Officials hope to reduce textbook weights for students

NASHVILLE (AP) — State education officials are studying ways to lighten the load on students forced to carry backpacks that weigh as much as 15 percent of their body weight.

Options being considered for the upcoming school year include purchasing separate textbooks for students to keep at home, eliminating some homework, limiting the size of backpacks and relying more on online textbooks.

The potential for injury by carting around stacks of heavy textbooks has brought the issue to the forefront. Early next month, education officials plan to circulate a proposed policy for reducing heavy backpacks and textbooks.

“We’re just finishing up the study,” said Debra Owens, deputy director of the state Board of Education. “At this point, we’re looking at different options for different schools. The overarching concern is not causing harm to children.”

In studying the issue, Tennessee education officials reviewed national research on textbook weights and medical research showing the health risks associated with carrying heavy backpacks.

The state board is expected to address the issue at its August meeting, but could stop short of banning all textbooks over a particular size or weight. It is expected to recommend some weight limits, but districts would not be forced to follow them.

“We will include recommended weights for individual grade levels,” Owens said. “Obviously, a first-grader can’t carry as much as an 11th-grader.”

The changes will not work for every system. For example, a school with plenty of computers could switch to mostly online textbooks, while a school with limited computer access would not be able to do that.

Pat Barton, director of instruction for the 1,300-student Manchester City Schools, said it will be difficult to make changes that cost money until the district’s budget is increased.

“We’re fighting tough, tough budgets right now,” he said.

John O’Dell, chairman of the state textbook commission, said he hopes the changes will address problems that lawmakers and educators have been discussing for several years.

“It’s an issue that’s not going to go away,” he said.

———

Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com