Schools Force Students To Stand Up At Desks Every Day, Teachers Shocked At The Behavior Change

Some schools are now running an experiment where they force the students to use standing desks instead of the traditional school desk which comes with a chair. But why would they make such a big change?

In a related report by The Inquisitr, when a school refused to serve lunch over a $5 unpaid balance, the mother reacted in a way that shocked everyone. But when it comes to good news, one teenage homeschooler graduated from both high school and college in the same day.

Apparently, teachers are also categorizing the stand up desks as good news, as well. But while some people might think that being forced to stand at your desk sounds like a punishment, it turns out that even fourth graders at Belle Terre Elementary school in Florida are liking the idea.

“It’s awesome,” said one little girl named Emma Kalcounos. “And it makes me feel more alert and ready for the next task. When you’re sitting down, you feel like tired because you’re sitting and you’re not, like up and like, paying attention. But when I’m standing, I feel like I’m paying attention and I’m not tired.”

Teachers say the $500 standing desks gives more options for the students. For those with disabilities it’s still possible to have a chair, and the “wigglers” have plenty of room to adjust. Overall, it’s said that using the standing desks improved alertness and classroom participation. Because of the success of the program they are considering expanding it to other districts.

But Florida schools are not the first to run this experiment. A first grade classroom was equipped with stand up desks that also had an optional stool. After six weeks it was reported less than a third chose to use their chairs.

Monica Wendel is a co-author of the stand up desk study she published in the American Journal of Public Health. She says one of the primary motivations was to combat rising student obesity problems:

“What we found was that most students WANT to be standing, to be moving. They don’t want to sit still — it’s against their nature. We are the ones who teach them to be sedentary. Perhaps even more important was that the heavier children — those in the 85th percentile for weight based on age and gender — burned 32 percent more calories standing than heavier children that used a traditional seated desk.”

Wendel says they also tried experimenting with bouncy balls but in general they were too distracting and took up more space.

Would you support a school that forces your children to use a stand up-only desk?