Ms Barbara Hirsch is a beloved teacher at North Park, she teaches Grade 9 French and Spanish all the way through to Grade 12 in her classroom, located in Room 235. Her classroom is unique because of her colorful and meaningful decorations, many of which have interesting backstories. When you walk into the room, you immediately notice the bright decorations. “It’s like a rainbow threw up in here – in a positive way,” Ms Hirsch said. She said she thinks her students appreciate the bright space and lively decorations.
The decorations in her classroom are closely related to the subjects she teaches, especially Spanish. Hanging around the room are traditional Mexican banderitas (decorative banners), which Ms Hirsch says bring happiness. One of her favorite items is a large poster she took from the streets of Mexico, which is advertising a local festival. Ms Hirsch said that when she took the poster, the festival it was advertising had already passed, so she saw no harm in taking the poster.
Ms Hirsch studied in Mexico for five weeks and even got married in the country. One of the most meaningful items in her classroom is a set of wedding fans that were used as favors during her wedding. These fans have a unique story—Ms Hirsch revealed that they were handmade by prisoners from the local area where she got married, hired as part of their prison job.
Another fun touch in her classroom is a piñata of Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants, which Ms Hirsch brought back from Mexico. She was concerned it might break on the way home, but it survived the trip intact.
While the main decorations stay the same, Ms Hirsch loves to feature her students’ work on the bulletin boards, updating them regularly. She also has small magnets on her whiteboard, which are gifts from students who brought them back from their travels.
Ms Hirsch’s classroom is a lively, colorful space that reflects her personality and the cultures she teaches. Ms Hirsch said she appreciated the interview.
THE NORTH STAR 