ABOUT THE BACK PACK (and lockers etc)

This issue has been the subject of MUCH discussion.
For detailed information on the Back Packs, Read on... and on...
(extracted from the Lawley News - Issue No 6 - October 2007)

HISTORY OF BACK PACK

In 2007, concerns were raised regarding the weight of back packs being carried by students at Mount Lawley Senior High School.

Do students have to carry heavy back packs?
What are the issues with spinal damage?
Why does the school not have lockers?
Is there an alternative?

The P&C (in consultation with the School Couincil, the Student Council and members of staff) looked long and hard at these issues. A multi-prong approach was adopted with the P&C sourcing the most appropriate back pack and the school buying class copies of heavy text books to reduce the carrying load. Students and parents can also help to ensure students are not carrying unnecessary weight (see below).

The Recommended Back Pack - Available from the Uniform Shop

This is a good, cost-effective investment in your child's spinal health. Guaranteed for 3 years, it should last throughout the student's time at MLSHS.

Features of a Good Back Pack

Research conducted by the Centre for Allied Health Research at the University of South Australia identified a link between heavily loaded back packs and postural change which may lead on to neck and back pain. The design of a back pack can play a significant part in lessening the stress on the back and needs to include the following features:

Wide, padded shoulder straps for maximum comfort
Adjustable shoulder straps which allow the bag to be carried at the optimal height
A buckle closure mechanism that eliminates the "sag factor"
Two compartments to help distribute the weight of the contents
A waist strap that allows the load to be kept close to the body
Side straps which draw the load towards the back and stabilize the contents when the bag is not fully loaded

LOCKERS

The school acknowledges that the use of lockers is one possibility toward overcoming the issue of heavy backpacks but has concerns about the provision of lockers. Research has shown that banks of lockers encourage vandalism and tend to promote bullying and theft. Most students also spend longer carrying their backpack to and from school than they do carrying their backpack around school, and the provision of a locker does not overcome this issue. The school feels it is important to address the issue by decreasing the amount carried in the backpack and providing education as to the correct way to wear it. This approach will provide benefits to students for the full time they wear the backpack, not just the time they are at school.

What is the School Doing about Heavy Back Packs?

Mount Lawley Senior High School acknowledges the concerns of parents regarding this issue and both the administration and teaching staff are fully committed to working with the school board and P&C to resolve this issue. The school has committed significant resources to investigate possible strategies and develop appropriate school policies. The school has also:

Identified "heavy book" subjects which significantly add to the weight of textbooks students are carrying to and from school and has commenced a plan to purchase class sets of books to reduce this problem
Committed thousands of dollars to further roll-out of class sets of books over the next three years
Educated students as to what needs to be carried to school each day, and students are being encouraged to clear their bags of unwanted material frequently. This also encourages the development of the student's organisational skills
Acknowledged the role of parents in the education process and provides an education sheet to assist parents, and encourages parents to ring if they are unsure what needs to be carried to school on a daily basis
Planned an education evening for incoming middle school parents
Included back care information in the Health Education program
Printed this Information in the Student Diary for easy access by both students and parents

How Parents and Students can Help

The following advice is offered to students and parents to minimise the contents of a student's backpack. Parents are asked to reinforce these expectations with their children.

Careful monitoring of the contents of backpacks is required to ensure that students do not carry unnecessary items.

In particular, students should make a habit of putting their completed work into separate files at home each week, as by the end of term the weight of accumulated paper can be quite significant.

At the same time each week students should clear any accumulated "junk" from their bag, as this can also add up to a surprising amount of weight to be carried. Minimising the contents of the backpack will ensure that when selected texts, one-off items and library books are added, that these do not result in an overly heavy backpack.

What Should be Packed into a Middle School Backpack?

Daily:

One file, with dividers, into which current work for all subjects is placed
One pencil case
One school diary
One lunch box - if bringing lunch from home
600ml water bottle, carry to school empty and fill from water coolers at school

As Needed:

Sport uniform on days when Physical Education is timetabled
LOTE work book, if used, on days when your Language is timetabled
Music Journal (Music students only) on days when Music is timetabled

The Middle School structure and approach is designed to minimise the need to carry heavy bags as a hire system for text books is operated and there are shelves in each Community space where bags can be stored during the day.

What Should be packing into a Senior School Backpack?

Daily:

One file for each subject timetabled on that day
One pencil case
One school diary
One lunch box - if bringing lunch from home
600ml water bottle, carry to school empty and fill from water coolers at school

As Needed:

Sport uniform on days when Physical Education is timetabled
LOTE work book, if used, on days when Language is timetabled
Music Journal (Music students only) on days when Music is timetabled
Textbooks for subjects timetabled on that day, excluding subjects where a class textbook is provided

How to Wear a Backpack to Prevent Back/Neck Stress

It is essential that a backpack is worn correctly to obtain the full benefits - a great backpack will lose its effectiveness if it is not worn correctly.

The backpack should always be worn on both shoulders to help distribute the weight evenly
Always ensure zips are closed
The shoulder straps should be adjusted so that the bag hangs just below the shoulders and the bottom of the bag rests on the pelvis
The waist strap should be fitted firmly around the waist - the heavier the load or the greater the distance to travel, the more important this is
Items should be stored in the backpack to distribute the weight evenly
Heavier items should be stored in the compartment closest to the back, lighter items in the front or outer compartment
Pointy or bulky items should not be stored against the back (even with padding)
The adjustable side straps should be used to pull the load in tight, to prevent sagging of the backpack
The amount carried in a backpack should be no more than 10% of the body weight
All unnecessary items should be removed from the bag frequently to decrease the load carried
The backpack should be lifted with a straight back, using the thigh muscles. The backpack should be lifted with both hands and held close to the body. Slip an arm through one shoulder strap, and then the other