The Future of Crumbling Schools

Recently, I took a trip back in time.  I drove 3 hours (my DeLorean was up to task)

to Reading, Pennsylvania where I, along with

NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen, visited Southern Middle School.

Southern Middle, like so many other schools across the country, is falling apart….literally. 

Over 90 years old, Southern Middle School is feeling its age.  Crumbling

paint falling from its walls, floors that have buckled under the swell of water

damage, a heating system that leaves 6^th floor classrooms at 80

degrees in the middle of winter WITH THE

WINDOWS WIDE OPEN, and broken water fountains

preventing students from rehydrating after sitting

in these extreme conditions.

Lily and I spoke with one of the most dedicated group of

teachers and support staff that I have met.  They are totally committed to

the children of the Reading community and their one wish is that their school,

built as a beautiful model in the 1920s, could be retrofitted to support great

teaching and learning.

“The message these kids get when they look up and see their

classroom ceiling leaking and falling in is, ‘I don’t matter,’” says

Eskelsen.  “How can we expect students to achieve in this environment? Given

that 35% of America’s schools have similar conditions, this is a

national crisis. We need to repair our public schools to keep our children

healthy and allow them to learn.”

Stepping into Southern

Middle School was like taking a trip back in time.  I recognized

everything from the type of construction to the refreshing resolve of the

faculty, staff, and students. We need  your help

in re-writing the future!

Here are 3 things you

can do:

1. Urge your member of Congress to pass the Fix America’s Schools

   Today Act which will provide $25 billion to modernize and repair public

   schools nationwide.  Visit NEA’s Legislative Action Center for details.

2. Take NEA’s online course, “What’s Your IEQ? A

   Roadmap to School Indoor Environmental Quality” to learn about mold, asbestos,

   and other pollutants and how you can organize around IEQ as a local

   association. To take the course visit www.neaacademy.org.

3. Let us know how crumbling schools are affecting you.  Tell us your story about crumbling schools,comment on this blog,  post to our Facebook page or our Twitter account.