To think sitting on a high stool with no back support all day is not ok?

[hippohector]

DS’s secondary school is back next week and the school have (quite sensibly) decided to allocate certain areas of the school to specific year groups, to limit the amount of children moving around the school and to avoid busy crowded corridors. Instead, the teachers will move classrooms. So far so good.

However, DS’s year group will have all their lessons (apart from PE and Art) in the Science classrooms. These are set up quite traditionally with long high benches as desks, and individual high stools with no back rests.

DS has sometimes complained in the past about his back aching after a double science lesson as there is no back support, and his feet do not reach the floor, meaning most of the lesson he is bent forward leaning on the desk.
AIBU to think that asking children to sit on high stools with no back support for hours on end, every day, is not good for their posture, and could cause some back and joint issues, particularly as their bodies are still growing and developing.

I’m sure this wouldn’t be allowed in the workplace but for some reason it’s ok just because they are kids?

I understand schools are having to make difficult choices and adjustments at this time but I am genuinely worried about their posture being affected. Also, how can they be expected to concentrate and learn if they are uncomfortable?

I'm aching just thinking about it

If they do their best to keep good posture, the stools are better for their backs that the awful plastic chairs in the rest of most schools - the chairs are more comfortable for the kids who pretty much crumple from the middle and slouch. I know from personal experience of being a 13 year old with spinal problems that I was far happier in science than anywhere else (except woodwork, who also had higher benches and stools), as there was no 'false sense of support' such as is given by the crappy chairs.

It does mean he needs to sit up, working on his core strength and general posture will help enormously as well.

(by the way, I have a stool now, rather than an office chair. It's so much better even after all these years and at least I'm not having to wear a back brace anymore )

Yes it does give you back ache. Could you request a stool with back support for him, worth a try

Sounds a concern - but MitziK's observations are interesting.
Maybe raise your concerns with the school - possible sessions with the entire class covering good posture might be helpful

Wondering if this is my child's school too. I've also had this concern. Not sure how they will cope with it.

Are the long high benches fixed in place or moveable? Our secondary is doing something similar, but only the sink units are fixed, so I suspect they may well have replaced the normal benches with ordinary tables from an unused classroom, or the single tables they use for exams.

Yanbu

Yanbu if his feet won't touch the floor. I also agree that stools that force you to sit rather than slouch are better for your posture BUT you need to be able to sit with your feet flat on the floor. If his feet can't touch the floor (which will be true of many children, especially girls) then it will be extremely uncomfortable and risk damage.

He could stand... standing desks are the new thing in most offices and great for backs.

I would send a note saying that your DS will need to be able to stand at the desk to complete work as and when needed in order avoid discomfort and posture problems. To be honest it’s not great to sit in any chair for an extended period and standing at a tall desk can actually be quite beneficial.

Seriously? Standing is not really a solution surely as that's not the norm for school kids. I'm personally gonna see how it goes for my child. Not sure what they can actually do but will ask for a chair for them if needed.

To be honest back in my seat so never lean on the bank support. My physio also told me it’s not how you sit it’s how long you sit for. It may be worth asking if the can have a short five minute break to move. Also as I remember it no one could reach to floor from the stools but the always had a bar to rest your feet on.

Well not suggesting he stands all day, but every 15 min he could stand up and stretch or stand for 20min then sit etc! May actually help with the childhood obesity crisis!

The bar is the worst, you end up with your feet awkwardly balanced and tucked underneath you. That's if you can reach the bar. I agree standing would be better. Standing is better but it's a bit like sitting squat, both much better for you but you need to have the muscle and flexibility to do this and our culture prevents us from developing this.

Yanbu they are bloody awful and I say that as a science teacher who has raised this as a concern.

Not suggesting standing all day it’s just about changing your position throughout the day. It is definitely not ideal to be seated with no kind of foot rest if your feet don’t touch the ground.

I did suggest to him that he asks to be seated at the back of the room so if he needs to stand he will not be obstructing anyone else’s view.
BUT! He is a teenage boy and he is mortified at the thought of doing anything that will make him stand out in front of the other kids that may mean he gets teased. And I do get that tbh.
Also, it is going to affect all of the kids, not just my DS, and they can’t all stand during lessons, it would be chaos.
I’m just really frustrated with the school over this. I can’t believe they haven’t thought this will be an issue.
I’ll see how it goes and I guess I’ll have to be ‘that’ parent if need be.

@mummag - I don’t suppose your DC go to a church school in Surrey??

My daughter has just been moved to a different department in secondary school due to school bubbles and social distancing. Her year group now have to sit in the science department for the majority of each school day on a stool. Shes complained every evening as shes in pain and discomfort, is this even legal?