PANCHARIYA: Prison-like design of schools limits creativity, freedom
Column: Moment of Truth
Philosopher Jeremy Bentham, known as the father of utilitarianism, believed that the death penalty was unjust and constructed a completely new system that we know today as the prison institution.
The principles of utilitarianism promote happiness while determining right and wrong through different outcomes. Bentham found that the death penalty and acts of torture as a form of punishment were not ideal in terms of utilitarianism.
This prompted his design and creation of the prison system. Bentham created the panopticon design for incarceration that highlighted surveillance as the main feature similar to schools and universities.
A huge reason why schools and universities have a prison-like feel is because of the materials being used to build said institutions. Prisons are made to be inexpensive and easy to repair as they hold criminals for various crimes.
Public schools, especially, are made from cheaper, budget-effective materials, which means that they have a cold feeling to them. The floor plan of the public schools and prisons are more alike than one would think — I found the cells and classrooms to be laid out in a pattern where hallways are nearly identical. If you ever find yourself saying the school is a prison, you are technically not wrong.
I ventured further into the similarities and found how school buses, besides the color, are the same as prison buses. Cafeterias seem to mirror the same layout as prisons to ensure the surveillance of all students. Everything down to the color of both institutions creates an environment where obedience is encouraged and freedom can be limited.
This brings up a conflict where schools and universities develop a negative outlook on life through prison system design. Schools should ensure safety, protection and education, but when a student is forced to wake up at 6 a.m. to learn in an environment that feels like a trap, education may not be effective.
I feel that if an individual is lucky enough to receive free education, they should be able to make the most from it. A better, more welcoming educational environment will not solely improve student performance based on physical change, but it will provide benefits in terms of social and emotional well-being.
Light fixtures are dimmed on purpose to create a fast-paced environment when moving from class to class. Classes are spaced an equal length apart to keep a watchful eye. Restrooms include a limited amount of stalls, and there is a limited amount of time to go to the restroom, specifically in high schools and other lower-level schools. When I hold these aspects of a school and a prison side by side, it is quite hard to tell the difference.
As a college student in the U.S., I find that safety is the utmost priority when it comes to getting an education. Not only does the layout of schools in modern time limit creativity but provides little security from outside intruders. I find this to be a huge concern and an aspect of architecture that needs to be rectified immediately.
Ground management and layers of protection should not be lacking, especially when a school is being built with the same design as a prison. In addition to these features, creating a community within the school itself inflicts a positive reaction and motivation to come to school.
I find that it would be immensely beneficial to create schools with open-space structures rather than enclosed corridors. The association of negativity with schools can then be stopped and elevated to nurture a positive environment.
Through the discovery and promotion of prisons, the decline in their ability to assist and aid members of society has proved to diminish. There should be no reason why the same system is being used to model schools and universities.
An education system entails the recognition of bright young minds. Rather than stimulating such students, they are limited by the prison model, whose core goal is to detain and recuperate to avoid cruel and unusual punishment. The idea of recuperation in modern times has not advanced very far, but detainment has.
I find it ineffective to have students be taught in boxes of concrete that were meant to hold them back from the start. The quarrels with budget and costs of materials to remodel schools are justified, but change needs to occur in order for communities to encourage education.
Priya Panchariya is a School of Arts and Sciences first-year majoring in philosophy and minoring in criminology. Her column, "Moment of Truth," runs on alternate Tuesdays.
*Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
YOUR VOICE | The Daily Targum welcomes submissions from all readers. Due to space limitations in our print newspaper, letters to the editor must not exceed 500 words. Guest columns and commentaries must be between 700 and 850 words. All authors must include their name, phone number, class year and college affiliation or department to be considered for publication. Please submit via email to oped@dailytargum.com by 4 p.m. to be considered for the following day’s publication. Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the Targum Publishing Company or its staff.
