Students spend long hours seated at desks throughout the school day. Should administrators reconsider the use of hard plastic chairs, or simply keep the traditional all-in-one desk? In this review, the following topics will be discussed: traditional desks, their effect on health, desk arrangement, their impact on learning and, finally, some alternatives. 

To start, let’s look at the traditional desk of an American high school. These desks are an all-in-one design that allows for cost-efficiency, as well as functionality and durability. From a mechanical standpoint, they have hard plastic seats with a metal frame that supports the table. There are not typically any cushions or drawers for storage. These desks are also easy to clean because there are no fabric cushions or crevices for lost dirt to hide. 

Desks can be particularly harmful to one’s health. This important factor can be considered in many ways, but I think that the writers at Today’s Classroom say it best: “The desks so often utilized in classrooms and offices likely won’t garner much praise over how kindly they treat the spinal column. In fact, sitting adds between 40% to 90% stress to the back.” 

Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration is the arrangement of the desks. When examined, the seating can have a positive impact on a learning environment. When educators use the appropriate seating arrangement for each class or subject, the results will most likely include active participation in discussions and productive individualized work. 

Now that we have discussed all of the benefits and drawbacks of a typical school desk, we can look at some alternatives that could lead to a better learning environment. Standing desks are one option that has been gaining popularity. Standing desks have many positive effects for students, such as encouraging better posture, increasing energy and burning more calories. Another option would be to have desks against the walls and then have rolling chairs for the seating. This would lead to a comfy and productive layout; however, it would make it more difficult to comprehend lectures, because some students would be at different viewing positions.   

At the end of the day, every student is unique. National Business Furniture has a great way of looking at it: “Mixing and matching different types of classroom desks can be a creative and practical way to accommodate various learning styles and activities.”