School is the child's workplace. Children spend many of their waking hours at school, in circumstances that are often suboptimal. There may be excessive crowding, poor indoor air quality, unsatisfactory lighting, or exposure to hazardous chemicals. Violence may threaten children's safety. Outside the school, the playground may be dangerous, and on the way to school, children may face risks, whether they walk, bicycle, or ride the bus. Safe and healthy schools offer many benefits. They protect children's health. They enhance learning. They are pleasant places to be. Finally, safe and healthy sc ... More

School is the child's workplace. Children spend many of their waking hours at school, in circumstances that are often suboptimal. There may be excessive crowding, poor indoor air quality, unsatisfactory lighting, or exposure to hazardous chemicals. Violence may threaten children's safety. Outside the school, the playground may be dangerous, and on the way to school, children may face risks, whether they walk, bicycle, or ride the bus. Safe and healthy schools offer many benefits. They protect children's health. They enhance learning. They are pleasant places to be. Finally, safe and healthy schools are often environmentally friendly schools, which use less energy, produce fewer pollutants, and model environmental responsibility for teachers and students. This book provides an overview of the school environment, from the perspective of environmental public health. It includes chapters on the physical environment (such factors as crowding, lighting, and noise), air quality within and outside the school, toxic exposures, nutrition and physical activity, violence and disasters, and transportation. It also includes chapters on management issues and on health services at schools.