The Wisdom of Children and the Future of Lower School Education
March 10, 2025
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As we prepare to unify our two Lower Schools into one community, it is essential that many constituents have the opportunity to provide input — including our students. Recently, the architecture team from SHP hosted a session in the Doherty library where 30 third through fifth graders from both Doherty and Lotspeich shared their vision for an ideal classroom. Too often, we overlook the wisdom of children yet their years of classroom experience give them valuable insight into what truly supports their learning. If we are committed to being a child-centered school, it only makes sense to ask our students to share their thoughts, ideas, and creativity in this process. |
During the session, students collaborated in mixed-age groups, each supported by an Upper School student with an interest in architecture and interior design. Using materials like pompoms, stickers, and pipe cleaners, they designed model classrooms that reflected their ideas. Once finished, they proudly presented their designs to the architects and their peers, contributing their voices to the future of our school.
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Students shared a mix of imaginative and thoughtful ideas — some whimsical, like a nature walk with wild animals leading from the carline to the main entrance, and others playful, like basketball hoop trash cans. But beyond the fun, their insights reflected a deep understanding of what makes a great learning environment — ideas that align closely with the Seven Hills mission and values. Most groups emphasized the importance of natural light, suggesting skylights over the morning meeting area or cozy bay windows for reading. They recognized the need for a calming space where students could go when feeling upset. Their designs featured a variety of seating options, tables at different heights, dedicated areas for technology, and flexible spaces for both individual and group work. Sustainability was also a key theme, with ideas like solar panels and green roofs. |
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The students showed insight into the creation of learning spaces, touching on every major concept we, as adults, have discussed throughout the design process. But perhaps the most inspiring part of the session was watching them collaborate. When they first sat down, many of these students didn’t know one another. Yet by the end of the hour, you would have been hard-pressed to tell who was from Doherty and who was from Lotspeich — they worked together seamlessly, embodying the very spirit of the unified community we are building.
We have always known that our students would lead us through this unification, but they truly proved it through their thoughtful and engaged collaboration. As they worked together to envision their new classrooms, they demonstrated creativity, insight, and a shared sense of purpose.
These students exceeded our expectations—not only in what they designed but in their willingness to think outside the box and share ideas with new peers. They approached the process with confidence, enthusiasm, and a genuine sense of pride in what they created. Every element in their classrooms had a purpose—nothing was frivolous. Well, maybe the basketball hoop trash cans—but even those were retractable, ensuring the teacher could control when they were in play!
