Add as a preferred source on Google

"Children Need Quiet to Learn, Study and Read"

  • 11/01/17

The headline of this article, as quoted by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., a New York City-based noise specialist, is so obvious, and yet so neglected in schools.

Bronzaft is a strong proponent for educating administrators, planners and architects to the hazards of noise in schools. “The key thing is to educate that noise is a health hazard,” she says. “It diminishes the quality of life. In schools, it robs children of learning.”

Bronzaft says it’s time to quit studying the effects of noise on learning and start implementing techniques to create quieter schools. It isn’t difficult. Here are some starting points for designing a quiet classroom.

  1. Install double-glazed windows to keep the noise out.
  2. Seal ducts properly to prevent noise from traveling from one room to another.
  3. Install doors that keep the noise out. “If a door is closed, I shouldn’t hear children walking through the hallway,” says Bronzaft.
  4. Install acoustical ceiling tiles to absorb noise made by children inside the classroom.
  5. Likewise, install carpeting to absorb noise made by children inside the classroom.
  6. Beware noisy air conditioning units. “We have to be cognizant of design issues, but also of appliances,” says Bronzaft. “We have to design for quiet in a broad sense, but also in a narrow sense in terms of specific products.”

“We have to convince people that noise isn’t just an annoyance,” Bronzaft says, “It’s a health hazard. It causes stress. If I’m stressed, it’s causing wear and tear on my body. Children can not learn in a noisy environment.”

Bronzaft encourages administrators to speak out and be active when it comes to noise. “They can’t wait for the city to make a school quiet. They have to speak on behalf of the children.”

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

Digital Edition