Traffic lights control classroom noise

<h2><img class&equals;"alignright wp-image-519 size-full" style&equals;"margin&colon; 5px&semi; float&colon; right&semi;" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;schoolnews&period;co&period;nz&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2013&sol;03&sol;TRaffic&lowbar;Lights&period;jpg" alt&equals;"TRaffic Lights" width&equals;"200" height&equals;"150" &sol;>Sets of mini traffic lights are beginning to control excessively noisy classrooms in primary schools&period;<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>The Safe Sound Indicator flashes green&comma; amber – then red to let pupils and teachers know when the din reaches intolerable levels&period; It has already proved a success at significantly cutting noise in child centres across New Zealand&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Now primary schools are following suit to reduce the risk of hearing loss for children and their teachers and create an improved learning environment&period; When the &dollar;292&period;50 devices were tried out in kindergartens&comma; audio experts recorded some noise levels equivalent to a jet plane taking off&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Safe Sound Indicator was developed over several years by the National Foundation for the Deaf from a concept by a 10-year-old New Plymouth girl&comma; Jamie Fenton&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a class&equals;"wpil&lowbar;keyword&lowbar;link" href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;schoolnews&period;co&period;nz&sol;2015&sol;10&sol;new-chief-executive-for-education-council&sol;" title&equals;"Chief executive" data-wpil-keyword-link&equals;"linked" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank">Chief executive<&sol;a> of the Foundation for the Deaf&comma; Louise Carroll&comma; said the sound indicators were particularly effective in open-plan classrooms where noise could quickly reach uncomfortable levels&period; She said 1200 were now in use at childcare centres&period; They were also a valuable tool for reducing hearing damage&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;