Stop! Hey, What's That Sound?

(Continued from FunAmeda.com )

But what about the sounds we’ve learned to tune out - the hum of your refrigerator, your partner’s snoring, a ticking clock? Did you know these types of ongoing, often subtle noises could be making you sick? And, if you’re constantly subjected to more than one of these types of noises at a time, you may just be shaving years off your life!  Yikes!

According to a 2011 report from the World Health Organization, environmental noise is not merely a nuisance but also a concern for public and environmental health. The report is a startling look at the unhealthy effects of noise pollution - and the report was done nine years ago. Imagine what the results would be today! The report goes on to say powerful epidemiological studies have found cardiovascular diseases, memory loss, insomnia, tittinitus and even, in some cases, psychiatric disorders can be associated with repeated exposure to what is usually considered bothersome environmental noise, i.e. road and air traffic, television, bars and restaurants, neighbors, electrical devises, loud music, crying babies, etc.

Advertisers have been using sound to manipulate us for years.  Ever notice the rockin’ songs played at the end of your favorite show? That song was carefully chosen to make you feel hip for watching that specific show.  Do you hear that low-level buzz of your overhead kitchen light?  It’s possible that, although you think you don’t even register it, it could be the cause of your chronic fatigue or overall irritation. 

Not only has it been proven noise pollution has direct effect on our health, researchers now know it is not just the volume, pattern and frequency of the sound that is the issue, but the pitch of the sound as well.  In the 2019 film, The Sound of Silence, Peter Sarsgaard plays a “house tuner” who calibrates the sounds in people’s homes in order to adjust their moods.  That concept really struck a chord with me!

Because the definition of noise is subjective as it varies from one individual to another, sharing a home, an office, or even public transportation with other sound-making humanoids can pose a varying degree of stress and discomfort.

We give so much consideration to our other four senses. Why not give your ears a little TLC with an opportunity to kick back and relax? Maybe take this quiet, at-home time to treat your ears to a break from the din.  Make a commitment to yourself (and your housemates, neighbors, etc!) to a stretch of quiet hours each day. Take an audio break.  Listen to some silence. 

Your ears, mind and body will thank you!

Teachers need our help

Maybe, since our teachers are actually working two jobs, they should actually get two paychecks – one from the Alameda Unified School District and one from the Department of Health and Human Services.

For a substantial number of educators, there’s no amount of increase in pay to compensate for the extreme and constant pressure of having to keep up with a highly competitive curriculum AND provide daily social services to an increasing number of students.  Leaving it to our teachers to guide and counsel young people (and often other members of their family as well) through the very real issues of bullying, divorce, abusive relationships, depression, mental illness, drug addiction, anger management, malnutrition, suicide, gender identity and sexuality issues – all on top off an unprecedented array of learning disabilities - is an extremely unfair and untenable situation. The school day can quickly devolve into a quagmire of additional disciplinary actions and reporting, parent/teacher communications, and even legal considerations.  If you think teachers in good, ol’ Alameda don’t grapple with all these serious issues, you are mistaken.

Like any profession, yes, some teachers will leave because their pay does not reflect all they are expected to do. We must face the fact that teachers also leave because they are exhausted and out of fear for their safety and wellbeing. 

Our reliance on teachers as social workers has to stop.  It is not their sole responsibility to cure what ails society and secure a better future for our youth.  Rather than decisively argue about the benefits of Measure A and who should pay for it, it’s time for everyone to do the right thing, take personal responsibility and come together as a community.  If you are genuinely worried about educators leaving Alameda and the schools and city falling apart, let’s be proactive and alleviate this unsustainable burden on our teachers.  Volunteer. Mentor a child. Start an after school program. Establish a scholarship. Take a kid to lunch. Let’s figure out a way to help teachers do their job – teach.

P. Cary, Alameda