“The school year should start on October 1st.” Words of the Tuscan pediatrician Italo Farnetani. For the expert, the prospect of “schools closed in September due to climate change” should be seriously considered. “Over the years I have repeatedly proposed postponing the start of lessons, but this choice now seems even more rational in light of climate changes – he explains to Adnkronos Salute – For some time, in fact, the month of September has been characterized by unusually high temperatures, often close to 40 degrees, as also indicated by weather service forecasts, within the limits of long-term projections. The national school calendar establishes that by September 17th – despite regional differences – all Italian students must have started lessons. This means starting educational activities in climatic conditions that calling ‘African’ is not an exaggeration. And this choice presents real risks.”
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The risks according to the pediatrician
Farnetani identifies at least 3: psychophysical stress and problems adapting to school rhythms, impact on learning and decline in the quality of the school experience. His proposal to delay the first school bell comes while in Emilia Romagna early opening of primary schools – from August 31st – is being experimented with to respond to family difficulties. For the pediatrician, however, the climate factor cannot be ignored and points in the opposite direction. The first, “immediate” risk of teaching with too high temperatures “concerns the bodies of children and adolescents, already engaged in readjusting to school rhythms: morning wake-up, meal times, concentration, attention management. All elements that, while formative, still represent physiological stress. Facing this transition in extreme heat conditions adds an additional burden: sweating, fatigue, irritability, reduced concentration capacity. It is unrealistic to think that a child or adolescent, hot and sweaty, can calmly face a math problem or follow a complex lesson. The environmental discomfort inevitably translates into a negative approach to school precisely in the crucial days of the start of the year.”