The Disadvantages of Bulletin Boards

Bulletin boards are classroom resources where teachers post information, hang student achievements and develop homeroom themes. One of the main advantages of having bulletin boards is that they allow teachers to take advantage of functional wall space. However, before posting a bulletin board in the classroom, consider the disadvantages they pose to determine whether or not the bulletin board is right for your students.

Bulletin boards can be distracting to students. When teachers post stimulating information on the boards, students may become more interested in paying attention to what's on the board than listening to the teacher. Colorful bulletin boards are especially distracting to students with attention problems, according to Dr. Stanley Greenspan. To avoid such distractions to the classroom environment, some teachers do away with bulletin boards or keep them in the back of the classroom, out of obvious sight.

Some teachers use bulletin boards as a means of displaying students' achievements and good work. However, this can work as a disadvantage for those students whose work never makes it onto the board. Using a bulletin board for this purpose leaves certain students out and can hurt their feelings. If your goal is to be neutral and fair, post every student's work or none at all.

A cluttered bulletin board that is full of information can become confusing to students. If the bulletin board is where you post the emergency evacuation procedure, the lunch schedule, the information for the school play and the classroom chores lineup, your students may have a difficult time deciphering the information. Instead of using a bulletin board for this purpose, you can spread out the information on different parts of the wall, where the information becomes clearer for students.

Bulletin boards use tacks or pins to hold up the information being posted. Such sharp objects can become a safety hazard for students in the classroom. Loose pins that fall to the floor or scrape against students can cause injuries.

During this environmentally-conscious age, the concept of printing paper and posting it on bulletin boards is not very green. As a teacher, think about alternative ways to provide the information you need to for the students that doesn't involve using up as much paper and ink.