Room For Debate

What is the favorite classroom of Bush students? Is it the uniform science labs of Wissner, the beautiful lake views of upstairs USS, or the idyllic rooms of Gracemont that have caught the students' eye? After interviewing students from every grade in the upper school, it’s clear that they don’t have a common consensus. Everyone’s idea of a perfect classroom is different, and the dynamic tables in USS might serve as a pro for one student but a con for another. Without further ado, let’s hear what students have to say about the classrooms. 

The first person I interviewed, Scarlett Nell (‘28), brought up an interesting point with her response. She claimed that she didn’t have a favorite classroom, but her favorite classroom was definitely “Not [her] chemistry classroom.” This raises the question of how students’ biases towards class subjects play into their opinions on the “best” classroom. For someone who likes science, the labs might be the best classroom; meanwhile, for a student who loves history, they might associate better memories with the classrooms in USS. Let’s examine some other opinions before we jump to conclusions. 

For example, Lothar Ederer (‘28) claimed that his least favorite classroom (when asked about his most favorite classroom) was: “Basemont B16.” He described the classroom as “the worst, most depressing place in the world.” I asked if his opinions about this classroom were at all biased by the classes he’s had in B16, but Lothar instead claimed that he “liked the yearbook class, except why [is it] in the basement?” Clearly, some classrooms are just bad, and it has nothing to do with what classes students have had in them. On the other hand, Lothar also claimed that his favorite classroom is the “ninth-grade history classroom… because it looks towards the water.” This was the same answer as sophomore Cadence Brunet, so maybe scenery is what defines the opinion of a classroom in a student’s mind. 

On the other hand, multiple students have reported that they love the castle-esque designs of Gracemont over the relaxing views in USS. Gina Chickadel (‘27) reported that her favorite classroom is in “Gracemont, [because] it’s pretty and the classes there are good.” This opinion was similar to Dash Montague (‘29), who claimed that his favorite classroom was also in “Gracemont.” It seems that some kids prefer the old brick and chandelier designs of Gracemont to the modern, bright vibes of USS. 

Students might not agree on which classroom is the best, but one thing is clear: Wissner is no one’s favorite building. It might be because the AC is perpetually broken, or that it’s impossible to walk by Senior Corner during a passing period, or even that kids aren’t fond of their STEM classes. Whatever the reason is, it’s obvious Wissner is the eye-sore of the three buildings. A little piece of advice for the school: keep up the good work, but put some comfier benches in Wissner!