Emily Kang

Using vibrant colors, large fonts, and eye-catching graphics to decorate an otherwise barren wall, history teacher Josephine Porcelli strives to create a welcoming atmosphere in her classroom.“I [decorate] to make the room feel more cozy and welcoming, so it isn’t a sort of barren hospital looking classroom,” Porcelli said.

In the rigorous environment at Jefferson, classrooms display teachers’ varying opinions on the level of decoration in them. Some teachers think that it can add a pop of color to the room, while others think it is a major distraction that is ultimately unnecessary. 

“A sterile room is boring, it feels very institutional instead of welcoming and inviting,” history and psychology teacher Teresa Hamrick said. “Most of the posters that I have in my room are relevant to [the subjects I teach] or are affirmations and character reminders and quotes that I like or that resonate with me.”

Classroom decorations often make Jefferson students more comfortable, as opposed to having a plain classroom environment.

“Some people might argue that decorations are distracting, but I wouldn’t say that is the case because I think it makes for a better learning environment if a classroom feels very homey,” junior Summer Yoo said. “I think it’s better than trying to learn in a classroom that feels like a hospital room.”

Jefferson teachers have been putting up decorations in their classrooms for years, ranging from small posters with inspirational quotes to models of sci-fi vehicles. For physics teacher Adam Smith, classroom decoration is an opportunity for self-expression and connection with his students.

 “It’s a chance for me to show unique things about me and force everyone else to look at stuff that I think is nice,” Smith said. “I also think students like seeing that teachers have personalized their rooms to make them more welcoming. These white brick walls [don’t provide a] terribly comfortable [space].”

However, there are also proponents of the opinion that decorations can have a distracting effect on students.

“I have heard that [decorations can be distracting], so I’ve always been worried that too much text around the room can be overwhelming,” history teacher Josephine Porcelli said. “But as long as they’re not blaring, they can be calming, so you have to find the right balance between the two.”