School Back Packs

[CW1992]

Thought I'd share this - Britt's Middle school sends out emails every week and this is what I got today. FYI - Britt weighs about 78 lbs and her pack pack weighs between 35 - 40 lbs the last times we put it on the scale to see. She also carries her clarinet and her music folder - has to lean forward to keep herself up...but is way too 'cool/proud' to want to change her habits. I think it is so nice that the school sends us out emails - but - do they not realize that packbacks with wheels do not fit in the kids' lockers?? Their lockers are pretty small - can barely fit a coat if it happens to get cold here.... but thought I'd share if anybody wanted to read. I know they are trying to help - but - .... decide for yourselves if you have a chance to read this. I'd love any opinions - this email just sort of hit me wrong.

"Backpack safety

We have all heard doctors' warnings about how book-laden backpacks can cause back problems for children, but there are some measures that you can take to reduce injuries. A recent study noted that of 247 school-age children with backpack-related injuries seen in emergency rooms, most were hurt when they tripped over backpacks, rather than being hurt while wearing one!
One of the reasons for this is that heavy backpacks are so uncomfortable that children take them off whenever possible. This creates a tripping hazard. To prevent tumbles at home and at school, encourage children to hang them up or to set them on tables. Install sturdy hooks or place a chair or table near the door where your child enters the house and in his or her room.

What to look for
Purchase a backpack that is the right size for your child or consider one on rollers. Leather may look cool, but a lightweight canvas pack won't add nearly so much weight to your child's load. Two wide, padded straps are more comfortable than narrow ones. A padded back will protect your child from sharp objects like rulers, notebooks and pencils. Multiple compartments can help distribute weight more evenly. The backpack should fit close to the body and sit two inches above the child's waist.

How much is too much
Doctors suggest that a child carry no more that 10-20% of his or her body weight. This means a 10-20 pound limit for a 100-pound child and a 7-14 pound limit for a 70-pound child. A general rule is that if a child must lean forward to carry the backpack, it is too heavy!

No playing!
The study found that 13% of injuries are caused by children swinging and throwing their backpacks. So if you see a child swinging a backpack, call a halt and make sure the youngster understands the danger if he or she hits someone by accident or on purpose.

Is all that stuff necessary?
Children have a tendency to add excess items to their backpacks. Periodically check to see if CD players, video games, toys, etc., have made their way into it * then remove them."





OK - after reading this I thought - there is no extra room in her backpack for anything! - it is stuffed full with books and binders .... like she would have room for a CD player???
Sorry - just did not understand this email from the school and wanted to vent. Thanks for listening.
Christy

[phaliscak]

Hi Christy,

I wouldn't get too upset over it. It's just a generalized letter for the parents to pick out what might apply to their children or not. I get them all the time with Michael's school. When they don't apply to Michael I just toss them out. I do however would like to add that when I do get these letters I have to laugh because there are parents out there that need to be educated in common sense issues in regard to not only raising their own children, but how to spend time with them as well.

Patty

[CW1992]

Thanks Patty! I was laughing and thought to myself - get a clue people! I appreciate you reading the whole thing - just came at a time when I'm thinking to myself - what?????? Thanks for reading and understanding - just the whole school email kind of made me laugh because.... gees!
Thanks,
Christy

[admin]

I saw a show a while back about how in Japan they give children paperback schoolbooks that are printed one book (more like leaflet) per chapter. Why can't the U.S. do something like this? Christy, I am curious why your daughter has to carry the books anyway. It's in our IEP to have a double set of books, one at home and one at school.

[phaliscak]

Not only is the English language one of the hardest to learn, but economically wise it's problably more expensive to produce books here the same way as Japan. Take a look at Walmart. I saw a documentary one night about Walmart. 80% of their products are manufactured in China. They can keep the costs very low because it costs pennies over in China to produce specially electronic products like TV VCR's DVD's, digital camrea's. Just ask the people in Ohio who lost their jobs to Walmart. Funny thing is, is that guess what they are building in place of the factory that shut down? A Walmart! So now they lost their jobs that 3rd generations have been in and now they will work for Walmart for longer hours and next to no pay. That sucks. Here in the US we can't compete because it will cost too much to make here. We have become a country where we ship out the raw materials and get back the product. Like we send out cotton and get back clothing. It was such an eye opening show that night, plus it helps to have a fedish for economic. That's my take on your question "guest" on why we don't print our children's books like Japan does. Glad you asked? LOL. By the way, that's an awesome idea on getting a second set of books for home and getting it put into Michael's IEP for the years where he will be really carrying books back and forth. The school is going to LOVE me.

Patty

[brandonsmom]

When we lived in Houston, the children from middle school up are given a set of books. These books are used for at home only. They are never supposed to come back to school till the end of the year. They have one set in the classroom for all classes to schare. It was great...do not know if they are still doing it. My son who is only in first grade was not allowed to have a rolling backback. Although he is only 6 he weighs 50# so his backpack shouldn't weigh more than 5# and the principal told me that rolling backpacks run her floors so no rolling backpacks allowed. What is more important her stupid floors or my son's health.

[Kath]

I have to jump in here. I was watching my grandchildren getting off the school bus. Jessica's backpack was as big as she is and full of books (no room for junk) My granson is in 1st Grade and he had such a heavy load I was shocked. As for rolling backpack and floors! Our children were not allowed to eat raisins because the janitor felt if they dropped it was to hard to clean up... so much for healthy snacks.

I don't understand all of the books coming home with the children. They have school work that should be finished in school. homework should not be taking 3 to 4 hours nightly. What is going on? How about the use of workbooks - we use to call them notebooks. We really only had to study the sujects that were taught that day in school to help cement the lessons taught that day.
My children are grown and out of college and never had the amount of homework that I hear about today.

I feel the obpi kids should have a second set of books at home. We are trying to prevent secondary injuries and over use/abuse of our body. It really starts when we are young. If I were the parent of an OBPI, I would have the school give me a second set of books. I would also expect that the teacher/principal not make a big deal or allow everyone to be aware that my child was getting this little extra. We hate to stand out or be different from the other kids. But we pay a higher price for carrying these heavy backpacks.

Kath

[claudia]

Our school district has gone to the 2 sets of books world. The backpacks were so heavy that the parents were complaining. The middle and high schoolers get 2 sets of books. The elementary school students only bring home a text book right before a test or if he/she missed something that was done in class. There is a soft-bound workbook that is associated with each of the main subject books that comes home for homework.

Mind you, my middle schooler's backpack is still completely full and very heavy. She carries 2 2" binders back and forth every day.

As for the rolling backpacks, they were outlawed in our district because kids were tripping on them and they don't fit down the aisles of our busses. However, Juliana has permission to use the rolling backpack as a part of her 504.

And just a little story on that one: her backpack has straps as well as the wheels. It is designed with hooks so the straps can be out of the way when it is wheeled. She comes home from school one day and the straps are out of their hidey-hole and hooked on like it is to be worn on the back. I asked Juliana if she had been playing with the straps and she told me that an aide who was moving the kids to the busses told her that she "couldn't use a rolling backpack" and took the straps out and hooked them on. She said she told the aide that she is allowed to use the backpack as a roller and that she has a "broken arm" (that is her terminology--she is in Kindergarten). The aide said to her "I don't see a cast. Now put the back pack on." She refused (I am so proud of her) and maintained to this aide that she is allowed to use her backpack as a roller and she has a broken arm. While they are having this "discussion", Juliana's bus matron came off her bus and asked what the problem was. Juliana told her matron (a fabulous woman) and the matron just tore into the aide. As Juliana told me the story she said "Barbara came off the bus and took care of the aide"!! (I think she is playing GI Joe with her brother too much!!).
No one questions Juliana's backpack any more.

Lately, I have found that schools are just plain weird.

claudia

[phaliscak]

So far so good with us and Michael's school. His homework load is only a half an hour a night. No problems with the rolling back pack, yet. His busing is free, door to door and is part of his IEP. The state payed for his homeschooling which was 2 hours a night 5 nights a week. I really have no complaints, yet, but he is only in 2nd grade. My biggest gripe is our taxes. Because our township is experiencing an explosion in developement our schools need massive improvements. The town passed a 53 million dollar tax increase and now the township said they underestimated because of delays in construction and are asking the township for an additional 14.3 million to complete the improvements. There goes my property tax up again.
They better give me that second set of books.LOL

Patty

[Cara]

Ok as a mom of a BPI child and a teacher I can see both sdes of the coin. We do have issues with tripping over the rolling back packs. Personally I have little sympathy for the kids that trip over them. If they trip they were running, crowding, or flat out not paying attention where they were going and would have probably tripped over something else.

Another idea for eleviating text book trafficing between home and school: Many text book companies are making text available electronically. Several schools have recieved grants for handheld computers (Palms). IT is worth checking into. If you want ot volunteer for your kids school, but can't come in during the day offer to start typing in text so it can be read on a Palm or other form of electronic media. This could be utilized not only by our BPI kids but also kids with vission problems (they can resize the font so it is larger or have special programs that read a loud.)

Another issue that has come up with us this year and in a previous post in this thread is school personel not being aware of IEP/504 plan addaptations. In our case it was a sub. When we rewrite my daughters IEP I want to make sure we address how it is going to be communicated to the people that come into contact with my child. Subs, teachers aides, parent volunteers, cafeteria workers, or anyone else that has the authority to tell my child to do something that could injure her arm need to know the limitations. Has anyone else dealt with this?