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Reading the topic on secondary schools reminded me of weighing my daughters bag a few weeks ago. She is 14yrs old and carrying 16lb weight on her back, over a stone in books etc. And thats not her violin or pe gear when she brings them in too. Her back is broke and sore carrying this weight. Okay she only has to walk to bus and walk into school but its heavy. She does leave books in her locker/desk during the day but only some, still quite heavy.
Some of her books are to last 3 yrs, but why they are one big bulky book and not three separate books defys belief in this day and age.
I was shocked at the weight.
i did see a programme on ch4 last year about this, some kids have major back problems with some bags up to 18 ibs and kids having to walk long distances etc.. far too heavy! Also they recommend back packs but to be trendy its over 1 shoulder and thats what causing the damage.
Three weeks ago just before the Pre-Junior Cert Exams my daughter came down crying, she couldn’t fit the books into her bag and she couldn’t lift it with what was already in it. The bag was always way too heavy but the Books of Exam Papers just shoved it over the edge!
That particular day, I had to separate the books into two bags and because she also had a music lesson and PE. I let her go into school with one of the bags of books and her Violin and left the other two bags in the school later in the morning myself.
I then had to pick her up that evening and I went late so I could pick her up at the front door instead of down at the gate.
my nephew has a locker at school and his bag still comes in at 19 pounds. no wonder they like to have expensive bags cause there only ones that last.
I think its a crazy weight to carry for a 12yr old to carry. Did some ‘googling’ and it seems 10% of your child’s weight is really what they should be carrying max. So if a child is 7 stone (98lb) they should ideally be carrying about 9-10lb weight in their school bag. But its so much more. Based on my daughter carrying 16lb weight in her school bag on her back she should be weighing in herself at 160lb which is 11stone 6lb.????? So are we pushing our children to beef up to carry their school bags or be healthy, eat well and keep at a healthy weight for their age.
Know its an age old debate but workers have the protection of health and safety regulations regarding carrying weights and they get manual handling instruction etc. also. But ‘children’ are expected to put these excessive weights on their backs daily. School lockers only hold a small amount of books, what about lunch, pe gear, musical insturments etc. that children bring along with their school books.
Does anyone deciding on the books to use ever consider the weight of the books and if they cover 1yr or 3yrs of a curriculum. Teachers seem to love hardback copies now which are so much bulkier and heavier than your bog standard folder or copy.
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