Sitting on the carpet - not conducive to learning

[wheelsonthebus]

I am tired of my dd having to sit on the floor at school. Whatever happened to desks? How can sitting kids on a carpet help them concentrate? Even the tables they sometimes sit at are circular (so they all look at each other (and chat)). Basic ergonomics suggests that sitting at a desk and looking straight ahead at the teacher or the whiteboard rather than in a circle would make more sense (exams aren't taken in circles for example). I don't make my dd sit on the floor at home. Why should she have to at school? Anyone else feel like this?

Sitting on the carpet allows the children to be in close proximity to the teacher, where they are more likely to listen and be able to see the resources the teacher may be using (rather than at their desk at the other side of the room).

As a secondary supply teacher I, by mistake, ended up in a Y1 classroom and was amazed how noisy it was while some children were doing maths! 3 tables were doing maths while others could choose activities?! I found that very odd, I was irritated by the noise but the TA explained that it was quite normal for that class.