When I was Beaver's age I too sat at a desk like the ones in Miss Landers' class. They dated from the late 1800s or early 1900s.

The unit consisted of a desk and a bench attached to the FRONT of the desk. The bench was the seat for the next desk ahead in the row. The last desk in the row had no seat and the front of the row started with a bench.

The benches at the front of each row were reserved for kids who were cutting up in class.

The entire desk unit was attached to the floor. The desk didn't have a lid that opened - just a shelf beneath the desk top where you could slip in a few books. Sometimes these desks show up at flea markets, antique shops, etc.

In the upper right hand corner of the desk top was a hole where an inkwell was placed.

In the upper right hand corner of the desk top was a hole where an inkwell was placed.

Yeah, I used to tell the kid that sat in front of me, "Hey, was that a mouse looking out of the (inkwell) hole?" He would look in with his eye about 2" from the hole and I had my arm in the desk and would poke him in the eye with my finger. What an idiot!! (him not me)......... :crazy:

Yeah, I used to tell the kid that sat in front of me, "Hey, was that a mouse looking out of the (inkwell) hole?" He would look in with his eye about 2" from the hole and I had my arm in the desk and would poke him in the eye with my finger. What an idiot!! (him not me)......... :crazy:

:lol: Thats hillarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!