Could the secret to improving Natchez-Adams School District test scores be as simple as finding more milk crates and yoga balls?

Probably not entirely, but if the early tests of so-called flexible classroom design prove true for the district as a whole, yoga balls and milk crates may be one of the several things that may need to change in the district.

The idea, as West Elementary School teacher Amanda Mercer explains, is simple, let the children sit in ways that may make a traditional, old school teacher cringe. The unstructured and non-traditional seating seems to be working.

Although the test period was relatively short-lived during the last school year, the results were promising.

One-half to two-thirds of Mercer’s students improved their test scores after the less structured seating options were introduced.

While our traditionalist side wants to say such endeavors are unnecessary, our practical side suggests, don’t argue with the numbers.

Our world has changed significantly from when most of us were in school.

Today’s students live in a world with constant distractions. Electronic screens are lit and flashing in almost every corner of our children’s lives. It’s no wonder that non-traditional methods may work.

Clearly the old methods are not working fast enough to see significant improvement in scores, so we applaud Mercer and the district for trying new approaches to help improve students.