in each outer classroom). It never bothered me.

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