Whether it’s taking notes, working on assignments or trying to stay awake during a long lecture, students spend hours sitting at their desks each day. But just how comfortable are these desks?
Most school desks are made of plastic, metal or wood, often designed with a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t actually fit all. For shorter students, their feet might dangle, while taller students are forced to hunch over. Loose screws and wobbly legs can add to the discomfort, and the lack of ergonomic design may contribute to back and neck pain over time.
A study published in the journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, archived by the National Library of Medicine, found that poorly designed school furniture can lead to discomfort and health issues, suggesting a need for ergonomic redesigns.
So, how do students at our school feel about their desks? Are they bearable, or do they need a major upgrade? We asked eight seniors to share their thoughts. Here’s what they had to say:
Photos by Tyler Josephson.
“On average, I wouldn’t say the desks are uncomfortable, but they’re not exactly extra comfortable either. In a perfect world, I’d prefer something like couches, but given the context, I wouldn’t change much about the desks. I imagine they might be a little more comfortable for shorter people, but overall, I’m not complaining,” Tyler Kols said.“My experience sitting in the school desks hasn’t been the greatest. The chairs always seem to hit a weird spot on my back, and it ends up hurting after a while. As for the leg room, it’s fine for me,” Anna Quist said.“I think it kind of depends because some desks are higher than others, but mostly it’s okay, it’s alright, it’s good. Sometimes the desks are a little smaller, and I need to stretch out my legs more. But if it’s taller, it’s usually fine. It’s not bad, maybe just give us a little more leg space—especially for taller people,” Kevin Vu said.“It’s not very comfortable. My back isn’t fully supported, and my legs are too long for the desk, so my knees hit it. I think they should give us separate chairs from the desks, maybe even roller chairs for maximum comfort and back support—like spinny chairs,” Kate Tanner said.“Make it so you can push it in and out easier. The backrest, it’s like up in my mid-back, but I want a whole backrest that covers both the bottom and the top of my back. And when I’m in the back, I can’t see the board—it’s just a sea of heads in front of me,” Hung Nguyen said.“It’s pretty comfortable. I can stretch out my legs, yeah, because I’m pretty short, so I have more space compared to others. The desks fit me well, but sometimes my back hurts because the chair is hard,” Mia Bivens said.“I would say it’s okay, it’s not the greatest, but it’s fine. Sometimes it’s hard to get out of the desk because they’re kind of tight, but otherwise, I think they’re okay. I think they’re just kind of tight in general for everyone. My posture is pretty bad, but honestly, I think that’s my fault,” Aya Roque said.“It’s really comfortable. I can put my legs up, like sit crisscross or put my knees up. I think they should move the chair a little farther from the desk so I can lean back,” An Dang said.
