Carrying heavy bags has become part of school life. Pupils are expected to haul around large amounts of books, coursework and sporting equipment every day. How do they coipe and what are the risks to their health? Children's Express reporters take a look at the issue.
| You never really notice the weight until you have to put your bag back on your shoulders, then you ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ |
Ashley Blake can never forget his first day at school. An early photo catches the apprehension, excitement and worry of that September morning years ago. He stands there, somewhat tearful, his only possession a lunch box held tightly in his hand.
How times have changed. Ashley, aged 15, now a student at Firth Park Community College, is in his final year at school. He has done well, is popular, and looks forward to going onto a successful college career.
The amount that Ashley is expected to carry has also changed dramatically. Gone are the apple and snacks of his lunch box, replaced by a regular 14 pounds of coursework books and equipment. He, like many of his peers, literally carries a weight on his young shoulders.
As he explains: "You never really notice the weight until you have to put your bag back on your shoulders, then you ask yourself, 'Why am I doing this ?' And there never seems to be any where you can put your bag for more than 5 minutes."
He is not alone. In a recent survey conducted by members of Children's Express, it has become clear that young people are having to take for granted an ever increasing weight load round school.
Schools and colleges these days are judged on academic success. Students are expected to come properly prepared and that means carrying a bag. The extra 'weight' that educational progress demands is rarely taken into account.
| | What do the students thinks...? | | I think that young people do have to carry a lot into and around school, depending on which year group they are in. In the senior years, Years 10 and 11, this ' load ' can be a really large amount, and usually increases by the end of the school day. This has got its strains, especially physically. It probably would help to have lockers, though these can have drawbacks of their own. Nafeesa Akhtar, 15, Firvale | | I think young people have to carry too much in school. Schools don't provide enough appropriate space to keep equipment and books when we aren't using them. Having lockers in school would be a good idea. You wouldn't have to carry a stone in weight on your back all day, and you could easily collect things after school. Anyway, having your own locker would give you an increased sense of responsibility. Ashley Blake, 16, Shiregeen | | Bags can be really useful because if students are given the option of having a locker their punctuality could be affected. Girls often carry make-up, hair brushes etc., while boys go in for footballs, extra sports equipment etc. It would be a good idea if lockers were available, so people had the option. Stacey Parker, 14, Wincobank | | A typical school day as you get older is strenuous enough without the addition of a heavy bag on your shoulders. Life would be made much easier if teachers would take in our book everytime we didn't have homework. On Wednesday I would take an A2 folder to school along with a one stone bag with several textbooks, a P.E kit, football boots, an A4 ring binder, my lunch box and drink. Shoulders at the end of a day literally ache caused by the excessive weight. Nick Rose, 15, Woodseats. | |
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Nafeesa Akhtar, a well motivated and intelligent 16-year-old, has a particular reason to be aware of this educational burden. Standing just over 5 feet tall, and weighing slightly over 6 stones, her daily load makes interesting reading. In addition to carrying 14 pounds on her back, she also regularly carries a large art portfolio, an increasingly popular accessory, weighing in at an extra 8 pounds. She is, in effect, carrying 25 per cent of her body weight in school equipment.
"The load of all my school stuff is definitely felt. From an aching back to stiff shoulders, at least I won't need to go to a gym to work out !" she explains.
For some students, the problem is made worse by distance travelled during the day, not only from home to school, but also where students attend split or semi-split schools. Fifteen-year-old Nick Rose, a high achiever at Meadowhead School is well aware of the problem. He is also a reluctant member of the '20 pounds plus' club.
"Unfortunately for myself and the rest of the school population, we have the 'pleasure' of two buildings 500 yards apart. We have this journey sometimes six times a day."
Jan Barker, Primary Liaison co-ordinator at Firth Park, sums up well the problems for young people coming from the relative 'family' atmosphere of Primary education to the hustle, bustle and constant movement of the secondary school, where students find it sometimes difficult to find a 'home'.
Jan points out: "A common insecurity for younger students is the anticipation of moving from room to room during the day. Getting used to this is made worse by the sudden loss of a 'homebase'. At primary schools, students have a drawer or a desk where they can safely leave their possessions. It's quite a shock to move from this to staggering round a large school building laden with a heavy bag. Many parents express concern about this."
Rooms, for security reasons, are more than often locked, and the sheer size of some secondary schools make it impractical for students to return to their form rooms even if they did have access. The obvious answer would be for each student to have a locker, but just how many schools offer this facility to their students?
Young people surveyed are virtually unanimous in their wish to have the option of a locker facility, yet ironically the sheer size and volume of the equipment that students have to carry makes lockers impractical for some. Lockers can also become the target for petty vandalism, mis-use, and a good reason for some students to get back at their peers. As Nafeesa points out: "If they can't get you, they'll get your property."
Lack of space within the building, or lack of money are also cited as examples for the non-existence of personal lockers. Schools seem strangely reluctant to offer this facility, yet for many young people the chance for them to travel light would, at least in one sense, mean that education was no longer a burden.
About the team
This article was produced by Laura Brunt and Katie Burrell, 16, Amy Stewart, Jasmine Stewart and Kimberley Bennett, 14. It was published in the Sheffield Star.
