Trendwatch for Teachers’ Rooms
Courtesy of Alex Lim
By KEVIN THANT ‘27
A classroom, a gallery, or a library? History instructor Kent McConnell’s classroom is perhaps all of them. You walk in to find a whiteboard on the left side and a blackboard on the right. The room is dimly lit, with lighting that reminds you of a candlelit room back in time. “Nearly every item in this room has a personal connection both professionally and in my life’s journey. My hope is that students may find things in the room that are relatable to them or spark curiosity or challenge their ideas in ways that lead them to explore topics more deeply,” McConnell shared. Historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and William Sherman look down from the left side of the room. At the back of the room is McConnell’s desk, where there is a large bust lamp of Charles Sumner. Sumner was a prominent Republican during the Civil War and a major advocate of the Emancipation Proclamation. Many of McConnell’s artworks reflect his interest in the Civil War.
On the right side of the room is a painting of Union Army generals planning during Gettysburg. The painting, which was a graduation gift from his parents, reflects McConnell’s love of simply thinking. On top of the projector is a portrait of Thaddeus Stevens, another prominent politician during the Civil War, whom McConnell named his own son after. “There are not many people in the nineteenth century who seem to have shared our contemporary sensibilities around justice and race, but Thaddeus Stevens was in some ways uniquely ‘contemporary’ on this front,” he shared.
Books about the Civil War line the walls; in fact, it’s almost McConnell’s personal library. The artwork is not limited to just the Civil War, though. There are pictures of the Green Monster and Fenway Park. At the back of the room is a pin that says “Beat Harvard,” reflective of his Yale days. Ships made of wood show the love for woodworking that he’s passed down onto his children. Surrounding the room are rocking chairs that many students may relax in, a small personal touch that makes the room that much cozier. McConnell’s classroom is not just a space to study history; it’s a testament to his identity.
