Comments on: Speak up on “open classrooms”

By: Nancy R

Nancy R — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:48:46 +0000

Lisa, so is it like the ‘open wing’ we had in high school? I think even those were drywalled into regular rooms in the last few years.

By: LisaS

LisaS — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:36:58 +0000

My husband went to a high school that was like that–the subjects were clustered into pods so there was the English pod, Science pod, etc.–all around the central cafeteria pod. It was confusing to get around and led to a lot of distractions as you’ve noted.

These things go in cycles (i.e., 1970’s, 1990’s), and the pedagogy behind it is great–classrooms working together, mixing ages of kids … but unfortunately, we (taxpayers) don’t want to pay what it would take to make it really work–separate classrooms, more teachers, and more than one multipurpose room. So we end up with this sort of thing that just plain doesn’t work, and there’s not much that can be done about it because (architect hat on now) most of the time school buildings are constructed in very permanent ways so they resist the abuse they take and last a long time.

So far as the sick policy … we’re in the (don’t have a heart attack) City school district (but our particular schools are very good, thank you), but sick kids are isolated immediately, sent home, and not allowed to return until 24 hours after vomiting/releasing other bodily fluids besides snot or running a fever over 99. Your district’s policy is probably aimed at placating two-worker families who have difficulties with sick-kid care. I work too, and I understand the problem … but not when it gets everyone’s kid sick! I’d be gathering those who think similarly and going to the next school board meeting about that.

By: Kristi B.

Kristi B. — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:56:09 +0000

How crazy!
The only experience I have with this is my own—and now I’m forty. At the school I attended, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders (and also the 4, 5, 6th in another—my memory is that the kinders were separate) were in what they called a “pod”—a sort of circular space that had break-down walls that divided each grade. Most of the time we were all separate and for certain special events, they folded up the walls that separated the rooms and we all did something together—like when they showed us all the video “Free To Be You and Me.” The break down walls made all the difference, I would guess, reflecting back on the situation. If I were you, I’d definitely make an appt with the principal to at least discuss WHY they do this crazy thing. Good luck!

By: Maniacal

Maniacal — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:45:46 +0000

I’m guessing that because they found that an “open enviornment” works well in offices that they figured it would be good in schools too. However, kids have such a hard time concentrating as is so it’s sounds like a bad idea. I wonder do the kids have the ability to move from group to group? Cause I would think that might be a good thing to keep the kids interested.

LOL Maybe I’m reaching for straws here, I was just trying to find SOMETIHNG good about it. Not easy, apparently. lol

By: slackermommy

slackermommy — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:53:45 +0000

Wow, I’m shocked. I guess I’ve always envisioned public school classrooms having a room for each grade with desks that the kids sat in most of the day. There is no way my kids could function in a room like that. Way too many distractions. This was my concern with the Montessori school that we chose for our kids where the kids work on their own or with another child. My worry was that the kids wouldn’t stay focused without constant guidance from the teachers and I worried about the noise. I was amazed when I observed the classroom. Even though there is constant motion in the room because the kids are all working on something different the class runs smoothly. There is soothing music in the background and everyone talks softly. The kids are spread out across the room either at tables or on a rug on the floor. They may only work with one other child which keeps the noise level down. I’m always amazed how well the teachers run their classrooms. They are pretty strict about hand washing and no food sharing also. They are sent home if their temp is above 100 and I’m not sure about vomiting. I would hope parents would use their common sense on that one.

I understand your concerns, especially if Seth is having trouble focusing. Get together with the teacher and see if there is anything that can be done to improve the situation.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:29:23 +0000

I’ve subbed for teachers in that kind of atmosphere. It is difficult. It works for some kids, and not for others. I think you’re on the right track, deciding to volunteer a few more times before you decide to pull him out. Good luck!

By: Alex Elliot

Alex Elliot — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:18:47 +0000

I have no experience with kindergarten whatsoever, but it’s sounds like a crazy environment. I felt tired just thinking about it. Is this something that can be brought up with the PTA (or PTO as it’s called out here)? Can you ask the teacher what sort of resources they provide for kids that have ADD or ADHD? Are they available to all kids?

By: angela

angela — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:04:21 +0000

My husband and I used to volunteer every week at an inner-city daycare center. They also had an open floorplan, where the entire school was in one huge room. They had little half-wall things separating the classrooms, but obviously that does nothing for the noise level, or for when people walk through the “hallways” to get to other classrooms. The poor kids could barely focus, even when just quietly playing with toys.

In the last year or so, they finally moved nextdoor into their gorgeous new facility with real walls and it was like night and day between the two. I can tell the kiddos are doing much better in this new situation.

By: Tori

Tori — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:36:44 +0000

Hey Babe…

It’s been ages…

This classroom scene seems a little ridiculous. I have never heard of it to be honest. Our school is very much a classroom type with a doors that close and a multi purpose room for assemblies etc only. I am having a hard time even visualizing this circus.

Sounds like it might not be the place for Seth! I mean kindergarten is really pretty free anyway in terms of structure but the whole point of it, is that it prepares the kids for future structure and gets them used to focusing. How can they expect the kinders to even get a chance to learn these skills in this chaos.

My girls have had several approaches with their classrooms. One teacher went as far as to cover the bookshelves in the room so that the kids weren’t distracted too much. Another teacher researched brain function and found that having a specific kind of music in the background, playing very low, actually helped eliminate other distractions and get the kids to focus in. This is really the aim of school - to learn these disciplines and life skills that you need later on. I have never heard of a place where the focus isn’t on creating a calm environment for kids to do their best learning.

My thoughts, don’t wait and see what the parents think, yank him… if not now then at the end of kinder unless the drywall situation improves ten fold. Otherwise - be prepared for lots of letters home. The place is way too overstimulating for Seth. Remember what we did to calm fussy babies - take them into a room with complete silence….

Noise is chaos and that is not productive….

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:14:09 +0000

I’ve never heard of such a thing. I’m with Dana. I think seeing what the other parents in Seth’s class think is a good place to start.

I don’t think I would learn well in such an environment, so I can’t imagine what a child would think, let alone a child with Seth’s sensory integration issues.