However, the change should not be overwhelming and it will not tax the school structure in an overwhelming manner.

That classroom would have one or more locked closets. The teacher would store her belongings and teaching supplies in the closet, and she would only visit her colleagues in the teacher’s room during her free periods. During most breaks she would wait in class for her students to arrive.

Yes, she could walk around during the break if she so desires. However, she would not be forced to climb stairs throughout the day. Pregnant, elderly, tired, weak, or unhealthy teachers would certainly appreciate this option.

The school would establish rules about punctuality. The students would be required to arrive on time, and that time would be determined by the bell. Students would have to learn a new life skill – arriving in class to time.

Given her own classroom, the teacher would have a natural incentive to decorate the room to reflect her subject area, to reward superior projects, to remind children of classroom plans and of test schedules, and to foster informal learning. The principal or coordinator will never have to bug teachers to decorate a wall.

Teachers would have their names on the doors, and PTA meetings would be held in that same room. The parents would see the permanent classroom decorations as well as their own child’s project on the wall. Those decorations would be no less effective than the teacher’s report.

Some teachers may establish office hours during parts of the day that they have breaks so that students can gain additional benefits from this policy.

Lines and queues

Our lessons on proper behavior on the stairs will lead to a change in another societal issue - standing on line. Children – and also adults – enjoy moving ahead in line without being stopped. Waiting in line before going down stairs can ultimately impact on this behavior.

The ramifications continue. Many traffic accidents could be prevented by educating drivers that it is acceptable to wait in line, in their own lane, without passing. Many drivers pass others just for the sport – and the results are sometimes deadly.

We have accomplished a great deal with this system. Teachers start their classes on time. Learning is increased, and the classroom behavior is noticeably improved. Children get the exercise they need between classes by going up and down stairs. Their lessons on how to wait on line before using the stairs, lead to better behavior in other lines and on the roads.

We have made major improvements in society.

Just in case some readers forgot, we accomplished these major changes by assigning teachers to their own rooms. That’s a small change for the administration, but a major advantage for the school, for the learning climate, and for society as a whole.