Melissa, 12, weighs in with online schoolbook campaign

SECONDARY school student Melissa O’Sullivan-Buckley is enjoying her mid-term break in more ways than one.

“It’s great not having to carry all those heavy books,” she says. “Last week I walked up to my Nan’s from school and my back was nearly broken.”

Melissa, 12, is a student at North Presentation School in Cork and although her home is just 10 minute’s walk away, she often finds the journey backbreaking.

“We use lockers at school but have to take some books home for study. Even when you have to carry only two or three books, they are still much too heavy.”

But, rather than wait for her teachers to provide all the answers, Melissa has started a campaign to alert publishers, schools and the Department of Education about the problem. Her Facebook site is already attracting interest and, with the help of her uncle, Tim Buckley, she has sent emails to schoolbook publishers.

Her answer to the problem is so simple that even an adult could understand it.

“I suggest that the printers and publishers should reduce the size of the font used to print the school books, as well as reducing or eliminating fancy styles and designs etc.”

Another answer might be to use bags with wheels but, according to Melissa, North Presentation doesn’t allow that. Melissa is a good student but finds the extra burden of hauling heavy books hard to bear. “I take my work seriously. My favourite subjects are Art and English.”

Melissa, the eldest of four who lives in Kilmore Road in the city’s northside suburb of Knocknaheeny, studies nine subjects, each needing at least two books. A lightweight herself, she finds carrying the oversized books excruciating and fears it could cause her problems later in life.

Melissa would also like others to help by offering realistic, serious ideas, for making the school bag lighter. See Facebook page Lighten my load 2011 — Campaigning for lighter schoolbags.