No matter what grade we were going into, one of the biggest excitements of the first day was discovering who you'd sit next to for the rest of the year.  Younger kids were usually arranged in some alphabetical manner.  As we got older, teachers became more lenient, allowing students the pick of the lot.  (Okay, maybe not every teacher was that generous, but those who were certainly developed a following.)  Once students gained the freedom of choice, seating arrangements became an exercise in social sciences, and less a matter of organization.

The front of the room became the domain of the nerds and perhaps a brown-noser or two (for example, Jessica Spano from Saved By The Bell).  Desiring the best grades and having all the answers, the National Honors Society was often poised and ready for action up front.  Being up close has its advantages-- heck, at least if you were up front, you weren't as likely to fall asleep for Mr. J's mega-lectures.  (Not that we know anything about this.)

The back of the class was where Vinnie Barbarino-types-- you know… the rebels, slackers and otherwise too-cool-for-school-- took their seats.  Being in the back allowed for a wide variety of non-educational activities: note passing, joke telling, copping-a-feel, napping and much, much more!

Of course, what discussion on seating arrangement is complete without mentioning the vast area between the slackers and the goody-goodies?  Those who otherwise didn't know where to sit sat there.  It was a prime locale for those who wanted to learn and get a little nap going, or those that wanted to learn and not get called on constantly.  Daydreamers could stick by the windows and gaze at the wild wonder and puffy clouds rolling by.  Ahh, the middle ground… Of course, maybe who we became had a little bit to do with who we sat next to throughout our younger years.  Sitting next to Monique VanSetter year after year must have had some kind of impact.