IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — In a handful of classrooms nationwide, students are learning to think on their feet.
Sixth-graders at a small private school in southern Idaho stand while crunching math problems. They lean over waist-tall work stations to compare answers. And whenever they feel the need to sit, they prop themselves up onto tall stools and slip their sneakers into swinging footrests.
“It’s not normal for students, or even necessarily for adults, to sit still for long periods of time,” said teacher Jim Oloff.
In states such as Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin, some teachers have replaced the standard desk with height-adjustable work stations, which they hope will offer fidgeters some relief for their antsy tendencies.
Could the stand-up desks play a role in the fight against childhood obesity? Do students really focus better when they’re allowed to move around a bit? The Idaho National Laboratory has been collecting data since January.
“What’s most important, especially since we’re dealing with youth, is we’re seeing an increase in activity,” said Brad Snedden, the lab’s disease and injury prevention coordinator, “which is going to translate to healthier adults.”
