Letters to the Editor
View(s):Reducing the burden on young shoulders
The younger of my two daughters is a small built seven-year-old. When I take her school bag to the car while she walks behind me, almost every day the bag is heavy. One day I asked her to leave whatever she could to lessen the weight, and to my surprise she pulled out her lunchbox and water bottle. Nothing else. This made me wonder what the recommended weight of a backpack really is.
The American Association of Chiropractors recommends that the weight of a backpack be less than 10% of an individual’s body weight. Given the mere 20kg weight of my daughter, her bag should weigh 2kg or less. Under the current Sri Lankan school system is this possible?
Let’s first look at what chronic strain on the spine can do to a person. The commonest complaints would be back pain, excessive fatigue, poor body posture and shoulder and neck pain. These can be brought about as a direct result of the weight on the spine and its supporting muscles and ligaments. On the other hand, the body’s attempt in balancing the weight can cause a child to hunch forward and give rise to abnormal postures. In the long run excessive weight carried over a long period can produce irreversible spinal deformities because of wear and tear of the vertebrae and weakened muscles and ligaments.
Without doubt a backpack is the most logical option for children to take their books and other materials to school. It is convenient and is in fact a good form to disperse the weight evenly on to the spine.
But my question is “is the number of books they need to take to school daily too much?” Almost all subjects now have one or more textbooks. When there is usually a qualified teacher with a syllabus and a teachers’ guide, the need for textbooks continues to elude my understanding. We spend a huge sum of money on textbooks annually. I believe it is time to reconsider the fact whether the government provided textbooks still serve a purpose.
When preparing the school timetable, it is advisable to limit the number of subjects taught in a day by allowing more time slots for a single subject. In doing this the teachers need to keep in mind that the attention span of a child or any individual is limited and need to give the students a break every 30 – 40 minutes.
Until we come up with a solution I recommend providing the children with a properly padded backpack and if the weight is too much, to transfer some weight over to another handheld bag; whenever possible help them carry the bag; have a plan set up at your school to keep some books in the classroom; allow students to share textbooks; and most importantly listen to them and if you have doubts of possible strain on the spine of your child do not hesitate to seek medical advice. After all, our target is an educated and healthy future generation, not a lot of educated patients.
Dr. Sameera Nanayakkara Via email
Let’s not allow another curse of the 225
An interim Govt. cannot succeed in bringing vital ‘system changes’ without broad consensus and blessings of the ‘225’.It is evident that the advent of an ‘All Party/Multi Party Interim Govt.’ is being thwarted by several political parties criticising the untimely appointment of MPs with tarnished records as Ministers and State Ministers in large numbers.
It is reported that a circular has been issued to curb this insane appetite for Ministerial portfolios by withdrawing multiple perks and fringe benefits such as luxurious office premises and opportunity to appoint special staff from the kith and kin, pompous security staff, lavish fuel and utility allowances over and above those enjoyed by MPs.
No room must be left for complaints arising from ignoring the provisions of this circular. The incentives of power and recognition attached to their posts with free media publicity are more than ample for them to perform their duties and responsibilities efficiently.
In one of the writer’s recent articles, it was proposed that an independent Commission be appointed to review and recommend more realistic packages of salaries and perks /fringe benefits to all Ministers, MPs and all politicians and political appointees who presently give a negative return to the tax payer sans any accountability.
As sovereign voters with the country’s welfare at heart we earnestly appeal to all political parties to stop their power projects during this interim but crucial period and work towards bringing the critical ‘system changes’ sought by our peaceful and intelligent new generation, in to the statute books and prepare the pitch for holding free and fair elections based on a new Sri Lankan model of true Democracy, Meritocracy and Accuracy.
Let us not allow another curse of the ‘225’!
Bernard Fernando Moratuwa
What would I do without my ‘third leg’
The number ‘three’ features significantly in life’s journey. Spiritually in the Christian faith with importance to the Holy Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are several other areas where this number continues to be with us.
Having completed three score years and ten and more, and tripping over six yards of silk and designer shoes, I decided ‘that’s it!’ I needed another leg and that became my ‘third leg’ – my walking stick.
He is my companion, friend and guide. So useful and necessary – hailing a taxi, for instance, several stop seeing my problem; standing in front of a closed door at a restaurant, several young Galahads run to open it. I am ushered in and assisted to a separate chair.
In the supermarket with a surreptitious limp, holding the trolley and my handbag, a helper smilingly comes forward to assist me.
Standing at the top of a couple of steps, hands reach out to bring me down.
I love my third leg. He is there hanging down in front of the handle of my front door and says ‘no way – you cannot go without me. I am your third leg!’
M.C. Thambyah Via email
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