I interviewed two teachers located in Mayfair High School’s brand new STEAM Building to get their thoughts on the new building and their classrooms. The teachers featured in these interviews are Ms. Parks, a math teacher for 10-12th graders located in room 701, and Mr. Unger, a chemistry teacher located in room 708. They answered a series of questions presented in the following below along with their inputs.
Interview with Mr. Unger (High School Chemistry teacher)
Q: In general, do you like the new building?
Mr. Unger : “Yes I do”.
Q: What is your favorite feature about the new building or your new classroom?
Mr. Unger had replied from his point of view and further explained that the lab room connected to his classroom was a favorite touch he had. He added that it was a great addition to have the lab connected to the classroom separate rather than all in one like his previous classroom.
Q: If you could change anything about this building or your class, what would it be?
Mr. Unger had commented saying there weren’t any changes in mind for the building itself, but he added on explaining how he would change the amount of wallspace.
“I don’t really have any wall space in here” - Mr. Unger
He explained the storage and cabinetry and storage is likable, but would also like to have it extended towards the wall. He also stated that it would be nice to have a drain for the safety shower in the lab since as of right now there is no drain for the water to go.
Q: Is there anything you miss about your previous classroom?
Mr. Unger stated “No.” and explained how the previous classroom was in an older building and was nowhere close to what the new building is.
Q: As of right now, do you prefer your previous classroom to this one? Why or why not?
Mr. Unger: “I prefer my new classroom for many reasons. I disliked how the desks were situated like a lab room, so not everyone was facing me or paying full attention since the layout were like circular desks making a U-shape” and continued to add “Now I have a proper classroom and I have a lot of lab space”
Q: Do you think this building was worth the wait? Why or why not?
Mr. Unger stated that it was worth the wait in his opinion, only he wished it was done sooner. He went on to say that there were bound to be delays, and that it was a huge upgrade to the school.
Q: Do you think the new chairs and desks are nice or are they too much of a distraction to students?
Mr. Unger elaborated that his students don’t really move around with the rolling chairs or do anything ‘bad’. He goes on to justify why he actually liked them.
“It’s really convenient to have a chair that rolls a little bit, and the fact that the desks go up and down makes it more comfortable for the students.”
Q: There is a debate on the temperature of this building. What is your opinion on the temperature?
Mr. Unger pointed out that at the beginning of the school year, the temperature was considerably low, but gradually went up in temperature. He wishes he had control over the temperature in his room as it can be a bit difficult to manage.
Interview with Ms. Parks (High School Math teacher)
Q: In general, do you like the new building?
Ms. Parks: “Yes!”
Q: What is your favorite feature about the new building or your new classroom?
Ms. Parks: “For sure the giant windows. The floor to ceiling [making the room more open] and the light that comes through them”
Q: If you could change anything about this building or your class, what would it be?
Ms. Parks stated that she would want the desks to stop sliding all over the place as it messes up the arrangement and organization of her classroom.
Q: Is there anything you miss about your previous classroom?
Ms. Parks: “No.”
Q: As of right now, do you prefer your previous classroom to this one? Why or why not?
Ms. Parks prefers her new classroom over her old one. She says it’s much more quiet in the new building compared to the 400 wing where her previous classroom was located.
Q: Do you think this building was worth the wait? Why or why not?
Ms Parks: “I wish we would have had it sooner, but yes, it was worth the wait.”
Q: Do you think the new chairs and desks are nice or are they too much of a distraction to students?
Ms. Parks: “I like the chairs, but it is hard to keep the desks organized. They move around too much, but it’s not a distraction”
Q: There is a debate on the temperature of this building. What is your opinion on the temperature?
Ms. Parks: “I wish the teacher could have the option to set the temperature to how they want”
She would wish for a bit more control over the temperature since they are the ones in the room all day.