I usually spend Wednesday evenings taking care of my son’s two children, Christopher and Emma, while he and his wife enjoy a peaceful dinner and maybe run a few errands. Typically, we read books, play games, and maybe have some fun in the backyard. But this past week was different. My babysitting day was changed to Monday, and instead of staying home with the kids, the three of us went to an open house at their school — Cranbrook Elementary School in north Columbus. My son and daughter-in-law were already there, visiting with teachers and inspecting the different resources and facilities that are available to second-grader Christopher and kindergartener Emma. Although I’ve been inside a number of different schools in recent years for different reasons, I hadn’t really been to an open house since my own children were in school. So, I paid careful attention to everything I saw.

One thing stood out wherever I went — organization. In Christopher’s classroom, there were shelves divided into compartments, and in each compartment was something (or more than one thing) related to learning: games, puzzles, writing utensils, art supplies, building materials. There were carefully placed charts on the classroom walls. Some dealt with familiar topics such as letters of the alphabet, but some I’d never seen before. One chart, for example, had little alphabetized activities that encouraged students to dream, discover, and work with a partner. Above the charts were colorful posters advising students to “model with mathematics,” “reason abstractly and quantitatively,” and “use appropriate tools strategically.” There was, of course, a computer table. That seems to be a standard part of every classroom these days.  I found the individual student desks to be more interesting. They were arranged in squares, four desks to a square. In this configuration, each student had a classmate sitting across, diagonally, and to the left or right. The names of the students were taped to their respective desks, which offered ample space for writing and other assigned tasks. An open section beneath each desk’s surface provided room for storing school supplies. Significantly, the desks and their symmetrical arrangement mirrored the organization that could be seen in the classroom as a whole.

Emma’s classroom was like Christopher’s in most ways. Shelves, cabinets, and boxes kept things in order. But instead of having an individual desk, each student had a place at a worktable along with five classmates. A taped-down name plate showed where each child was to sit. In the center of the table were two trays of crayons to be shared among the six students. Organization was further enhanced by having specific coat hooks assigned to each student, designated (again) by name plates.

Organization could be seen elsewhere in the library with its shelves of neatly arranged books and clutter-free reading tables. It could be seen in the hallways where student-created artwork as well as class photos adorned the walls. It could be seen, no less, in the small but clean gymnasium where the principal gave visitors an orientation before the open house officially began.

As well-organized as it is, Cranbrook has less space than other schools. I didn’t take any measurements, but its classrooms appeared to be smaller than other classrooms I’ve visited, including those at Calumet Christian School, which Emma and Christopher’s cousins attend. It’s worth noting, too, that the gymnasium mentioned earlier is turned into a cafeteria during lunch hours. The chairs and tables are apparently stored somewhere when games are in progress.  Speaking of games, the gym teacher told me that “Capture the Flag,” a game I played in elementary school, is still played today, sometimes with four teams instead of just two.

One final impression relates to Cranbrook’s students rather than its physical appearance. These young people came in all shades of color and, I suspect, represented different religions. In fact, white kids like Christopher and Emma may be in the minority. That is all well and good, in my opinion. America is changing demographically with growing numbers of nonwhite people entering our communities and sometimes assuming leadership positions.  Gaining their early education at Cranbrook will help Christopher and Emma understand that children don’t have to look like they do to be good classmates and even loyal friends.