Posted by
Waski_the_Squirrel on Sunday, March 04, 2007 7:03:40 PM
On Friday I had the opportunity to judge a Speech meet at a fascinating school. This school had two buildings: an elementary school and a high school. Both were built in the 1920's. The high school also had an addition that was built (at a guess..) in the 1950's or 1960's. This blog will not interest everyone. I am attempting to paint a picture in words to show how lack of money affects schools.
I love old schools. They are often quite attractive and show some amazing detail work and architecture. They have a lot of character. I enjoy photographing these buildings. In fact, the two buildings on this campus were in my collection and I'd always wanted to explore them. Here follows my description of these buildings. As you read, consider this: the school is gorgeous, but old. It has not been renovated, and much of the furniture is old and worn. The new addition is quite cheaply made. This school is the way it is because it lacks money. I have mentioned this problem in North Dakota on other blogs. This school is only in as good a condition as it is because in North Dakota our students tend to be kinder to their surroundings than in some inner cities. Also, though there are chair-lifts on strategic staircases, this building is not really ADA compliant and would not easily be made so.
The two buildings were connected by a long underground tunnel (with several turns) that would make a good setting for a horror movie. The janitor's office along this corridor (where I judged one event) would have made an effective dungeon with its crumbling brick walls, darkened arches, and single bulb for light.
At one end of the tunnel was a staircase to the high school proper and a floor-level entrance to the gym. The other end was the cafeteria (a scary basement room) and stairs on either side of it leading into the elementary school. The elementary school had three levels (including the basement). There was an entrance on all four sides of the building. The classrooms inside were large and well lit. One entered them first through an enormous coat room.
The top floor of the elementary school had been made into a library. It had a large stage in the middle of it. Behind the stage was on old science lab that was now a storage room.
The high school was quite a bit more of a maze. In the basement was the gym. It was quite "vintage". It had brick walls (which must make basketball accidents quite interesting). One side had a small stage with interesting plaster work all around it. The other side was the bleachers: simple concrete steps. On either side of the stage was a hallway leading into the newer addition.
The upper levels of the high school tended to twist and turn a bit. Like a modern high school, they were lined with lockers. The doors and woodwork were all original. The classrooms tended to be long and narrow. There was a library and a large classroom that were entered through French doors. A line by line description would be boring.
From the top floor of the high school, one could exit through what had once been the fire escape into the newer addition. The view was impressive. This stair landing was 3 stories up. On one side was 3 stories of brick wall. On the other side 2 stores of classroom. Facing, at the end of this huge open area, were two and a half stories of glass. The second story hallway was open to the area below along one side. The basement hallway had the two science rooms and the main office.
The science rooms were sad. Part of the problem was housekeeping. This issue can crop up in any classroom (including my own sometimes). However, I then saw ancient textbooks that were still in use. The Biology room was filled with 2-person tables (like mine). However, they were cheap tables and too small: I was unable to fit my legs under them without tipping them over. I am tall, but so are many students. They also forced students to be quite close together. Another foot of width to the tables would have cured this. In the back was a sink and some storage cabinets. This room was inadequate for science.
The other room was much nicer. It was not arranged how I would like it, but was decently equipped with lab tables and equipment. It was all quite old, but the equipment was present. One impressive feature of this room was the presence of a vent hood over every lab table.
I could teach effectively in this school. I could not do my best. A number of things are cosmetic. Simply because something is old does not make it useless. The equipment is there. Unfortunately, a lot of modern equipment is not there. Also, the seating in the Biology room is not adequate.
People will point to schools like this as examples of the importance of adequate funding. They will focus on outside appearances. I would look at books (old), adequacy of facilities, and the ability to maintain the building. I would also look at whether the teachers can make adequate photocopies and where the money is spent.
I don't know exactly where I was headed with this blog. Consider it my text equivalent of a picture page of a fascinating old school.