BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH their little backs bent under the weight of their often-oversized and mostly-overloaded backpacks, primary school students daily make their way to their various schools to absorb the lessons that would be passed on by their teachers. But is their health – present and future – being sacrificed in the process?
SKNVibes has observed a troubling trend where it appears that primary school pupils are required to lug ALL of their books – both text and note – to and from school.
Let’s say – for example – a primary school student is taught Language Arts, Mathematics, Reading, Spelling, Composition and Social Studies, it probably means that that student would be required to daily transport at least six text books and six note books to and from school.
This publication took to the streets of downtown Basseterre to gather from members of the public whether or not they view overloaded backpacks as a growing and alarming trend.
Most of the persons interviewed – on condition of anonymity – suggested that just as there is a structured timetable in high schools, the same should be administered in primary schools as a means of lessoning the pupils’ load.
“I believe the problem is with the timetable. The timetable needs to be adjusted to make things a little easier for the children. They need to get to the point where they have specific books to walk with, rather than walking with all of their books everyday. And because they are carrying all of these books, it can eventually affect their backs,” one male suggested.
One woman explained that she pleaded with her granddaughter one evening to remove some of the books from her knapsack so as to lighten her load. And with every book she suggested for omission, her granddaughter exclaimed that she must travel with it in the event that her teacher decides to give lessons therefrom.
Others suggest that the books could be kept on the school compound in a secured space.
“I think the government needs to put the books in the school. Let the children leave their text books there and when they get to school they can study or work from there. They need to stop having the children take these heavy books home everyday only to bring them back again. If they need one to take home to study from or do their homework, well let them take it home. But all of these books! That is just too much for the children to carry.”
A number of years ago, many students were seen with schools bags which, while they held the shape of a backpack, functioned as a carry-on. And it was felt that this was a suitable answer to the “heavy backpack dilemma” which the Federation faces.
But with the weight of the books bearing down on the bottom of the bags, it wasn’t long before these saw their end and the problem is yet unresolved.
An individual, who indicated that his school days concluded more than 30 years ago, told this publication that the heavy-bag phenomenon is puzzling to him especially with the advance in technology that this generation has seen.
“The reason why it baffles is because technology has advanced and there are online books and gadgets which I think should intrigue and interest the children more. In my days, when we went to school, we didn’t have all of these books to walk with; so I really don’t know. Honestly, when I saw these children with these bags pulling along, I thought it was just a fashion thing. I did not really know it was because they had all these books to contend with…I think it is ridiculous! I would think that even though school is a learning institution, it should be interesting and enticing to them. We have to find innovative ways of learning and preserving their health.”
SKNVibes was fortunate to bump into Senior Education Officer Michael Blake who, when asked for his view on the issue, noted that the Education Department is convinced that it is a problem.
He stated that medical experts have explained that the bags’ content should weigh no more than five to 10 percent of the child’s bodyweight. Be that as it may, he also stated that at times bags weight as much as 50 percent of the child’s bodyweight, which could lead to health problems in the long run.
Blake promised that “very shortly” a programme developed by the School Safety Programme – which he heads – would be instituted to address that and other issues.
Speaking with this media house about the issue, medical practitioner Dr. Vance Gilbert explained that it could cause specific postural defects including curvatures in the spine, imbalances, back and neck pain.
He suggested that as a proactive measure, a proper timetable should be established so that children are required to carry only those books that are absolutely necessary on any given day. And if all are needed, some should be left on the school’s compound.
Dr. Gilbert also suggested that parents should purchase backpacks for their children according to their height. “This is necessary because backpacks place more strain on children when they rest on the back of their legs rather than on their backs.”
