Tips For Purchasing Classroom Furniture
A good education is crucial to a child's overall development and growth
. And there's no denying that the classroom plays a dramatic role in a child's life. After all, children spend over half of their waking hours in the classroom over a span of at least thirteen years, and sometimes longer for those students who go on to attend colleges, universities, or trade schools.
And because of the crucial role that education plays in a child's life, most parents and educators are concerned about what is taught in schools, which is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of scholastic achievement. However, there is another aspect of education that parent and teachers may sometimes overlook if they only focus on the curriculum--the classroom environment.
There is strong evidence that supports the idea that the classroom environment can either positively or negatively affect a child's scholastic achievement. Although it is probably not the one determining factor for a child's academic success, a positive classroom environment can definitely aid children's learning and make their academic experience more comfortable and focused. In fact, UNICEF published an article that put forth studies that proved the physical arrangement of classroom furniture and other visuals can greatly influence a child's learning.
One of the most prominent aspects of the classroom environment is the furniture. Although furnishing a classroom typically receives only a marginal percentage of a teacher's budget, by carefully choosing affordable classroom furniture, an educator can go a long way in creating a positive classroom environment for children to learn in. When choosing classroom furniture, there are five qualities people should take into consideration: durability, quality, functionality, flexibility, and safety.
Durability
Because schools and teachers rarely receive adequate funds to furnish a classroom, whatever furniture is purchased should be made to last a long time, ensuring that the furniture doesn't have to be replaced with precious funds that may be needed elsewhere. If you choose to purchase wood furniture, be sure that the wood does not have to be frequently polished and cannot be easily damaged, especially if young children will be using the furniture. Wood such as oak is typically an impractical material for classroom furniture as it has to be frequently maintained and is easily damaged. Furniture made out of metals such as aluminum typically last longer than other types of furniture. How the furniture is made also plays a role in how durable it will be.
Quality
Although the categories of durability and quality may overlap, quality moves beyond just the physical material of the furniture and describes the warranty, the production, and manufacturing of the furniture. Good quality classroom furniture should come with a respectable warranty that ensures quick repair services or replacement if they furniture should break or malfunction. Quality furniture should also come from a respectable producer that uses credible manufacturing processes.
You can learn more about the quality of furniture by looking at customer reviews and by calling the manufacturer to ask about the production of the furniture. A little extra time spent researching can potentially save you a lot of headaches and unnecessary expenses in the future.
Functionality
Classroom furniture is essentially a hindrance if it doesn't meet the needs of the classroom. When choosing furniture for the classroom, people should make note of the purposes of the furniture and who will be using it. Of course a science laboratory and a computer classroom are going to need different types of furniture in comparison to a traditional classroom. But aside from those obvious differences, furniture should also be suitable to the people using it. Desks should be the appropriate height and width for the students using them. And the age of a child may also be a factor in determining what material the furniture should be made of. People should also consider how much space they have available in the classroom and if they plan to frequently move the furniture. If so, special requirements (such as chairs that are stackable or unattached from the desk) may be needed.
Flexibility
If you plan on using your classroom furniture for any extended period of time, it should be flexible enough to adapt to several different settings and even different rooms if necessary. For example, furniture should be a color that could match several different settings, and if possible, it should be of a size and shape that makes rearranging the classroom easy.
Safety
Of course, the most important aspect of classroom furniture that a person should consider before purchasing is safety. Special care should be made to ensure that the furniture is not finished with a chemical that could be harmful to students' health. Although most suppliers of classroom furniture take special care to ensure that their furniture is safe for children, safety is not always guaranteed and is worth careful inspection.
The age of the children using the furniture should also be considered when deciding what furniture would be considered "safe" for the classroom. For instance, Jonti Craft provides furniture with rounded edges so that young children won't hurt themselves by hitting or falling on sharp edges or corners. But such precautions may not be necessary for older children.
The above qualities are largely the technical requirements that a person should consider carefully when purchasing classroom furniture. However, once a person is satisfied with all of these aspects of the classroom furniture, he or she should examine other qualities including style and comfort. When furniture is comfortable for children to use and the overall look is visually appealing, children are naturally more inclined to be attentive and eager to learn.
By following the above suggestions when shopping for classroom furniture, you can be sure to find suitable furniture that will meet all your needs, create a positive classroom environment, and improve children's chances for academic success.
by: Art Gib
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