Classrooms Without Windows Affecting Students

Some of the classrooms at Taft Elementary in Santa Clara, California, have one flaw in common: They don't have windows. That's true for Logan Earnest's fifth grade classroom, and he felt it was affecting his students.

"Most of the day, 7/8 of the day, they're inside," Earnest said. "And they don't really get to see any trees, they don't get to see grass, the blue sky." He expressed concern that the drab, beige walls could be draining on the kids and may have an impact on their attention span and even their attendance.

According to former school psychologist Ernesto Rodriguez, the lack of windows does affect children. Research has shown that being in and around nature eases anxiety and has benefits for students.

Rodriguez, who is no longer a practicing psychologist, has since become a park ranger on Southern California's Catalina Island. He has shifted his focus to landscape photography, perhaps understanding now more than ever the impact nature has on mental health.

During his training to become a park ranger, he discovered a fascinating fact that stayed with him. "Kids who have views out windows to trees do better academically, emotionally, and creatively. And more graduate and go to college," he pondered. "I wondered why this wasn't being utilized."

He came up with an idea to bring nature into rooms that lacked it and developed hospital curtains with printed landscapes, brightening up dull spaces. Then, he had an epiphany to bring landscapes into classrooms - through the ceiling.

"As a former school psychologist, you don't mess with teachers' walls. If you do, they'll cut off both your hands," Rodriguez joked. "So I thought, let's use the ceiling because it's not typically used."

Rodriguez utilizes his photography skills to capture 360-degree shots of tree canopies. He then prints and fits them onto ceiling tiles, creating the illusion of sitting under a tree when you look up. "It incorporates all the scientific elements that help calm you down, improve focus, and enhance communication," he explained.

He established a nonprofit organization called Nature in the Classroom and has already installed tree canopies in 10 school districts. Rodriguez personally takes all the photos, and the canopies are often donated to teachers.

A school in California has added a unique touch to its classrooms by installing tree canopies. The idea behind this initiative is to create a more calming and peaceful environment for the students. The school psychologist, Mr. Rodriguez, came up with the idea after realizing the positive effects that nature can have on mental health. He believes that the trees will not only improve attendance but also make the students happier overall. The students themselves are thrilled with the new addition, with one student describing it as "pretty great and beautiful." Mr. Rodriguez sees this project as a combination of his two passions - psychology and photography. He hopes that the imagery created by the trees will help people connect with nature and find inner peace. If you're skeptical about the benefits of trees, Mr. Rodriguez suggests going outside and looking up at them yourself. You might be surprised by the positive impact they can have.