"HERE IS ETERNAL SPRING. FOR YOU THE VERY STARS OF HEAVEN ARE NEW."

Physical Arrangements of Historically and Ethnically Diverse Classrooms

"Some few years ago I was looking about the school supply stores in the city, trying to find desks and chairs which seemed thoroughly suitable from all points of view -- artistic, hygienic, and educational -- to the needs of the children. We had a great deal of difficulty in finding what we needed, and finally one dealer, more intelligent that the rest, made this remark: 'I am afraid we have not what you want. You want something at which the children may work; these are all for listening.' That tells the story of traditional education. Just as the biologist can take a bone or two and reconstruct the whole animal, so, if we put before the mind's eye the ordinary schoolroom, with its rows of ugly desks placed in geometrical order, crowded together so that there shall be as little moving room as possible, desks almost all of the same size, with just space enough to hold books, pencils, and paper, add a table, some chairs, the bare walls, and possibly a few pictures, we can reconstruct the only educational activity that can possibly go on in such a place. It is all made 'for listening' . . . ."

 (Dewey, J. (1900/1956). The child and the curriculum and The school and society. Chicago: U. Chicago Press, p. 31) 

 

 

 

 

The University of Pittsburgh has remodeled some of its classrooms according to some historical and ethnical traditions of different countries. These so-called Nationality Rooms were constructed by architects, educators, and workers from these countries and financed by local ethnic communities.

  Located at the University of Pittsburgh, these extraordinary classrooms meld culture, beauty, and learning. 

The Nationality Classrooms in 

The Cathedral of Learning

 

 

 

 

In their diversity, the rooms preserve and honor our ethnic identities. 

Collectively, they symbolize our national unity. Each room is an artistic treasure, a major investment of talent and effort. It is significant that the rooms are not museums but functioning, fully utilized classrooms.

   You can now enjoy the elegance and splendor of these rooms for yourselves.

African**

 Early American

Armenian

Australian*

Austrian 

Chinese

Czechoslovak

English 

French
German

Greek**

 Hungarian
   

Irish

Israel 

 Italian

Japanese**

Lithuanian

Norwegian

Polish

Romanian

 Russian

Scottish

South Africa*

Soviet*

Swedish

 Syria-Lebanon

Ukrainian

USA private*

 USA public*

Yugoslav

* Pictures of classrooms not from the Cathedral of Learning 
** Combined pictures from and not from the Cathedral of Learning

Note: Please treat all classroom photos and accompanying comments on the website as "cases" rather than generalization of national or historical classrooms.

 

Cusick, Nicole (1999). Typical Classroom Seating Arrangements in US Elementary Schools, School of Education, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
 Blunden, Andy (2000). Seating Arrangements for Teaching & Learning Spaces University of Melbourne, Australia
Blunden, Andy (2000). Classroom Design - Web Pages from other Institutions University of Melbourne, Australia

Descriptive Text By E. Maxine Bruhns

Website Developed By Eugene Matusov, Ph.D. and Mary Jane Pluta
Photography By Herbert K. Barnett, Herb Ferguson
Webart Credits: Argotique
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