摘要：The purpose of the study was to evaluate the acoustic comfort level in a public primary school using objective and subjective data. School’s noise level and reverberation time, measured by decibel meter, was objective data. Subjective data involved interviews conducted with the school principal and teachers about acoustic comfort of the school. Sound level and reverberation time measurements exceeded twice the recommended limit. These objective findings, corroborated by interviews with teachers and administrators, found that noise level in the school is very high and extremely disturbing. The themes of causes, effects, and noise control emerged from the interviews. Teacher shouting to suppress noise; high-intensity ringing by administrators; students’ loud speaking, shouting, screaming, and running in the school building; sounds coming from the next classroom or outdoor area were the main reasons for noise. The negative effects of school noise on teachers: 1) distraction and motivation decrease, 2) inability to do their job comfortably, 3) hearing loss and need for devices, 4) helplessness in dealing with students’ noisy behaviors, 5) communication problems in private life due to noise at school, and 6) decrease in sense of professional belonging and the decision to retire. Inconclusion, objective findings reveal the phenomenon of noise pollution at school, while subjective findings reveal the severity of the noise-induced problems. The solution lies in improving the acoustics of school buildings through engineering measures and creating a tranquil learning environment.
