Heavy books weighing our children down

IT IS good to see some schools now trying out iPads to replace heavy school books.

For the past few years it was terrible to see children hauling heavy rucksacks full of books to school, no doubt leading to future back problems.

It was rare to see a child even placing the straps over each shoulder, the casual one shoulder method carry being the only “cool” way.

A lower tech answer to the book weight problem might be to have the department insist all new books be loose bound in a standardised fashion. At the end of each class the teacher could then ask children to bring only whatever pages are needed for the next day or week, leaving the remainder at home. The child then simply carries each day, perhaps in one folder, all the pages from their varied text books as needed only. Of course, pages will go missing or get “eaten by the dog”. The solution to that is have the department acquire publishing rights and have each text book fully available online, ready to copy or consult. The child will be happier, back pain free and able to do as any child should with their school bag — throw it away with abandon.

Frank Hannon

Cloghroe

Co Cork