Comments on: Is your child’s backpack too heavy? http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/ Fearlessly dispensing political, legal and economic analysis (and some whimsy) since 2002 Thu, 24 May 2012 12:13:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dave Bath http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120401 Dave Bath Mon, 21 May 2007 03:31:46 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120401 Properly designed and worn backpacks, even though extremely heavy (such as what you need for a few days hike in the bush), may be less of a problem than the fashion of so many kids to have the pack almost below the knees. I wish we'd had backpacks for school in my day, where we often used two traditional schoolbags, 1.5 for books and 0.5 for sport gear. Properly designed and worn backpacks, even though extremely heavy (such as what you need for a few days hike in the bush), may be less of a problem than the fashion of so many kids to have the pack almost below the knees.

I wish we’d had backpacks for school in my day, where we often used two traditional schoolbags, 1.5 for books and 0.5 for sport gear.

]]> By: Amanda http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120323 Amanda Sun, 20 May 2007 09:14:15 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120323 I went to six different schools in NSW and only the last one which I started in in Year 9 had lockers. It's a better idea than flagpoles, that's for sure. I went to six different schools in NSW and only the last one which I started in in Year 9 had lockers. It’s a better idea than flagpoles, that’s for sure.

]]> By: skepticlawyer http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120322 skepticlawyer Sun, 20 May 2007 09:00:12 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120322 My (Aussie) high school had lockers for every student, with time in the morning, at morning tea and lunch to fetch books for the next two lessons (there were six 'periods' a day). I didn't realise how uncommon this was until I started teaching - only about half had a similar system. Some had no lockers at all and the kids had to drag books for five or six subjects to and from school every day. Madness. My (Aussie) high school had lockers for every student, with time in the morning, at morning tea and lunch to fetch books for the next two lessons (there were six ‘periods’ a day). I didn’t realise how uncommon this was until I started teaching – only about half had a similar system. Some had no lockers at all and the kids had to drag books for five or six subjects to and from school every day. Madness.

]]> By: Jonno http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120320 Jonno Sun, 20 May 2007 08:22:58 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120320 As someone with a bad back, who lugged a too heavy shoulder bag during years at high school, I STRONGLY support anything to protect young backs. Once broken it can't be mended, only managed. As someone with a bad back, who lugged a too heavy shoulder bag during years at high school, I STRONGLY support anything to protect young backs. Once broken it can’t be mended, only managed.

]]> By: Amanda http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120302 Amanda Sun, 20 May 2007 05:31:47 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120302 Something it would be sensible to adopt from the Seppos: school lockers, minimising what needs to be lugged back and forth. Although you wouldn't want to leave a laptop there overnight but schoolkids who have <em>laptops </em> can afford the physio bill anyway. Something it would be sensible to adopt from the Seppos: school lockers, minimising what needs to be lugged back and forth. Although you wouldn’t want to leave a laptop there overnight but schoolkids who have laptops can afford the physio bill anyway.

]]> By: Joshua Gans http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120292 Joshua Gans Sun, 20 May 2007 05:01:45 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/05/20/is-your-childs-backpack-too-heavy/#comment-120292 I think many schools are moving away from laptops and towards USB keys. I have watched more kids these days have 'wheeled bags.' That seems an improvement but will probably lead to some shoulder injury or something. I agree: the best solution, move to a system whereby there are no bags and kids bring lunch to school and that is that. The rest should be on a portable drive. I think many schools are moving away from laptops and towards USB keys.

I have watched more kids these days have ‘wheeled bags.’ That seems an improvement but will probably lead to some shoulder injury or something.

I agree: the best solution, move to a system whereby there are no bags and kids bring lunch to school and that is that. The rest should be on a portable drive.

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