Spread the love

Growing up, I loved going to school. I enjoyed learning, socializing with friends and participating in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. But when I think back on my days as a student, I remember the people and experiences fondly. However, I do not feel the same way about the environment I was in.

My high school was constantly under construction while I attended, and it was anything but pleasant. Dust was everywhere, loud drilling occurred all day long, and bizarre routes between buildings meant that I was almost always running late for class.

But education should be enjoyable! And thankfully, there are plenty of schools and universities out there that actually prioritize creating an exciting learning environment. Bored Panda has scoured the internet to find photos of the most interesting and brilliant things students have spotted in their schools, so we’ve gathered some of their best finds down below!

#1 Our School’s Service Dog, Lucy, Made It Into The Staff Page Of The Yearbook

Image credits: grass-vaughan

#2 There Is A Free “Period Pack” At My School For Girls Who Are Unprepared For Their Periods

Image credits: thicc-nibba420

#3 My Anatomy Teacher’s Bathroom Pass Is A Human Leg Bone

Image credits: LuciusWasTaken

There are plenty of days when I’m frustrated with being an adult, often when it comes time to pay rent or buy my own groceries. But I have to admit that I’m very thankful to be done with my school days. I had a great time, and I made some amazing friends. But if I had the chance to go back in time and do it all again, you couldn’t pay me enough to trade in the freedom I have now.

According to a 2022 study from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and the Yale Child Study Center, almost three quarters of students report having negative feelings towards school. And when asked to rank the emotions that they most commonly feel, students most often reported feeling tired, stressed, bored and calm. Happiness came next.

#4 This School In Vancouver, BC (Canada) Installed A Slide, So Kids Can Take That Instead Of The Stairs To Leave The School

Image credits: palmerry

#5 Science Teacher’s Desk Is A Fish Tank

Image credits: moneymattharris

#6 My 1st Grader Lost A Tooth During Class And The School Sent It Home In This Tiny, Tooth-Shaped Container

Image credits: smugmisswoodhouse

It makes sense that so many students don’t have glowing reviews about their time in school. Despite how many adults tell kids and teens that they’re in the best years of their lives, it often doesn’t feel like that. One fifth of students experience bullying, and only 50% of girls in 9th grade would describe themselves as confident. Being a kid should be carefree and easy, but the reality is that it’s not all sunshine and roses for everyone.

And being a teen is almost always worse. KFF reports that one fifth of teens report having symptoms of anxiety or depression, and 20% admit that they’re not getting the therapy they need due to the cost, being scared of what others may think and simply because they don’t know how or where to go for help.

#7 They Had A Bike At My School To Blend A Smoothie That They Were Handing Out At Lunch

Image credits: _Nrpdude_

#8 My School’s Bathrooms Have Pedals Instead Of Handles

Image credits: allygator314

#9 My Cooking Class Has A Mirror On The Ceiling So We Can See What The Teacher Is Doing

Image credits: Levelis

So what can we do to better support our students? Well, one of the first steps should be focusing on cultivating a safe and inviting learning environment. Teachers cannot control what is going on in a student’s life outside of school, but they can work to improve their experience in the classroom. According to the University of Buffalo, students have more trust in themselves and their educators when they are in a positive learning environment.

#10 My University Library Has A Wall Where You Can Quite Literally Take A Seat

Image credits: Naco88

#11 Say Hello To My University’s Library Cat

Image credits: BipolarMindAtNotEase

#12 University Printer Rotates Each Separate Document To Avoid Confusing Multiple Students’ Work

Image credits: p50cal

Instead of creating a classroom where students feel judged or unsafe and second guess themselves constantly, teachers should work towards making students feel supported and comfortable. They should know that mistakes are acceptable and inevitable, and they should feel like their ideas are heard and listened to. Students should be invited to share their thoughts openly, and teachers should respond accordingly. A collaborative environment is much more exciting than one where teachers simply speak and students simply listen.

#13 Saw This In A Classroom After Class

Image credits: NativeSummit

#14 This Twinkie Has Been In My Classroom For 10 Years

Image credits: cheezeypeas

#15 In My School, You Can Come Here To Sleep If You’re Tired

Image credits: Elephanttortise

Getting students engaged in learning can be a challenge, but it’s certainly worth it for teachers who see their class’ grades improve and who get to work with excited young minds every day. When it comes to getting students more involved in their learning, Education Week recommends building great relationships with students. One way educators can do this right off the bat is by working together with students at the beginning of the year to create rules for the classroom. This gets the class involved, and it allows everyone to feel part of the decision making in the classroom.

#16 My School’s Library Has Noise-Level Guides That Change Color When It Gets Too Loud

Image credits: Blackborealis

#17 This Middle School Has A Skateboard Locker

Image credits: pjfrank

#18 My School’s Library Has A Banned Book Section

Image credits: madethisforposts

It’s also wise for educators to ask their students questions to get them engaged in the classroom. It’s easy for students, especially kids, to completely zone out during a lesson. But when they’re asked to actively participate and share their thoughts, paying attention becomes a lot more important. Plus, it’s another opportunity for them to realize that their teacher is actually listening to them.

#19 I Have A Gender-Neutral Bathroom At My High School

Image credits: McquacK__

#20 I Learned Today That My School’s New Science And Technology Building Has Thermochromic Tables

Image credits: b_mco

#21 Stairs At Balamand University, Lebanon

Image credits: oubelin

Educators can provide opportunities for choice for their students as well. This might mean giving the class an option between two different assignments every now and then or letting them vote on which day out of the week the next math test will be. They might even be able to earn rewards as a class, and they can vote on whether they would rather have ice cream or a movie as their prize. These simple things can keep kids much more engaged in their lessons.

#22 These Parking Spots For Alternative Modes Of Transport At My Uni

Image credits: TheRealLuftwaffel

#23 My Science Teacher’s Clock

Image credits: eoghan_perra

#24 Chemistry Teacher Made Their Classroom Ceiling The Elements

Image credits: Plebsplease

And of course, having an interesting learning environment can make students much more interested in what’s going on at school. Whether it’s a beautifully designed library, funny meme references on hall passes or places to lock up their skateboards during the school day, the more comfortable students feel at school, the more excited they will be to go there. And we all want students to enjoy their education; it’s not meant to be torturous!

#25 This Actual Periodic Table My University Has

Image credits: egrith

#26 The College Has These Signs On The Cafeteria Tables. They Flip To Red If You Don’t Want Strangers Sitting At Your Table

Image credits: alghost9

#27 Some Of The Trees At My College Have Outlets On Them

Image credits: sematico

Are these photos making you jealous of the students who get to attend schools with all of these wonderful tools at their disposal, pandas? I have to admit that I would have been thrilled to go to some of these schools or universities, but I’m still very grateful for the education I was able to get. Keep upvoting the pics you find particularly fascinating, and let us know in the comments below what the best thing your school had to offer was. Then, if you’d like to check out a similar list from Bored Panda, look no further than right here!