City Students Brave The Heat Wave
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Thousands of city students are sitting out the heat wave in summer school, and although the city claimed all those schools have air conditioning, NY1 has learned that doesn't mean every classroom has it. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.With temperatures outside hitting record highs, students and teachers who have to be inside for summer school say that when there's no air conditioning, classrooms feel like ovens.
"You actually can't concentrate that much because of the heat," said one student.
"It's horrible, it's just horrible. I'm all uncomfortable and I'm not focused," said another.
The Department of Education would not say how many of the more than 100,000 summer school students are spending time in oven-like classrooms. But at Bayside High School in Queens, there are about 1,000 students and just four air conditioned rooms.
Students stuck in 100 degree classrooms say they're not learning much.
"Everyone was kind of like drowsy and they were sleeping, they didn't want to do work. So it was just like, everyone was kinda spaced out," said one student.
"It's horrible, it's very hot. We have one fan, it's rusted and it just makes noise. It doesn't cool the room down anyway," said another.
One student who spoke with NY1 on Wednesday says her teacher gave up teaching all together.
"She just sat down at her desk, and was sitting there not doing anything, she let us talk," said one student.
At PS 208 in Queens, the DOE admits air conditioners stopped working well on Wednesday, raising particular concerns since the 45 students in the summer program there have severe disabilities. The DOE says it's fixing those air conditioners and looking into installing more units at Bayside.
Officials say they have never called off class for high temperatures, though the Schools Chancellor can cancel classes for "citywide emergency conditions."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the teachers union questioned why the city's website advises residents to seek air conditioning but doesn't provide it for students.
Instead, the DOE told administrators at schools without air conditioning to watch out for students who are overweight or have asthma, to open the windows and pull down the shades.
"It's really hard for people to pay attention because they are so busy fanning themselves trying to stay cool instead of paying attention and working. You're just laid out in class," said one student.
"It's really, really hot. I couldn't concentrate. I wish I wasn't there," said another.