U-shaped classroom seating can be a pain in the neck

Vijay Garg
Contd from last Saturday
 A former backbencher, Dr  a paediatric ophthalmologist  believes the U-shaped seating arrangement could potentially result in refractive errors being missed.
The traditional seating arrangement has several advantages, he said. "Children sitting at the back who struggle to read the board often get early eye tests. Their self-reporting of difficulty in reading is what often prompts eye examinations. In montessori settings, where pupils sit around tables, refractive errors might go unnoticed as there's less need for distance vision."
Schools that mull introducing this seating arrangement can have children move their heads periodically, suggested Dr Ankush Garg  "Teachers could also consider making children switch their seats after each period," said Dr Ankush Garg