School, suffice to say, is not the perfect environment. Every day, we are in this building for eight hours, confined to small, stuffy classrooms and made to do work we are not necessarily interested in. We essentially work a forty-hour week, just here at school instead of in an office. Employees fight for more comfortable working conditions, and it’s time we do the same. School could be much owevermore bearable with a few changes.
The first thing that has to go are these uncomfortable chairs that are in every school in America. Buying new chairs for the entire building can quickly get expensive; however, chair cushions could be an applicable solution. It would also provide the opportunity for multiple seating options, allowing students to decide whether or not to use them.
The next thing that needs to be addressed is the glaring overhead lights. The artificial lighting begins to hurt your eyes pretty quickly. Some classrooms, such as Anna Schwerke’s and Julie Lynch’s, address this problem nicely. They use warm colored lamps, which give the rooms a cozy feel. Not every teacher has the time or energy to achieve this, however. Another solution could be colored filters on the lights, not enough to affect the brightness, but enough to tint it.
Another important point is the amount of break time we get during the school day. People need breaks and time to think for themselves. A key thing we are told all throughout high school is that this is a time for finding who you are and building your circle of friends. This is not possible when we don’t get the time to do it! Lunch isn’t nearly long enough for proper socialization on top of eating. Flex is a step in the right direction, but this time is too concentrated. For many, the last half of the day is a slog because we simply don’t get a break after lunch. This means that during afternoon classes, we have less focus, less capacity for storing information and are overall not able to learn and function as well.
In connection with more breaks, we need more time outside, or at least the opportunity to use it. Elementary and middle school students are given an influx of time outdoors to breathe fresh air and get out unused energy. All people require time like this, but especially because we are still kids. We still require extra time to be ourselves and have fun. Sunlight is also an important fundamental need. Sunlight boosts moods in noticeable and measurable ways and improves the mental health of students. Outdoor time is simply not possible all of the time, but additional windows could get around this issue. Not all classrooms are placed on the outside of the building, but skylights are another option. We have previously installed them in the lunchroom; why not our classrooms as well?
Additionally, neurodivergent folks’ negative school experiences can be magnified when it comes to sensory issues. Bright fluorescent lights, sharp smells and overlapping voices can all contribute to overstimulation, especially without many designated breaks during the school day. Yes, accommodations can be provided; however, not everyone has the resources to acquire them and changes help all people. For example, not many students like the extremely bright classroom lighting. Making a change to them will be beneficial for neurodivergent and neurotypical people alike!
Without a major overhaul of the entire school system, it will never be perfect. But we can start with small changes here in our own building. We are in this school up to forty hours a week, we have a voice and it’s our responsibility to use it. What problems do you see? What can we do about it?
