In order to be truly effective, classrooms should be a bastion where no outside noises can be heard, a place where all there really is is you, your classmates and your teacher. There are no lawn blowers outside, birds singing in choir, or even the the wind bashing unrelentingly against the tree leaves to whisk you from the walls of the classroom. If truth be told, no classroom is ever going to be completely free of noise pollution. Noise happens and there is nothing that can be done to completely remove all outside noises from classrooms. Despite that, McKinley classrooms could use a few improvements.

“The noises do get me distracted sometimes” said sophomore Kamjoa Jems.

Heat could be contributing indirectly to the high levels of noise pollution at McKinley. Many teachers choose to leave their windows or doors open to try to mediate some of the downsides that stem from lack of air conditioning. Unfortunately, this  makes it easier for loud outside noises to enter the classroom.

If all McKinley classrooms were installed with air conditioning or better ventilated, teachers could have the option of keeping their doors and windows shut without the classroom’s temperature rising to uncomfortable levels. If classroom doors and windows are shut, any outside noise that manages to enter the classroom would just be a low hum that could easily be drowned out.

Unfortunately, installing air conditioning is an expensive process — especially for old buildings like W-Building — and maintaining it even after it is installed is not free either. Given the financial limits for the Department of Education and generally the Hawaii State Government, it would probably be best to explore less financially-burdening options for removing noise pollution on campus.