ABSTRACT

A classroom is a physical environment, housing common features such as desks arranged in groups, shelves, cupboards, nature tables, play areas, book and wall displays, a carpet area, teacher's desk and blackboard, but, classrooms are much more than either equipment in a room, or topographical organisation. The role of creativity within the classroom has equally stimulated debate. The world of work where the teacher is the authority, exemplified in the culture of control, offers the child access to the world of public knowledge, through basic skill acquisition. Research conducted in relation to this issue prompted over-exposure to art work in a number of classroom settings. Most pupils are aware of teacher expectation, and respond by either conforming to what they understand the teacher's expectations to be, or by appearing to conform. The infant classroom appears to have a definite movement, or process in mind, which is to introduce the child to a world of educational knowledge, values, attitudes and behaviour.