JEDDAH, 1 December 2004 — Parents and educationists are concerned about the backache and postural problems resulting from the heavy schoolbags carried by children. Students of all levels have complained of the considerable discomfort they experience daily from the burden of heavy book bags.

“The weight of my daughter’s schoolbag is alarming,” said Farah, the mother of a 5th grade student. “I used to scold her for packing more books than are needed at school. I now distribute the weight into an additional handbag but still, it is too heavy for a 10-year old.”

Medical professionals say that though the long-term effects of heavy backpacks are not known, excessive weight and certain types of schoolbags can cause pressure on nerves at the nape of the neck which in turn may lead to muscle spasms as well as neck or shoulder pain. They recommend that a backpack should never be more than 10 to 15 percent of a student’s bodyweight.

Abu Fahda, father of a 4th grade student, said: “It’s heart-breaking to see these children hauling these heavy bags around. I see it every day when I drop my daughter off at school. I’ve also noticed that she’s developed a slump even when she’s carrying nothing on her back.”

Suraya Ali, the mother of four daughters, wondered why there were no lockers in schools so that children could leave books in their lockers instead of bringing them home every day. “Why not provide desks and cabinet space at school to keep things in? This could cut the schoolbag weight by half.”

One high school senior said there were lockers available at her school but that the teachers load the students with homework. “We have to take all our books and notebooks home and bring them the next day or else we will be punished for not doing our homework,” she said.

“We tried a locker system,” said Sawsan Ghassan, an elementary school teacher, “but students wasted so much time getting their books out of the lockers or returning them that we did away with the lockers.”

Dr. Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, an academic and father of five, said: “It isn’t just that the textbooks have become heavier but the number of notebooks per subject has increased because of the expanding curriculum. Children carry textbooks, notebooks, lunchpacks, snack boxes, water bottles, geometrical and mathematical instruments and library books. I’ve discovered that they carry all their books because they’re afraid of being caught without the right one.”

Dr. Talal Ahmadi, an orthopedic surgeon, said: “The burden of heavy schoolbags puts too much pressure on growing bones. To make matters worse, shoulders are always in a state of tension because muscles are tense and taut for long periods.”

Dr. Maha Atta, a general physician, said carrying a heavy bag affected children’s backs, necks and shoulders, especially when children carry bags on only one side of their shoulder. “Children have to bear this burden on their backs daily, which is both physical and psychological pain. This stress and heavy weight may result in a deformed body posture.”

Dr. Atta said the way the child stands will be altered due to bearing the weight. “The child may develop a hunchback. Wheeled bags that a child can pull are not a solution; they simply delay the onset of the problem. Instead of having a problem within a year, the wheeled bag may delay the problem by a year and a half or two years.”

She added that carrying heavy bags could also result in problems such as asthma, diabetes, and anemia. She also mentioned the psychological side-effects on the child which can lead him to hate school because he associates it with the burdensome heavy weight of his bag.

“Children who have to walk to school may suffer serious injury if they fall down with their bag. There should be more awareness of this problem by parents who should at least encourage their children to carry their bags using both shoulders.”

Suha, a US citizen visiting Jeddah, said: “A few years ago, the California legislature passed a law concerning maximum weights for elementary and secondary textbooks. Other states, including Georgia, Illinois and Tennessee, are considering similar legislation.”

Farah concluded, “The educational system is bad enough as it is without so much weight. Now it’s a backache as well as a heart and headache.”