Glass panels in classroom door the norm?

rose23

I went for an interview recently.. when I arrived I went in search of the toilets and noticed that all the classroom doors had large clear panels of glass down the middle of the door so that you can clearly see into the classroom. I thought it was very unusual.. what do ye think?

Bobsammy

The last two schools I've taught in have had glass panels in the door - neither of them would be recent builds. In one I was told we weren't allowed stick anything over the glass - posters or things like that - so people could see in and out all the time.

E.T.

I don't think I've ever seen a classroom door that didn't have some kind of glass panelling. I've read before that if you are ever teaching in a room without glass panelled doors, the door should be left open at all times. It's basic teacher and child protection.

Inspector Coptoor

When we came back after Xmas, every door had three square glass panels put in.

I think it's a legal requirement now tbh

happywithlife

most of the schools i've been in (including the older ones) have had glass panels on the doors - now that i think of it, i was in a school last year where one of the main classrooms i used didn't have one -- and although the door would be closed during class, if i ever had occassion to speak to a child outside of classtime, i was always conscious that the door remained open...

evolving_doors

Anyone here ever 'lived on the edge' and taught with the door open?

Miss Lockhart

Armelodie wrote: »

Anyone here ever 'lived on the edge' and taught with the door open?

I teach with the door open probably half the time. If it's open, it's open. I only think to close it if there's noise disrupting us.

Our doors have glass panels except for three. Doesn't bother me either way.

Our doors can't be opened from the outside without a key though and that does bother me a little for safety reasons.

RealJohn

I leave my door open a lot of the time too, again unless there's noise of some sort in the hallway (when the bell rings in the middle of a double class for example) or unless the students are complaining that it's too cold with the door open. I don't see what the big deal is.

There are also glass panels in all of the classroom doors in the school too (and also in the staff room door annoyingly) and we were told that we're not allowed to cover them either.

rainbowtrout

Glass panels aren't anything new in doors. Would say that's common practice since at least the 70s. We have porthole style windows in our doors, again that we don't cover.

rose23

Thanks for your comments.. I just thought it was unusual as I've taught in four schools now and I have never seen doors with such large glass panels. It doesnt bother me, I would just be worried that people walking through the corridors might be a distraction for students as you can clearly see right in/out of the classroom!

RealJohn

It certainly happens that other students can be a distraction messing around outside but that's an issue for your own classroom management skills really.

The panels also serve to reduce the likelihood of students hanging around the corridors on their way to and from the toilet for example, since they know there's a chance they'll be spotted.

km79

Is it not a SEC requirement that all rooms that are exam centres have glass panels?

rainbowtrout

km79 wrote: »

Is it not a SEC requirement that all rooms that are exam centres have glass panels?

Well it is for things like orals, practical assessments. They don't want examiners put in the position where they are in a room on their own with a student and there are no windows. Protection for both examiner and student. I suppose it's probably the same for written exams as often there would only be one student left in the room at the end.

Fizzical

rose23 wrote: »

Thanks for your comments.. I just thought it was unusual as I've taught in four schools now and I have never seen doors with such large glass panels. It doesnt bother me, I would just be worried that people walking through the corridors might be a distraction for students as you can clearly see right in/out of the classroom!

How large are these panels you mention? I've only ever seen small glass panels at eye level. I think I would fine it quite distracting to have large glass panels.

Its a fire regulation thing

rose23

Fizzical wrote: »

How large are these panels you mention? I've only ever seen small glass panels at eye level. I think I would fine it quite distracting to have large glass panels.

They are big like.. not just at the top of the door or near the handle. I would say the door is 3/4 glass (clear glass not frosted)! I just found it strange thats why I said id see what ye thought on here.

Miss Lockhart

rose23 wrote: »

They are big like.. not just at the top of the door or near the handle. I would say the door is 3/4 glass (clear glass not frosted)! I just found it strange thats why I said id see what ye thought on here.

We have several classrooms that have very large windows on to the corridor. The windows start from below waist height and go to the ceiling. Yes, it is very distracting for students. We are allowed to cover these with posters.

All our doors (except 3) have a full window panel at the top of the door, from about handle-height. In general, classrooms are set up so that students sit with their backs to the entry door so those windows are not a problem.

rose23

I got offered the job in the school so I guess I will suss it out in September!

happywithlife

Congrats Rose !
Happy teaching

boatbuilder

In our place, we went so far as to knock holes in internal walls to put in glass panels. Its for child protection reasons so that what goes on in classrooms is clearly visible all the time.

looksee

Another reason for glass panels is that you can see whether the room is in use without having to interrupt the class by opening the door. I never bothered whether the door was open or not, unless there was noise outside or I was doing something that was potentially noisy - showing videos for example.

bdoo

looksee wrote: »

Another reason for glass panels is that you can see whether the room is in use without having to interrupt the class by opening the door. I never bothered whether the door was open or not, unless there was noise outside or I was doing something that was potentially noisy - showing videos for example.

Must be handy for you looksee!

looksee

bdoo wrote: »

Must be handy for you looksee!