Great Uncle Fred? Why, in most classrooms, are the desks facing north? (Anonymous person, Autumn 2010)

D'you know what? I never knew that in most classrooms the desks faced north but, now that you mention it, I have had a think and a look and I see that you are perfectly correct. I did know, mind you, that artists prefer their studios to face north, and why - because the sun, busy moving around the south side of a building, makes no shadows and glare in a north-facing room. And this must be the reason for the classrooms as well: to stop the pupils or students being distracted from their work by shine and shade and generally changing light. The north-facing window gives a calmer impression of the outside world. Of course, if you are in Australia or somewhere else south of the Equator, then your classrooms and artists' studios, will face south. I hope this answers your interesting question.

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