An Eye-Opening Look Into Classrooms Around The World

Published February 19, 2014
Updated February 12, 2018

What began as a quiet photography project in northeast England quickly developed into a worldwide photojournalistic commentary on the 500 year old institution of in-classroom education.

From Ethiopia to Yemen to Russia to Missouri, when we look at the classrooms featured in this wonderful photo series, we aren’t just viewing desks and chairs. We’re looking at the future.

Classroom In Ethiopia
Bahrain School
Pictures Of Classrooms Across The World
Classrooms Across The World Cuba
An Eye-Opening Look Into Classrooms Around The World
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In his portraitures, Germain made sure not to tell the students how to "be" or have the classroom pre-arranged to fit a specific vision, nor did he break a school's time tables.

When asked if a particular encounter stuck out to him from the classrooms around the world he visited, Germain cited a visit at a school in Yemen. Upon arriving, Germain asked a Yemeni boy if he liked school, and the child responded with an enthusiastic, so-obvious-it's-not-even-funny "of course". Said Germain to the interviewer, "His response was just so different from that of any child from a developed country where school is routine. It's very simplistic, but in so many ways, we rich folk just don't know how lucky we are, do we?"

author
All That's Interesting
author
Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.