𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗡: "Classroom walls: Decorations are better than bare" by Abigail Job F. Alla

Published by: Hannah Rondaris

Date Published: August 28, 2023

Time Published: 8:59 AM

 Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte issued the DepEd Order (DO) No. 21, Series of 2023. The DO says that the school grounds, facilities, classrooms, and its walls shall be clean and free from artworks, decorations, tarpaulins, and posters—the designs prepared by the teachers are not allowed anymore [1].

Due to this DepEd Order, you’ll now see bare walls in public schools. The once beautiful, shiny, and attractive to eyes classrooms will now be empty and bare. But is it really necessary to remove the decorations and throw the teachers and students' efforts to waste?

In the four corners of a classroom, it wouldn’t be complete without its chairs, blackboard/white board, tables, and decorations of artworks, announcements, posters, etc. Especially in the rooms for lower grades, it is like an exhibit everyday because of different designs pasted on the walls.

Classroom decorations are more likely to be seen in pre-school and lower grade levels. Sometimes you can see them in high school too. Putting up designs before the opening of classes is one of the efforts a teacher is always doing. They always go beyond what is necessary and do what is best. Buying materials, printing, painting, designing, and pasting—all of this process just to make a classroom beautiful and pleasing for the students.

However, in just a one snap, everything shall be taken down.

School environment plays a big role in a student; because it sets up the mood and the focus to study. When I was younger, classrooms that were full of decorations made me eager to learn. It is also fun to see different artworks of students that are proudly pasted by them on the walls. Those decorations are not just a decoration—but also a way to celebrate the achievements of a student inside a room.

Duterte said in a news report that bare walls will allow students to focus on the lessons and from the teachers [2]. Designs are not meant to distract but to put a glow in something. Setting up the mood in a room doesn’t affect the focus of a student, instead it engages a student to learn more. In a study, it says that well-designed classrooms make the students be cooperative and be focused at a task [3].

All of the efforts that the teachers have been making for decades make sense and are worth it. They will not put in their resources, time, and hard work if it were just for nothing. Also, students contribute in designing—their art skills, cooperating skills can be enhanced through this. These decorations are not just decorations, they do have a sense and should not be taken down at once. At least try to create more inclusive orders, the ones that will not make good practice suffer.

Cartoon by Jairus Kristan Samudio

REFERENCES:

[1] Suelto, J. M. D. L. (2023, August 18). Sara orders removal of wall decorations in classrooms. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/.../sara-orders-removal-wall...

[2] Id.

[3] Authors, G., & Authors, G. (2022). 5 Ways classroom design Influences student Behavior, achievement. Campus Safety Magazine. https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/.../classroom.../....