| Rectangles are replacing squares in school desks in | | | | functionality of the ubiquitous backpacks. Their |
| today's classrooms, a reflection of the changing styles | | | | popularity is one of the main reasons why traditional |
| of education. Visitors to a school of the 2009 era | | | | school desks have been replaced with school tables. |
| would be surprised at the vast array of desk styles | | | | Students tend to learn more by interacting with other |
| that make its classroom more functional. The | | | | students rather than working alone. Tables can be |
| connected, structured models that have a dedicated | | | | moved easily and this creates change in the |
| spot for supplies are gone by the wayside. "That is so | | | | classroom. |
| yesterday," | | | | Pollock points to another more subtle reason why |
| Throughout the various grades, school administrators | | | | tables instead of school desks are gaining in popularity |
| have school desk buying possibilities that include, open | | | | with teachers. This popularity is based in the reality that |
| front, lift-lid desks and the desks that have the table | | | | the children no longer have a place to hide their |
| directly attached to them. Larger students find the | | | | chewing gum and those infamous notes that get |
| combo desk more accommodating because it has a | | | | passed back and forth during class. One of the main |
| larger surface for the students to do their work on and | | | | culprits that lead to all of this is that backpacks are |
| also provides a larger comfort zone. This new style | | | | common and children can now use them to store their |
| combo desk has two legs attached to both the desk | | | | books instead of the actual desk. This has alleviated |
| and chair. It makes it much easier for either a left or | | | | the need for all of this extra storage space that was |
| right handed student to be comfortable. | | | | once considered a necessity in a student's desk. |
| With all eyes on more creativity, teachers are starting | | | | Clever students have to come up with other excuses |
| to have a new approach about what a 'school desk' | | | | for leaving their assignments at in their desks. |
| set up should be. One teacher in California absolutely | | | | Neat rows or desks and the philosophy of staying in |
| loves the new style "desks" because they are mobile | | | | your seat, have gone the way of the dinosaur. The |
| thus allowing students to move into interactive groups | | | | classroom teachers have done away with the old |
| to work. She surmises that the philosophy of sharing | | | | taboo that desks needed to be arranged in neat little |
| with others is the learning styles that mirror the | | | | rows. Replacing the standard desk with tables and |
| educational learning style these days. | | | | chairs adds a rather large amount of flexibility in how |
| Depending on the need of the assignments and the | | | | the teacher can arrange their classroom. Students get |
| size of the group, tables are rearranged to form small | | | | up and move around the classroom to work with |
| group. Using tables as desks in this fashion is creating | | | | others throughout the school day, instead of feeling |
| a new learning environment for the children and so far | | | | they are "married' to their desk. |
| it is having a very positive effect. Pollock, who has | | | | The replacement of tables as desks also aids in |
| been an educator for 35 years, applauds the evolution | | | | making things much more comfortable for disabled |
| in classroom furniture. She said they remind her of the | | | | students and for accommodating and complying with |
| little TV trays from the 1950s, without the foil-covered | | | | the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). If schools are |
| dinners. | | | | found to be in non-compliance with federal or state |
| Using single tables as desks works better for today's | | | | rules, they could lose their funding. |
| student's lifestyle because of the popularity and | | | | |