Coffee Shop by Paolamarie

Coffee Shop by Paolamarie - July 2020 Scholarship Essay

Classrooms in the modern day are built to function for a very average type of student who is easily molded into a box of what the academic system can teach. Students are aligned in rows and handed factory-made books and worksheets to absorb information like a sponge. This “cookie-cutter” format is toxic and dangerous for students, as it does not help more abstract students learn and shames them for having more complex learning styles.

The perfect classroom holds a certain fluidity that works for everyone. Open layouts, mixed styles of seating, and a more calm and relaxed environment for students are ideal in a space that must help many different personalities grow. To me, the perfect classroom resembles a coffee shop; a calm atmosphere with space to eat and drink while also having quiet spaces for learning. Coffee shops have a division of open space that shows fluidity and openness towards the different needs of people in the space. Some people go to a coffee shop for food and drinks with friends as a release of stress or for straight fun. Then there are the people who are studying alone with a cup of coffee; these people are allowed the quiet and seclusion of studying by themselves. Finally, we see people who are studying or meeting in groups to learn and build on themselves. Coffee shops allow for everyone to find their area, fit into it, and use the space as needed.

Classrooms must hold this principle because every student is different and unique in their learning styles. Being able to separate students into space where they feel comfortable and understood is the perfect way to help children learn. Students learn their best when their specific learning style is being used to teach them and when they are given time and compassion while learning. This type of classroom is so open that it allows students to learn how they feel most comfortable and actually retain information instead of absorbing it like a sponge.

As a student, this could help me and my peers feel more comfortable in school and find joy in learning since our separate styles are being acknowledged. This setup along with comforting and friendly teachers is the perfect way to help all students reach their full potential and be the best learner and contributor to the society they can be.