The first days of school represent a turning point in
the life of every child. This marks the end of self-directed
alternating play and rest periods. Work organization becomes
the main concern, and work is carried out in fixed
postures and under restriction of free movement1. School
youth are nowadays a special risk-group. Contemporary
school-aged children might spend 30% of their waking
hours at school, mostly sitting2. Of all the working positions
in the classroom environment, majority are forward
(reading and writing, 57%) and backward (listening
the teacher or watching the blackboard, 43%)3. In school
furniture design the »sitting problem« and children’s behaviour
are very complex issues4. School time is the period
when sitting habits are developed. Subsequent change
of incorrect learned sitting posture5 is very difficult.
For primary school pupils adjustable furniture does not
automatically equate to »ergonomic« design. However, fit
and training in sitting posture is of the utmost importance.
Most children do not know anything about the
proper prolonged sitting behaviour, so they need proper
education on sitting behaviour. If furniture is adjustable
they need instruction on the adjustment mechanisms
and the importance of fit.