Saudi Gazette We have become accustomed to the sight of large stuffed book bags looming over the tiny bodies of little children. Students across Saudi Arabia lug heavy loads on their backs as they tread to and from school every day. “My son is in the first grade and after only a week of school, he started complaining from sore shoulders and back pain due to the heavy weight of his back pack. When I opened the bag to inspect what was inside, I was astonished to find 11 books!,” complained a concerned father. “The only part I dread about school is carrying my heavy school bag,” said Maher Aqeel, an elementary school student. Another student, Muhammad Asiri, exclaimed, “A teacher helps me carry my book bag until I reach my classroom. My bag is as heavy as a traveler's suitcase!” Schools need to come up with solutions to reduce the weight and size of book bags. Parents, teachers, school counselors, and students agree that the average book bag of today is too bulky for the student's age, size, and weight. Carrying heavy book bags could have negative implications on young children's health. “Carrying heavy book bags has negative and long lasting effects on children's health,” warned Dr. Maher Al-Kamhawi, Orthopedic surgeon at Jeddah National Hospital. He added that school bags place a burden on the spinal cord and could lead to back pain, and muscle cramps. “We must take into consideration that young bones are still growing and are not fully developed yet,” he said. Parents urge school authorities to provide personal lockers in the classroom for each student. Since almost each subject has a class work book and a homework book; lockers could solve the problem of bulging book bags. In schools that already have lockers, teachers should remind students to keep the class work books which are bigger in the locker and take home only the homework books, unless they need their books at home to study for an exam. Schools across the Kingdom should focus more on the quality of education rather than the quantity of lessons and material covered. A shift to more practical work with emphasis on application of skills rather than theoretical teaching will no doubt reduce the need for bringing books to the classroom. The Ministry of Education has warned students against carrying heavy book bags. Officials urged school administrators to take into account the weight of books when organizing the daily schedule of classes and have strongly recommended that they should not lift a load that exceeds 10 percent of his/her weight. For example, an average 16-year old student should carry a bag that weighs no more than five kilograms. The Ministry has also distributed pamphlets to students that demonstrate the correct way to lift the bag. Students should carry the book bag on the back with equal distribution of the weight on both sides of the body. __
