Why were the windows in the front in Beaver's classroom? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Bonniegirl · 09-29-2014, 06:04 PM

I always wondered about this? I've never been in a classroom where windows were in the front of the room! I've always thought the chalkboard was in the front of the room in all classrooms. It has been in all the classrooms I've been in. In grade school we had the front blackboard and a side blackboard and the windows on the other side and a coat room in the back.

But the main chalkboard on the side, and windows in the front? Miss Landers/ or miss Canfield would have to teach from the side of the room, and the kids would have to turn there heads to read the board!

Seems impractical. And the sun would come right in and be in their face!

Anyone else ever ponder this too?

Scrabjan1 · 09-30-2014, 12:11 PM

That is weird and also the kids wouldn't be paying attention to her but staring past her looking at the trees and birds. I guess Miss Landers didn't mind writing on the blackboard where the kids always had to turn their heads like in Beaver's Secret Life.

Marvo301 · 09-30-2014, 02:09 PM

My guess is that the classroom set was a redress of some other set at the studio and so they had to work around existing windows, doorways, etc. in creating the classroom set.

tdr · 09-30-2014, 10:05 PM

I'm quite certain that the classroom set is also the set for other scenes, such as Ward's office. Those windows at the 'front' of the room were the same ones Fred Rutherford, between annoying Ward by bmm'ing "Hail to Thee, My Alma Mater," looked out on that Saturday in the office when he saw 2 boys rolling a tire down on the walk-- "You know, they look a little like your 2, Ward, old man."

Anyway, of the classrooms I remember, none had windows at the 'front'-- where the teacher and her desk were. However, the older rooms, as I recall, had chalkboards on adjacent walls, and newer rooms had the boards on opposite walls, like the 'front' and the 'back,' or else just one wall with a board. But in elementary school it seemed most teachers didn't like to keep the room in the same arrangement more than month or so, and not all desks faced the same way; sometimes this was done according to "reading groups," of which there were usually 3 (by level), but sometimes 2. Today, I'm sure they don't have chalkboards, per se, but whatever for colored markers, and they probably don't group the kids by reading levels, either.

Bonniegirl · 08-24-2015, 10:38 PM

Todays ep they showed a classroom from Wally's high school. The windows were in the back of the classroom! That was a little bit more normal than being in the front like in Beaver's school, because the chalkboard at least was in the front! But still! I wonder why they didn't make the windows on the side , a more traditional classroom. Esp. from the late 50's -early 60's! ?

Bonniegirl · 05-08-2018, 11:18 AM

Starting back to the beginning. Season 1- episode 1 is on right now! Opens with a classroom scene. It's a different classroom than what was to become Beaver's usual classroom. The chalkboard is in the front and side, and the room looks much bigger !

stevea · 05-08-2018, 01:07 PM

Thanks, Bonniegirl, for finding this old thread! The must have used the same set for Beaver's classrooms after Miss Landers, too--the windows are all in the front.

I've never been in a classroom that was set up this way, either.

I don't exactly recall, but I don't think Wally's high school classroom(s) (the few times they were shown) were set up this way, either.

09-29-2014, 06:04 PM	#1
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,775	Why were the windows in the front in Beaver's classroom? I always wondered about this? I've never been in a classroom where windows were in the front of the room! I've always thought the chalkboard was in the front of the room in all classrooms. It has been in all the classrooms I've been in. In grade school we had the front blackboard and a side blackboard and the windows on the other side and a coat room in the back. But the main chalkboard on the side, and windows in the front? Miss Landers/ or miss Canfield would have to teach from the side of the room, and the kids would have to turn there heads to read the board! Seems impractical. And the sun would come right in and be in their face! Anyone else ever ponder this too?

09-30-2014, 02:09 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	My guess is that the classroom set was a redress of some other set at the studio and so they had to work around existing windows, doorways, etc. in creating the classroom set.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

09-30-2014, 12:11 PM	#2
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	That is weird and also the kids wouldn't be paying attention to her but staring past her looking at the trees and birds. I guess Miss Landers didn't mind writing on the blackboard where the kids always had to turn their heads like in Beaver's Secret Life.

09-30-2014, 10:05 PM	#4
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I'm quite certain that the classroom set is also the set for other scenes, such as Ward's office. Those windows at the 'front' of the room were the same ones Fred Rutherford, between annoying Ward by bmm'ing "Hail to Thee, My Alma Mater," looked out on that Saturday in the office when he saw 2 boys rolling a tire down on the walk-- "You know, they look a little like your 2, Ward, old man." Anyway, of the classrooms I remember, none had windows at the 'front'-- where the teacher and her desk were. However, the older rooms, as I recall, had chalkboards on adjacent walls, and newer rooms had the boards on opposite walls, like the 'front' and the 'back,' or else just one wall with a board. But in elementary school it seemed most teachers didn't like to keep the room in the same arrangement more than month or so, and not all desks faced the same way; sometimes this was done according to "reading groups," of which there were usually 3 (by level), but sometimes 2. Today, I'm sure they don't have chalkboards, per se, but whatever for colored markers, and they probably don't group the kids by reading levels, either.

08-24-2015, 10:38 PM	#5
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,775	Todays ep they showed a classroom from Wally's high school. The windows were in the back of the classroom! That was a little bit more normal than being in the front like in Beaver's school, because the chalkboard at least was in the front! But still! I wonder why they didn't make the windows on the side , a more traditional classroom. Esp. from the late 50's -early 60's! ?

05-08-2018, 11:18 AM	#6
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,775	Starting back to the beginning. Season 1- episode 1 is on right now! Opens with a classroom scene. It's a different classroom than what was to become Beaver's usual classroom. The chalkboard is in the front and side, and the room looks much bigger !

05-08-2018, 01:07 PM	#7
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,695	Thanks, Bonniegirl, for finding this old thread! The must have used the same set for Beaver's classrooms after Miss Landers, too--the windows are all in the front. I've never been in a classroom that was set up this way, either. I don't exactly recall, but I don't think Wally's high school classroom(s) (the few times they were shown) were set up this way, either.