This premise is supported by medical doctors who, in the Archives of Internal Medicine,2 report a biological need for windows. Rather than being a distraction which disrupts the learning process, windows provide a necessary relief, requiring soft attention. The type of soft attention associated with window gazing is less consuming than the focused attention used to draw pictures or doodle in a notebook. It is much easier for students to refocus their attention back on the teacher when engaged in tasks requiring soft attention rather than those requiring more focused attention. When vandalism or violence is a potential problem, classrooms can be designed to focus inward toward an interior courtyard.
Classrooms can have windows facing the courtyard which are protected from the street.
Skylights located on the far side of the room from the windows can supplement light from the windows, if desired. And while it s true that windows are not as good at conserving energy as are insulated walls, their energy loss is not as severe as one might think. Schools are usually interior load-dominated buildings. As a result, the additional load associated with having windows is not sufficient to offset the benefits they provide. Furthermore, windows that are well designed need not have a major detrimental impact on energy consumption.