Extreme School Commutes

If you have a fear of heights, then you wouldn’t want to live in the small village of Atule’er in southern China. Students there make a dangerous trek down ladders from their homes at the top of a 763 meter (2,500 foot)-tall mountain to their school in the river valley below.

Atule’er is in the Himalayan mountains, which formed as two tectonic plates collided, says Peter Modreski, a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado. These slowly moving slabs of rock make up Earth’s crust, or surface. About 50 million years ago, the Indian and Eurasian plates, which make up most of Europe and Asia, struck one another to form the Himalayas (see Building Mountains).

If you’re afraid of heights, you wouldn’t want to live in Atule’er. Students in this small village in southern China make a dangerous trek. Their homes are at the top of a 763 meter (2,500 foot)-tall mountain. The students travel down ladders to their school in the river valley below.

Atule’er sits in the Himalayan mountains. The mountains formed as two tectonic plates collided, says Peter Modreski. He’s a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado. These slowly moving slabs of rock make up Earth’s crust, or surface. The Indian and Eurasian plates make up most of Europe and Asia. About 50 million years ago, these plates struck one another to form the Himalayas (see Building Mountains).

About 15 students, ages 6 to 15, spend two weeks living and studying at the school in the valley before making the climb back up the cliff to spend the weekend at home. Then they make the hike back down the mountain to school.

Once they’re there, the kids stay in simple dorms, sleep on metal bunk beds, and go to class in a small, two-story concrete building. In other regions like this, the Chinese government has tried to move mountain dwellers to lower-lying villages. But the small valley below Atule’er is already overcrowded, so there’s no space for additional families.

Modreski says that the river will continue to shape the valley’s walls and make the slope less steep. But since this erosion will take millions of years, the kids of Atule’er will continue making their extreme journey up and down the mountain for a long time to come.

About 15 students, ages 6 to 15, make the dangerous trip. For two weeks, they live and study at the school in the valley. They climb back up the cliff to spend the weekend at home. Then they hike back down the mountain to school.

Down in the valley, the kids stay in simple dorms with metal bunk beds. They go to class in a small, two-story concrete building. In other areas like this, the government has tried to move people from mountains to lower-lying villages. But the small valley below Atule’er is already overcrowded. There’s no space for more families.

Modreski says that the river will keep shaping the valley’s walls through erosion. As a result, the slope will become less steep. But this will take millions of years. So the kids of Atule’er will keep on making their extreme journey for a long time.

The South Asian country of Bangladesh receives heavy rainfall during its monsoon season, which lasts from June through October (see How Monsoons Form). The rains lead to massive flooding, and many students can’t get to school. But some kids avoid wading through high waters to get to class. How? Their schools are on boats, which float around and pick them up.

Bangladesh is especially vulnerable to flooding because of its location. The country lies on a delta where the mouth of the Ganges River splits into many small branches before flowing into the Indian Ocean. During heavy rainfall, all these smaller waterways easily overflow.

Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It gets heavy rainfall during its monsoon season, from June through October (see How Monsoons Form). The rains cause major flooding, and many students can’t get to school. But some kids get to class without getting wet. How? Their schools are on boats, which float around and pick them up.

Bangladesh is quick to flood because of its location. The country lies on a delta at the mouth of the Ganges River. The river splits into many small branches before flowing into the Indian Ocean. During heavy rainfall, all these smaller waterways easily overflow.

The nonprofit organization Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha began constructing boat schools in 2002. About 2,000 students, ages 6 to 10, attend the schools, which are staffed by more than 60 teachers. Each boat is about 17 m (55 ft) long and 3.5 m (11 ft) wide and holds about 30 students. A multilayered roof protects the students from heavy rains. Each of the 22 boats is solar powered and has computers with internet access.

“Our family owned a small boat that ensured my travel to school during the monsoons,” says Mohammed Rezwan, a Bangladeshi architect who developed the floating schools and founded the organization. “But I saw many of my friends could not. I thought that if the children cannot come to the school, then the school should go to them by boat.”

The nonprofit organization Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha began building boat schools in 2002. About 2,000 students, ages 6 to 10, attend the schools. More than 60 teachers staff the 22 boats. Each boat is about 17 m (55 ft) long, 3.5 m (11 ft) wide, and holds about 30 students. A roof with different layers protects the students from heavy rains. The boats have solar power and computers with internet access.

Mohammed Rezwan is a Bangladeshi architect. He developed the floating schools and started the organization. “Our family owned a small boat that ensured my travel to school during the monsoons,” he says. “But I saw many of my friends could not. I thought that if the children cannot come to the school, then the school should go to them by boat.”

Madeline Island is located in Lake Superior—the largest of the Great Lakes (see map). The small island is 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) from the mainland. During warm weather, students who live on the island ride a ferry to middle or high school in nearby Bayfield, Wisconsin. But in the winter, they commute by car. The lake usually freezes over, so vehicles can drive on top of it, making travel to the mainland a lot easier than having to take the ferry.

“We really look forward to the ice road,” says 18-year-old Solomon Schuppe, a resident of Madeline Island who graduated from Bayfield High last year. “When the ice is thick enough to drive over, we’re like normal kids—we can hang out with friends on the mainland whenever we want.”

But before the lake freezes solid, chunks of ice float on the water. Cars can’t drive on the lake and ferries can’t travel on it. That’s when students ride the windsled. This unusual vehicle is like a houseboat on a sled that’s propelled over the ice by two big, noisy fans.

Madeline Island sits in Lake Superior. That’s the largest of the Great Lakes (see map). The small island is 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) from the mainland. Students who live on the island go to middle or high school in nearby Bayfield, Wisconsin. During warm weather, they ride a ferry to school. But in the winter, they travel by car. The lake usually freezes over, so cars can drive on top of it. This makes getting to the mainland a lot easier than having to take the ferry.

Eighteen-year-old Solomon Schuppe lives on Madeline Island. He graduated from Bayfield High last year. “We really look forward to the ice road,” he says. “When the ice is thick enough to drive over, we’re like normal kids—we can hang out with friends on the mainland whenever we want.”

Before the water freezes solid, chunks of ice float on it. Cars can’t drive on the lake and ferries can’t travel on it. That’s when students ride the windsled. This strange vehicle is like a houseboat on a sled. Two big, noisy fans push it over the ice.

For the past few years, though, the lake hasn’t frozen enough to require the windsled. Ferry service continued for the entire winter. Prior to 1999, that was unheard of. Scientists believe this is a sign of warming linked to climate change.

“Warmer air temperatures would likely reduce the potential for the lake to freeze and lead to a shorter duration when the ice is thick enough to support the windsled,” explains Joshua Koch, a scientist who studies bodies of water at the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska. He explains that many northern areas are seeing rivers and lakes thawing earlier, disrupting travel and leading to hazardous conditions.

Solomon says he hopes there’s an ice road this winter to make it easier to see his friends. “For the last two years, I’ve been pretty bummed out.”

But for the past few years, the windsled wasn’t needed. The lake didn’t freeze enough. Ferry service continued for the whole winter. Before 1999, that was unheard of. Scientists believe this is a sign of warming linked to climate change.

“Warmer air temperatures would likely reduce the potential for the lake to freeze and lead to a shorter duration when the ice is thick enough to support the windsled,” explains Joshua Koch. He’s a scientist who studies bodies of water at the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska. He explains that rivers and lakes are thawing earlier in many northern areas. This upsets travel and leads to dangerous conditions.

Solomon says he hopes there’s an ice road this winter. “For the last two years, I’ve been pretty bummed out.”