Reflections on Glasser "Sense of Place The wider environment

Reflections on Glasser’s “choice theory”

1. Secure sense of place/feeling of rightness in environment.

Organising the classroom in a harmonious, artistic & practical way is crucial to the student’s sense of well-being.If the classroom is disorganised, dirty, smelly (old lunch left in a desk?),cluttered,,messy and unaesthetic, the students’ sense of order will be disturbed. They will feel unsure as to the purpose or intention of the spatial arrangements and their sense of beauty logic and movement will be offended.In short, no matter what their character, they will feel insecure in this environment.Where will they find the Paper needed for their assignment? What cup will they use to drink from if the cups aren’t named or are lying in a dirty sink?The simple task of locating their workbook may take afull10 minutes for a child who has not been encouraged or assisted to maintain a neat & orderly desk.While they are anxiously & guiltily rummaging through their desk,they will be unable to participate in the lesson & may well prompt negative comments from their classmates. Nobody wins in this situation!

On the other hand an austere & sterile classroom environment will not endow them with a sense of belonging.It will be too clinical & impersonal for them to connect to. If the classroom is decorated with artwork the children have created, with cushions they have sewn, with flowers from the garden they have tended on the school grounds, then they will be surrounded by things that give them a sense of belonging and achievement.”This is my home,”