The Ideal Classroom by abilynn

The Ideal Classroom by abilynn - October 2014 Scholarship Essay

What is an ideal? Plato would say that it is the original and natural form of anything. It is the way we think, we know a horse is a horse because we think that it is a horse regardless of how it actually looks. An ideal is precisely right for a person, situation, or thing. So how can there be an ”ideal” setting for so many individuals? What is ”ideal” for one student can be horribly distracting for another. There is only one real way to facilitate an engaging and active classroom setting: an engaging and active teacher.

The need for inventive and versatile teachers is so necessary to break through the mundane trivialities that are higher education. They are the deciding factor between a drop-out and a successful young adult. When I look back on my last twelve years of education, I feel such gratitude to all of the teachers who pushed me to be the best student I could be. From the flaming spirit of my third grade teacher who taught me that desired results only came from hard work and dedication, to the quiet ways of my Algebra teacher who showed me my love for the maths. These teachers have been integral parts of my successful learning career. A classroom is simply a room without the presence of a teacher in the same way a student is simply a child without their presence.

Looking back there are a few instances of great teaching that stand out to me. It was in my junior year of highschool, I was working on Calculus homework when I came across a problem that had been sent from the pits of hades to torment me. I solved it again and again until my eraser was nothing but a stub and my confidence was approaching subatomic levels. Sheepishly I made my way to my math teachers room with my calculator and my, now, heavily smudged paper. She was working on her computer when I entered the room and looked up with a small smile when she heard her door open. I bashfully showed her the problem and asked for help. A puzzled look came over her face as we began to solve. It took us the better part of ten minutes laboring incessantly until we finally came up with a hesitant answer. As she plugged the numbers into the calculator our anticipation rose and crescendoed when we got the same answer! My math teacher, a woman of small stature and meek expressions, jumped for joy when we got the answer. I had never seen her so much as raise her voice but here I was witnessing joy in it’s most basic form because we had conquered this adversity, we had conquered the problem. Whenever I come across a difficult problem, math related or otherwise, I always think back to how much joy came from such hard work.

So go ahead and listen to the ”leading researchers” who claim that all students need to succeed are yellow walls and beanbag chairs instead of desks; but as someone who is actively going through the process of getting an education I can attest that no amount of mood music or extra frills will stimulate me to learn as much as a stimulating teacher.