Boston Globe Letter to Editor: Are sick schools, poor results linked?

[Guest guest]

Are sick schools, poor results linked?

December 12, 2007

SCHOOLS IN Massachusetts continue to suffer from decades of neglect. What

the Nov. 28 front-page article _ " 83 schools make 1st cut for state building

funds " _

(http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2007/11/28/83_schools_make_1\

st_cut_for_state_building_funds/) didn't say is that 322 out of 423

applications identified their schools as " structurally unsound or otherwise in

a condition seriously jeopardizing the health and safety of school children

where no alternative exists. "

Massachusetts has among the highest prevalence of childhood asthma in the

country. The state Department of Public Health, which has inspected schools

across the Commonwealth, sees a link between schools with decrepit environments

(especially mold) and higher asthma rates. Where is the outrage over why we

subject our children and school staff to these conditions?

With the increased pressure on schools to meet higher standards, it is

critical that we address the connection between school building conditions,

health, and learning opportunities. Schools that receive " underperforming

status "

should also be evaluated for environmental health and safety conditions.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority is providing us a bold picture

of school building neglect, but even with some state assistance, hundreds of

projects may stay unfunded and will deteriorate even more.

JEAN ZOTTER

Director, Boston Urban Asthma Coalition

TOLLE GRAHAM

Healthy schools coordinator, Mass.

Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health

Dorchester

© _Copyright_ (http://www.boston.com/help/bostoncom_info/copyright) 2007 The

New York Times Company

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)