In a recent report titled Building Minds, Minding Buildings, the American Federation of Teachers documents health and safety concerns in deteriorating public schools. A few excerpts:
“The mold is so bad that in one of the teachers’ bathrooms, mushrooms are growing.”
—Greenburgh, New York, math specialist
“Our school has been built on aformer landfill. ... On our worst days, we’re forced to have early dismissal because so many get sick from the smell.”
—Boston teacher
“[We have] leaks and even the occasional icicle from my computer lab ceiling.”
—Minnesota technology coordinator
