Bryce Baxter

In observing Stafford High School, a strong sense of efficiency was felt throughout the school

with the use of paths, edges, districts, and nodes. The most significant of these were seen in the

hallways and meeting areas scattered throughout the school. In walking through, an observer gets

a strong sense that the school was designed to have maximum efficiency over symbolism. As a

dated school, this seems to fit logically with the times back then. As time advanced, it seemed as

though school spirit became more prominent and our building was just stuck in the past.

Examples of such efficiency include the districts planned throughout the school. You have the

central, east, west, south, and north wings that divide the school into districts based on subject.

The science department takes one district, the math takes another and so on. Efficiency is further

maxed out with the use of nodes. The central hallway itself provides a meeting place for students

in the morning and a quick access to get from one place to another. In regards to symbolism and

other factors of a school, the school does have few places where these are prominent. Although

not built into the school architecturally, symbolic landscapes reside in places such as the front

office and cafeteria with odes to our school mascot, the Indian. Although few and far between,

the school also has areas of scared space and topohpilia that provide safe and peaceful locations

for students such as the flagpole where prayer is held in the morning as well as the guidance

offices where students can go to handle issues. Although the school is lacking symbolism in its

initial foundation, it makes up for it with additions to the school and in other various ways.

Maximum efficiency, holds true to its high importance when designing the building as observes

see the impact it has on student traffic throughout the school. Although both areas of symbolism

and efficiency hold different values, both have important meaning to SHS.