1950’s, a PhD from Columbia (NYC) showed up, and intimidated the school board and PTA, with new (communist) notions.
She argued that the town should raise taxes - and force farmers away, in order to gain land for schools. And the town did so.
She envisioned, and they built on that land, a “middle school” WITH NO WINDOWS - ‘because’ she said, ‘the kids would be distracted by windows.’
There were no wall inside the school - only flexible sliding partitions. Thus, it was loud, it was a mess, and the kids were distracted by all the noises coming from the other partitions.
Her son ended up in prison.
Her husband . . . I do not think that anybody ever saw him.
I remember the “open spaces classroom“ era. It was a disaster.