Schoolbags- 5 ways to lighten the load

I REFER to the report, 'Heavy backpacks alter schoolchildren's gait: Study' (Jan 5). I have two children in school and their heavy schoolbags have always been a worry, My younger child (25kg) carries a schoolbag that weighs more than 6kg. His classroom is located on the third floor.

Carrying heavy schoolbags may cause more harm than just altering the child's gait. What about the child's posture or growing bones?

The reason for heavy schoolbags is that they are overstuffed with unnecessary books and files. Not all items are used daily, yet pupils carry them to school daily, 'just in case teachers ask for it', as my child protested when I tried to remove some of the items from his bag.

Though I disagree that textbooks should be left in school, the problem can be lessened in five ways:

• Teachers should specify which books (especially exercise books) should be brought to school on specific days. Last year, my child had to take his journal, word bank book, Chinese notebook, two storybooks and all his files to school every day.
• Colour pencils, dictionaries and other similar items should be left in school lockers or classrooms.
• Workbooks should be kept in school unless the children are given homework.
• Many textbooks are thick, packing in two years' worth of syllabus in one or two books. Why not publish textbooks thematically? This can be done virtually for all primary and secondary level subjects.
• Encourage the use of electronic textbooks and dictionaries. Unless the school culture changes, this problem will continue, and the health of our younger children will be affected. Fong Ching Min (Ms)

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• 'The best solution is to keep many of the books in school lockers.' MR CHIA LIN CHEOK: 'I refer to 'Heavy backpacks alter schoolchildren's gait: Study' by Ms Grace Chua (Jan 5). The best solution is to keep many of the books in school lockers. Books for subjects like music, health education, art and craft and moral education and exercise books could be kept there. Students could take any of these books home if there is a need. Textbooks for core subjects could also be kept in lockers. Perhaps parents who want the textbooks kept in the lockers could buy extra copies for use at home. Pay a little more as insurance against back problems and spinal injuries. Students need take only activity books home if there is homework. Schools could also let students do their homework on separate sheets of printed paper and booklets. This way, schoolbags weighing 4kg or more will be a thing of the past. Let us all work together to ensure the well-being and good health of our children.'