April 25, 2009

It is true that a school has lots of problems to take into consideration just like if the number of teachers, classrooms, and computers is enough. Thus, school repair and maintenance may not be considered as a major priority, and its value is disregarded.

It is believed that the school is our second home. There are even days when spend more time being in school than at home. So it is very important to keep it in good shape as much as possible. Who would want to stay in a classroom with a roof that leaks and with walls that have chipped paint? How uncomfortable it would be if after hours of football practice you find out that the shower does not work properly?

It is certainly an accepted reality that the school is one vital institution in our society as it is where we are molded to be productive citizens. One of the things that should be done to create a school a place conducive for learning is to go through a regular school repair and maintenance. It would not hurt if the government coordinated with school authorities and talked about the right budget for this concern. In the end, it is a long-term investment. It is from schools where the would-be leaders will be coming from. It is from these educational institutions where would-be doctors, teachers, lawyers, journalists, and so on will be coming from. Mostly, the future of the country and the world for the most part rely on these schools.

There are actually companies that offer services for the maintenance as well as repair of buildings and structures such as schools, and they can help prevent this so-called “sick-building syndrome”. What happens is that the performance of people who are staying or working in a place that is suffering from poor indoor quality, improper heating and ventilation and other structural deficiencies, are negatively affected. Health problems can take place, and worse, these people may lose their motivation and enthusiasm. We do not want the students to lose interest in learning just because of these physical deficiencies, do we?

Furthermore, there are other buildings aside from schools that get plagued by the passing of time as well as the forces of nature, and these include churches. Church restoration and repair must also be given importance. A church is not just a structure, but it is a holy and spiritual place. A church is as a vital institution in the society as the school. But one challenge in renovating and restoring a church is that it may be a shelter for some of the most valuable pieces of art. Whatever the concerns are, however, priority must be given to the preservation of buildings where people gather for important activities, just like the churches and schools.

April 5, 2009

The school is one of the most significant organizations in our world and one structure which holds some of our warm memories. It also has a huge impact in our lives, in our individualities and our ideas and perceptions of the world. That’s why we should make school maintenance and repair an ordinary endeavor.

We should work together to make the school a conducive place of learning and that means the roofs are not leaking, the paint are not peeling off the walls and ceilings, the drains are not clogged, the gym roof is not leaking, the showers have hot water when you need it, and everything is running smoothly. To put it simply, quality education is directly associated with the quality of the facilities and building. Do you expect students to learn effectively when the walls look like a mosaic and the rooms are in very poor conditions? Do you expect students to learn scientific theories and principles when the laboratories are not fully equipped and may not be even safe for experiments? These types of educational environments will yield low quality education.

That’s why the government should act closely with school officials to make school maintenance and repair a priority in legislative and budget meetings. There should be a budget for this project. However, it is a sad reality that most state representatives and public government agencies are not so enthusiastic in forming this investment into our future. We ought to make a move now if we would like to yield dependable and good citizens in the future. And that begins by emerging to the challenges of our school system and to the quality of education we are forced to face. Let us not forget that the students today will be the next group of heads, professionals, and personnel. It is our task to provide them quality education today. Besides, it is the government’s job to guarantee that there is enough funding for repair and restoration. It is about time that we let ourselves be heard and make certain our kids are provided the best in education.

Not only are our schools suffering from wear and tear but so are other structures and buildings in our nation today. Historical buildings, houses and other institutions are also in poor condition and seriously need some repairs. Church repair and restoration is different from doing repairs for school buildings. Churches are not only sacred places but also give shelter to several of the most important pieces of art. An illustration of such repair was the refurbishment of the Sistine Chapel, and you can actually notice the difference before and after the cleaning of the ceilings and the frescos. It is our duty nowadays to uphold the past and guarantee that the future is bright for our kids.