I believe that we should have classes or, at the very least, parts of class held outdoors more often. Picture this: A gentle breeze rustles through the trees as you sit on the quad, basking in the sunlight. You’re engaged in a class discussion, sprawled out on the turf or gathered around the new picnic tables. Now, compare that to the usual scene: sitting at your desk inside, boxed in by four walls, that, while nicely decorated, hide the sun behind the blinds. Which scene would you choose?
Of course, I understand that some classes inherently cannot be outdoors due to accessibility to materials like smart boards or the Whitaker Lab. Additionally, the recent heat wave may not be the best circumstance for long times spent outdoors, but, when the weather is nice and the class is amenable, we should take advantage of those new trees on the quad and go outside to appreciate nature.
Additionally, being in the sun increases dopamine and serotonin levels, according to an article by NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies at Michigan Medicine, making you happier and healthier.
The majority of classes take place indoors, and, apart from lunch, we spend most of our time at school inside. According to Greater Good Magazine, a research magazine published by UC Berkeley, “[Outdoor learning] reduces stress, restores depleted attention, and improves immune function in children, much like it does with adults.”
I understand that teachers might be wary of distractions outside from students passing by and the shift from the classroom environment. Outdoor classes are not a good option if students are misusing the time, but in my experience, that isn’t a common occurrence.
Menlo has a very nice campus; we should use it for more than just passing periods. For example, science teacher David Spence’s Experimental Archaeology class is outdoors and takes advantage of the new pergola — a roofed structure similar to a gazebo — built in the redwood grove. English teacher Whitney Newton’s Literature of the American Wilderness senior elective has also utilized the pergola.
In my own experience, a breath of fresh air always helps me recenter my thoughts when my Modernist Poetry Workshop class has discussions outside. Sitting with my peers around the new tree on the junior quad feels much more engaging than being separated into table groups.
