There is and will always be a constant struggle between the essences of form and function. Something beautiful may not always be the most functional and something with pure purpose often times doesn't have the best looks.
Why? Why can't form and function coexist? Well they can. They exist in those tools or things in our lives that are successful. Take the iPhone for example. It has the power of the entire Internet and still fits in your pocket and has an appealing design, which leads to its success. Now the same can not be said about school. The typical school is based on rectangles, cutting off the outside, and security; and this leads to a place resembling a prison, making students and even teachers not even feel wanted. The very place they spend their days, seems like it doesn't want them their. How is learning supposed to happen if students can't feel comfortable enough to open up to new ideas. Although we can't change the literal structure of the school, we can change how we see it. We can solve the issue of isolation by going outside, boring shapes by arranging desks in new and interesting ways to stimulate student collaboration, and security by...... Well the high fences have no remedy, but it could help to know that they are only there for your safety.
Everybody has their favorite place to work and study, so why not add elements of those places to the classroom. Classes should have maybe couches, or an area outside to read or write. The schools of the future will need to literally be a home away from home so that students are comfortable enough with their surroundings to open up to see what the curriculum has to offer.
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