Trees at Poly
Trees At Poly
Anais Singh
F/G Period City of Angels
February 11, 2020
Since the second semester has started, we have integrated science into our class's curriculum with
Dr. Smith! One thing that we have been focusing a lot on so far is trees in Los Angeles, and also
specifically on the Poly campus. I think for a lot of us, this was the first time we have really paid
attention to the trees at our school and how they may affect us. Whether it's aesthetically, the shade
they provide, or even the eaves they may drop on the ground, I've noticed lately the role trees play
on our campus.
Dr. Smith! One thing that we have been focusing a lot on so far is trees in Los Angeles, and also
specifically on the Poly campus. I think for a lot of us, this was the first time we have really paid
attention to the trees at our school and how they may affect us. Whether it's aesthetically, the shade
they provide, or even the eaves they may drop on the ground, I've noticed lately the role trees play
on our campus.
There have even been studies showing the relationship between trees and the learning of students.
For example, a study conducted by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Professor William
Sullivan and his PhD student, Dongying Li showed that trees can reduce stress, improve students'
concentration, mental and physical health. (Caseytrees.org)
For example, a study conducted by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Professor William
Sullivan and his PhD student, Dongying Li showed that trees can reduce stress, improve students'
concentration, mental and physical health. (Caseytrees.org)
Something we talked about in class was the fact that LAUSD schools are 90% asphalt. This reminded
me of my LAUSD elementary school, and I thought of the differences between Poly and that school.
The Poly campus, covered by green, is definitely more a welcoming and calming environment than my
old school. When I picture that school, I just remember white/steel buildings and an asphalt track
for us to play on. When I picture Poly, I think of the craftsmen style building of the Language rooms
and Arden lawn, which is practically a mini-park in our school. I do feel that this lush environment
promotes learning much more than if it were to be 90% asphalt.
me of my LAUSD elementary school, and I thought of the differences between Poly and that school.
The Poly campus, covered by green, is definitely more a welcoming and calming environment than my
old school. When I picture that school, I just remember white/steel buildings and an asphalt track
for us to play on. When I picture Poly, I think of the craftsmen style building of the Language rooms
and Arden lawn, which is practically a mini-park in our school. I do feel that this lush environment
promotes learning much more than if it were to be 90% asphalt.
Some questions I have for you are:
- Did you ever pay attention to the plants and trees at our school before we started focusing on
it in class? If not, what do you think about the trees now that you are noticing them more?
- Do you think that the abundance of trees on our campus promotes a better learning environment
for students?
- Did you ever pay attention to the plants and trees at our school before we started focusing on
it in class? If not, what do you think about the trees now that you are noticing them more?
- Do you think that the abundance of trees on our campus promotes a better learning environment
for students?
Although I've definitely gotten used to the greenery on campus, the abundance of trees was one of the first things I noticed when I visited Poly as a prospective freshman. Coming from an LAUSD elementary school and a private middle school, I was already aware of how much campuses can vary in terms of green space. When I saw Arden Lawn, I was blown away. I had never really seen that expansive of a field on a school campus before, and it set Poly apart from all the other high schools I visited. Trees are not only a symbol for intelligence, but they also play a part in promoting a better learning environment. Since in many other schools Arden would simply be a cement space where no one would sit and study, I think the trees and grass definitely provide more options for where people can choose to do their work.
ReplyDeleteBefore we started focusing on plants and trees in our City of Angels class, I barely noticed the plants and trees at our school. The only time I’d notice the trees would be if I were to be playing basketball on the senior patio, and my ball would hit the tree. Now that I have begun to notice the trees more and with our new knowledge of the relation of trees and shade, I have started to begin to notice the protection of trees. For example this morning, it was really cold out, so I wanted to stand in the sun. However, the rays of the sun were blocked by the big tree on the senior patio; thus, there were only small sun patches dispersed. If it were to be summer, where the heat is avoided, the trees would provide beneficial shading. I think that the abundance of trees on our campus does promote a better learning environment for students. I immediately am drawn to Arden Lawn due to the vast protection of the abundance of trees. Arden Lawn is a great way to find solitude and peace, which leads to better mental health and less stress. I also think back to during spring, when the environment is very hot. Thinking about our very own patio, I see that the plants and trees provide shade surrounding the benches, which is a great place to do readings because it can be silent and shaded, so you are not blinded by the brightness of your paper.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I never paid much attention to the plants and trees at our school before we started focusing on them in class. Now, I find myself noticing trees and plants, big and small, every time I sit on the patio, walk to class, or walk down from the parking lot. The trees and plants on our campus are beautiful and calming. It's hard to imagine our outdoor campus without them. Each of the trees and each of the plants on our campus are unique. I now find myself realizing my individual relationship with some of the trees on campus. Whether it be the big palm tree on freshman patio or the bright green tree on our patio, all plants and trees are present during each of our memories from campus. I do think that the abundance of trees on our campus promote a better learning environment for students. Like I said before, trees and plants are calming and create an environment where you feel that you can relax and focus on your homework. I notice that a lot of people work outside, whether it be on Arden or on their patios. I think that nature and the outdoors creates a great learning environment to be productive and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, I have never really thought much about the trees and other vegetation on campus. Over the last thirteen years, I have been much more interested in pondering things like human beings and there interactions, as I believe that has more relevance to my day to day as well as long term goals. With all of the different hats I wear, it seems like there's almost no time to stop and appreciate the trees. However, I always seem to find time to appreciate and help out humans... funny how that works. I would, however, certainly argue that trees and vegetation enhance the learning environment for our students. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits, the physical and mental health benefits that we can all reap are definitely something to appreciate. Countless times, I have seen students huddled under a tree, either with a book or with friends; an inherently peaceful and therefore valuable experience. Trees can certainly provide a relieving contrast to the overwhelming stress we experience due to being Poly students.
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ReplyDeleteIn response to Anais’ second question, I definitely think that the abundance of trees on the Poly campus promotes a better learning environment for students. In fact, I feel like recently I have been hyperaware of how intellectually uplifted, stimulated, and almost supported I feel by Poly’s natural environment. I get this feeling (which, I might add, is an amazing feeling) particularly when I’m in the Writers’ Center, sitting up high, looking down upon Arden, the patios, and the buildings that make up our South Campus. Anais brought up in her blog post that her elementary school was primarily composed of asphalt, and that immediately stood out to me because I too attended an asphalt-dominated elementary school for grades K-5. Like Anais, my elementary school was an LAUSD public school (which supports that 90% statistic Anais cited). Of course, to a certain extent, the majority of learning, teaching, and academic work at any school will be conducted inside, making the presence of a beautiful natural environment on campus practically unimportant; however, I personally agree with the findings of the study done by a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne that Anais mentioned in her blog post, that the natural beauty of a campus affects students’ mood and behavior. Thinking back to my time at the elementary school that I went to (Ivanhoe Elementary), I have exclusively negative memories associated with the school’s natural features: kids would constantly scrape their knees (which was super painful) while playing on the asphalt “Lower Yard,” the asphalt would bake like a cake on 100+ degree days, on rainy days the entire school would smell like a construction zone (due to the interaction of rain and asphalt), and practically the only green spaces on campus were little grassy patches at the front of the school along with a small, walled-in woodchip garden (not much of a garden) called “The Reading Garden.” Projects to improve the campus came up here and there during my time at Ivanhoe, but in general, Ivanhoe’s natural environment is incomparable to Poly’s canopies of large trees and vast expanses of grass like Arden Lawn and Babcock Field.
ReplyDeleteI think I absentmindedly noticed trees before we started focusing on them in class. Sometimes I would walk by them on my way to class or I would zone out staring at a tree while I was supposed to be doing homework during a free period, but I don’t think I ever intentionally sought out trees to look at and explore. I wish I did, though, because I think trees are really cool (especially the Tipuana tipu). Now that I notice them more, I think about how beautiful they are and how much they are helping the environment and cleaning up after the messes that humans make. I notice the size, shape, and structure of the leaves on the ground, the type of bark, the branch structure, and more. I have also noticed the intricacy of the tree canopy and how much or how little shade it provides. I think the abundance of trees on our urban forest campus promotes a better learning environment because we have more direct access to cleaner air (compared to LAUSD schools in downtown), there is more shade during the hotter months so that students can work outside and focus more easily, and they are much more aesthetically pleasing than staring at a blank concrete wall. I think trees are wonderful and vastly under appreciated and they promote a healthier and better learning environment.
ReplyDeleteI rarely paid any attention to the trees on Poly's campus until our tree project. There was one tree I did continuously give attention to, and it is the large Common Ash tree on Arden Lawn. I always remember being in awe of that tree whenever a breeze would rain its leaves all over the Arden Lawn. I even have pictures on my phone of the leaf storms created by the Common Ash. Now that I have began to notice more trees, I have realized how stunning the Polytechnic campus is. Trees are incredibly beautiful pieces of nature, and I am surprised I have not given them more attention. Of course, a beautiful campus can help inspire students, especially if they are creatives. Concrete campuses are ugly and boring. They don't inspire ANYONE. Trees do help learning and creating because they are gorgeous and they inspire beauty.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of the time I’m focused on other business and don’t take the time to pay attention to nature. However, when I do take time to appreciate nature I often delve into how complicated life is and all of the beauty it has to offer. I firmly believe that the abundance of trees on our campus promotes a better learning environment. I’m not quite sure of the science behind it, but I could see how having a mostly asphalt campus could be detrimental to one's learning and development. Moreover, having a mostly asphalt campus likely has negative physical impacts such as scrapes, bruises, overheating, and more.
ReplyDeleteI rarely actually paid attention to the trees and bushes on campus. I always knew that Poly was a very green campus and that we were lucky to have so many plants on our campus, but I never was actually paying attention. After doing actives surrounding trees, I have definitely noticed more about the trees on our campus. I am often in a rush on campus and don't really ever have time to look up at trees, but lately I have been noticing more. Since our discussions about trees I have found myself looking up at trees and admiring them more (this could also be because I'm a second semester senior and not as stressed). The trees on our campus are a great touch, but that being said I also agree with Julian in the sense that I believe appreciating the humans on campus is more important. I think the nature on Poly's campus add to creating a unique learning environment where students can study and relax outside.
ReplyDeleteGreen space and access to nature have always been pretty important parts of any environment for me. I especially started noticing how important such factors were to me when I started touring colleges. Having green space to sit outside, preferably in the sun (although that’s not always possible), and read, listen to music, throw a frisbee, or even nap is something that's important to me, not only in college, but in any city, school, or environment I find myself in. To continue off of Anais’s point, there is something inherently welcoming about a space covered in green. I couldn’t necessarily explain why, but some time in a park or on a hike always helps me clear my mind. I’m definitely noticing trees more; specifically, I’ve been paying attention to just how huge, and therefore historical, the trees on our campus are. I’ve noticed that the ratio of large (and therefore old) trees to the amount of space on Poly’s campus is significantly larger than the other parts of Pasadena that I drive through. I think this is probably because Poly has done more to preserve the existing trees while in other parts of Pasadena, it might’ve been easier to remove trees in the name of urban development. I think this project has opened my eyes to the fact that trees can really act as historical landmarks, and it's truly very special that our campus houses such monuments.
ReplyDeleteI think that I’ve always noticed the trees around Poly, but what this class has allowed me to do is look up. So often I am navigating around school with my head down, laser focused on what I have to do, where I have to do, and who I need to talk to. Over the last week or so, I have not only been given the opportunity to, but I have been asked to stop, look up, and reflect on what that has meant to me. I have very much appreciated this opportunity to “stop and smell the roses'' or maybe more accurately: “stop and identify the rosewood.”
ReplyDeleteI certainly think that the trees at Poly promote a better learning environment. While I’m not sure every student on campus realizes what we had, I certainly think that we would notice a shift is anything changed. We work, study, socialize, share meals, and learn outside in lush green spaces; a privilege not afforded to many. We are able to work in collaborative spaces that encourage creativity and I think that is an invaluable part of our education.
Honestly, prior to this class I did not think about the effect of greenery and trees on a students education. However, while I think it does make the campus appear to be nicer, I do believe that the statistics on how trees and greenery affect a students education are flawed. Personally, I think that the schools with more money are the only schools that could afford trees and greenery. Due to this, it is more of the schools financial stability that allows the students to access a better education. This being said, I do enjoy the greenery that Poly does have and it does allow for a change in environment.
ReplyDeleteI think I have always been very aware of the greenery on Poly's campus, but I think that is probably because, like a few other students in this class, I came from an LAUSD elementary school where the majority of what I saw was unshaded asphalt and concrete. What was especially interesting about my old school is that it was in the hills of Bel Air - all of the roads leading up to my school were lined with beautiful, shady trees, but the school itself was left without those green spaces. Throughout my time at Poly, I have consistently turned to arden as a go-to place - I've always been one to just get a blanket and lay under the trees, or in the sun on the far end of the lawn. I know that I can always concentrate and get work done when I'm outside, which I realize now is not something I would have such easy access to had I gone to a different school. I'm not sure I would say I take greenery for granted, but I think I've gradually become accustomed to the resources I have on campus and around pasadena in general.
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