Students in Chris Henricksen’s class at Mark Twain Elementary School now have the option of sitting, standing, or leaning at their new desks, which were provided through a generous grant from the Westerville Education Foundation.
“I like these desks better. I’m energetic. I like to stand and fidget.” – Adam
“It’s easier for us to stand and see the projector from the back of the room.” – Jack
“This desk helps me feel more energetic and ready to learn.” – Cori
“I learn better and hear better standing up.” – Isabelle
“I like to stand and stretch, it makes me less tired.” – Claudia
“They’re cool.” – Neima
These are just some of the positive comments made by students in Chris Henricksen’s fifth grade class at Mark Twain Elementary School, where new standing-bias desks were set up on January 19. Thanks to a generous grant from the Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) in the amount of $5,984.23, thirty new desks and stools were purchased to help incorporate healthier habits into young people’s daily routines, and to evaluate the efficacy and effects of standing-bias desks versus the typical desk-and-chair configuration. So far, the trial seems to be yielding rave reviews.
Henricksen says, “The kiddos love them and so do I.” He likes that the stools raise the students up closer to his eye level and says they seem to benefit from having the option to stand when desired.
When he applied for the grant, Henricksen wrote that a growing body of evidence suggests that small changes in our daily routines can go a long way toward improving overall fitness and mental acuity. One of the small changes that may yield significant benefits is standing more and sitting less throughout the day. He felt that standing-bias desks may be one step toward incorporating healthier habits into young people’s daily routines. Scientific study seems to back that claim.
Dr. James A. Levine of the Mayo Clinic, a pioneer in the burgeoning field of Inactivity Studies, points to the alarming effects of sitting on human metabolism. Research finds evidence linking prolonged sitting with increased risk of a host of metabolic diseases, including Type II Diabetes.
Westerville Chiropractor & Functional Neurologist Dr. Jeffrey Hudson agrees that standing, in general, is better than sitting, saying, “Standing reduces compression of the spine as compared to sitting, which increases compression. Sitting for long periods reduces postural tone, leading to postural de-conditioning and increasing the incidence of mechanical back pain.”
“We encourage creativity in the advancement of new ideas,” wrote Henricksen. “How better to inspire young minds than by modeling new and innovative methods of teaching and learning? Standing-bias desks are good for our bodies and our minds.”
Jeff Tubaugh, immediate Past President of the WEF, has some first-hand experience with standing desks. He works for the Columbus office of BDO USA, which recently moved from a traditional office with cubicles to a smart office hoteling system that includes a good number of standing desks. Hoteling allows people to sign up for a different desk each day if they choose to do so. “We have 15 standing desks out of a total of 72 desks in the office,” he reports. “Everyone picked their original locations to sit, but within a day or two of getting into the new space, many people moved from a sitting desk to a standing desk. They are definitely some of the most highly sought after desks in the office.”
Tubaugh said the WEF always hopes their grants are just the beginning of something bigger. “Hopefully the money we gave will be the start of a movement within all schools to roll out similar types of desks in other classroom settings. With so many people tired of sitting all day and realizing the health benefits of the standing desks, it’s clear the workplace is changing. Maybe the classroom setting can start to change as well.”