That is interesting! However, the costs of air conditioning is raising a generation who is unable or unwilling or doesn't know how to acclimate to temperature change. Dependence on air conditioning is a big energy hog. While student test scores may improve, the long term impacts of conditioning everyone to cooler temperatures could be maintaining the populations' devastating energy consumption.
I have a health condition that is very sensitive to temperature change, and I'm prone to heat and cold stress injuries. However, I have found that in summer the one thing that makes me unwell is air-conditioning. I really question what the greater health and well-being implications are of being dependent upon air-conditioning, especially when millions of people who have not acclimated to heat are suddenly exposed to heat during a power outage.
I would also suggest that the classroom situation of excessive sitting has more impact than the actual heat. In heat, our blood vessels dilate and increased sweating leads to hypohydration. These two factors reduce blood flow to the brain. For people with health problems like me, it's sudden and dramatic. But the phenomenon exists for all people and I would suggest that the inactivity of the classroom environment as well as the restriction of food and fluids in the classroom environment may be the cause of hypohydration and reduced performance.
Even though I disagree with the author's conclusion about the best course of action, I am thankful you shared this piece and look forward to further conversation on the topic.
