Tables instead of desks isn't a new thing. When I went to primary school in the early/mid 70s, we had tables. In fact, it wasn't until I moved at the age of 12 and went to a grammar school that I EVER had a desk with a lift up top. Even my one year at a secondary school prior to moving was table dominated, and we were lucky if we had a locker of any kind, never mind one that actually locked. We simply had to carry everything around with us. I don't remember in those days the teacher having a particular problem controlling the class, and although the tables were generally arranged to allow a group of 4 - 6 pupils to sit together, everyone could still see the front of the classroom and the teacher. I actually preferred it liked that, and hated the desks when I first had to use one. Personally, I think control in the classroom (or lack of it), is more to do with the gradual erosion of the methods teachers are allowed to use discipline pupils. Teachers' seem to be able to do less and less in that regard so pupils have less and less respect. In my day it simply wasn't the problem it is now.

Ali x