There was a footstool for the kids to stand on. great for reading skills. audience contact skills. problem is, if you are not of the right clique, the same person might be still only reading 10-15 years from now. and without saying anything meaningful after the reading, unlike Jesus in the synagogue in his home town,
Of course a truly meaningful comment would ban you from ever reading up front again, like what happened to the carpenter from Galilee.