Development of a furniture system to match student needs in New Zealand schools

New Zealand studies have identified up to 96% mismatch between the dimensions of school furniture and student body size. Poor posture in students using school furniture is considered to contribute to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. This paper describes the development of dynamic furniture designed to be appropriate for the sizes of students in years 1-13 (ages 5-17 years) and conducive with both their classroom activities and their physiological requirement to move. It describes the development of a height band system of sizing according to student statures, which is a major advance over the traditional practice of sizing by year level. Data was collected on the age (self-reported), year level, gender, ethnicity, height (stature) and weight of 19,000 New Zealand school pupils. Formulae were developed to provide indicative furniture size requirements for the pupils in every New Zealand classroom, and a simple three-step self-guide was created to assist students to determine the size of furniture to best fit them. Because an appropriate relationship between desk and chair height effectively eliminates under desk storage, alternative storage systems were developed and consequential changes in classroom management proposed. The chairs, desks and storage systems were trialed in classrooms, produced commercially and have been in use in schools since February 2005. Subjective feedback from pupils and teachers indicates very high approval of the furniture, especially the chairs, and high success of the implementation system particularly where it is well understood by the teachers. Implementation challenges include overcoming teacher fears of negative social and/or classroom management consequences of having more than one height of desk and chairs in a classroom, and some reluctance to change classroom practices to accommodate the removal of under desk storage. The introduction of an educative process at time of installation has proven successful in addressing these issues. Observations during the measurement process highlighted variances in body proportions amongst genders, ethnicities and ages. Given particularly the diverse ethnic mix in the New Zealand school population, data from a more detailed anthropometry survey will be required to refine the system.