Young students may risk long-term injury by not observing proper ergonomic posture when using a computer, medical experts say. Although the problems associated with poor posture and computer use, such as neck and back strain and carpal tunnel syndrome, are well known among adults, medical experts have expressed concern that schools, in their rush to give all students access to computers, have ignored the potential for problems in children. Few studies of the problem have occurred in the United States. However, a recent study of 1,404 students by Professor Leon Straker of Curtain University of Technology, Perth, Australia, found that most did not follow proper ergonomic procedures and that 60% of the Australian children he studied had ergonomic-related medical problems. A study of children by Cornell University found that 60% had a posture classified as "high-risk" while they used a computer. However, education officials say ergonomics is unlikely to be a major concern for schools. Outfitting students' desks to be ergonomically proper is too expensive, the officials argue. It would also be impractical as many students share each computer terminal during the day. (New York Times, 4 Jan 01 - Edupage 8 Jan 01)