Journal of Education & Social Policy

Why Do Schools Look Like Crap? Reimagining Our School Spaces to Make School What It Should Be
Annie Johnston-Jones, Ed.Dab, Virgo Morrison, MAa

Abstract
Our schools are the headquarters of arguably the most important work there is, which is to educate children and prepare them to be happy, successful community members. This work should be done in spaces that look and feel good, supporting and amplifying the academic and emotional growth that goes on inside these spaces. Rather than focusing our attention on just test scores and curriculum design, we must rethink the way we design and use our school spaces. The aesthetic elements of our schools matter, and by revamping the way our schools look and feel, we can directly impact our students’ academic and emotional growth. This is also true for the way we think about and use our learning spaces. By incorporating more movement throughout the school day and pushing the learning process beyond the classroom walls, we provide students with a dynamic learning environment that offers practical learning experiences and diverse spaces for social, emotional, and intellectual maturation.

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