There also was minimal need for electrical circuits and outlets in classrooms. Teachers depended on the old-fashioned chalkboard, a few textbooks and rote memorization as their primary instructional tools. We know much more about them today than ever before. The research is very clear about the importance of providing an appropriate instructional climate for students. A very important part of the instructional climate is the physical plant.
Good instruction requires appropriate lighting in classrooms.
Students also learn better in classrooms where the noise level is reduced. Our older buildings also were not built with the needs of handicapped individuals in mind. Today, the law requires that our buildings be accessible to all members of the community. At the same time, parents should not be denied access to their children's schools because they are physically handicapped. The need to provide appropriate access to technology to students has become a major concern in all schools in recent years.