I'm sorry. It recently came to my attention that some states are requiring that schools weigh children and send home notes if the child is obese. First thought.. Don't they think you know if your kid is chubby? Second.. if the parent cares won't they be already working on the weight issue, and if they don't care will a note help anything? So, doesn't this just increase the child's discomfort regarding their weight?
What would You do??
2007-01-31 10:35:01 · 18 answers · asked by Theresa A 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
As a former school nurse, I was required to do height and weights on 'my' kids and chart them in their health file. I noticed that weight usually did not become an issue until about 3rd grade when I started charting some kids in the over 95 percentile. However, NEVER did I send a note home telling a parent that their child was obese! Like you said, either the parent knows and are working on it or they don't care, so what benefit does the child get from taking home a note saying they are fat??????
2007-01-31 14:09:37 · answer #1 · answered by mamabear1957 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand that this is a senstive issue and some people immediately get offended BUT let's think about it differently. Obesity is a problem that can lead to serious health issues. I think if the school sent home a note, they would only be trying to help with a HEALTH concern. In the same way they might send a note home saying a child's eyesight or hearing need to be checked. Don't you think concerned and involved parents would know their child might be having trouble seeing or hearing? Not always. So the school sends home a note. Rather than taking offense, consider that you and the school are supposed to be on the same side - that of your child's best overall interest.
2007-01-31 11:07:50 · answer #2 · answered by Siempre Sincera 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Honestly I don't think the school's should be sending home notes if your child is obese. I mean obviously the parents know and obviously the child knows. So why bring it out to everyone's attention. If the parents are concerned then they should be seeing a doctor and taking care of things at home. It shouldn't be the school's business if your child is overweight or not. What concern is it of theirs? I would say the child would be very uncomfortable if the school sent home a note saying they were obese... it could make them depressed or make it worse if they are already depressed. This could really hurt a child if they did this. If I was the parent in these state's that are requiring this then I would object and tell them to mind their own business.
2007-01-31 11:28:24 · answer #3 · answered by sleepyincarolina 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Obesity is classified by the federal government as a disease.
Would you want your school to notify you if they found out that your child had a disease?
Either way it really doesn't matter what the parent thinks as an individual. The school serves as a community organization to educate children and their parents about issues declared by the Department of Public Health to be issues of concern. The "issues" people have about weight do not take priority to the concerns of the public health. The deadliness of obesity is no different to any other types of disease or behaviors that the schools are required by the public to address that are not related to education.... such as dress, behavior, drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, crime etc.(all activities at schools). The school has become the sounding platform for the government to the parents.
As a teacher I wish they would form a new wing of the school to deal with all these issues and just let me teach to people who want to learn rather than having to deal with all these issues and teach people who don't.
2007-01-31 13:38:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, When a note is sent home from a school it brings attention to those parents who seem to not care. The school board has to pay attention and also has to report it to higher authority if nothing is done about it. If schools do not write the letters and/or have records of them doing so then they could be reported. If I received a letter saying my child was obese, the first thing I would do is; sit down and let my child know what has been done, then talk about certain foods she/he likes choose which is the healthiest and make those foods for my child. When your child is happy with the foods they eat they will compromise. At school they do get exercise in gym, but it won't hurt for you to do something fun and energitic with him/her after school also. My daughter and I go bowling atleast once a week. This counts as an exercise, because it works your muscles and you're not sitting the whole time.
2007-01-31 11:02:58 · answer #5 · answered by no.#1 Mom 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I would complain to the school board. Don't they take in consideration that it could be a disorder. Or maybe genetically bigger? And I agree every parent is well aware of their child's weight. I think that was supposed to be directed towards those parents you see on Maury, with kids that are like 200 lbs. Guess what most of those parents overfeed the kids. But to send a note home with the kid, have they no decency? I find that degrading and rude. And everyone wonders why depression is on the rise.
2007-01-31 11:39:27 · answer #6 · answered by cookie4me_04 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
So, the two boys are no longer at the instant bothering you, and your purpose is to triumph over them up for no reason different than so as which you may experience sturdy approximately your self and that they might experience susceptible? who's the bully now? have you ever seen the prospect that they could are turning out to be distinctive people for the reason that then? don't be a hypocrite; we've all executed issues in our previous that we experience sorry approximately. Are you asserting which you have have been given by no skill messed with others only for exciting? might you think of it honest if everyone you have ever executed incorrect to on your existence got here lower back and did a similar lower back to you? Do you fairly think of those people should be punished for something they did while they have been stupid young babies? Do you think of you have the splendid to be their choose and their jury?
2016-09-28 06:15:30 · answer #7 · answered by truesdale 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people eat that much that they loose the value of what is the amount of food needed to live. The paper should not seen as an offense but a little help to remind that there is obesity is not only a discomfort but an illness that can lead to die.
Probably that some people need a paper to realize that.
For the others like you, if you child is obese and you are aware of it nd trying to help with that, it's unusefull but they couldn't know.
2007-01-31 10:48:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
That is wrong on so many levels how can they pick kids out like that, it isn't fair they teach the kids not to pick on others but what are they doing by singling these ones out. It is up to the parents what they do not the school the schools job is to teach them not tease them which in an indirect way what they are doing. Good luck and God bless.
2007-01-31 12:56:43 · answer #9 · answered by chiefs fan 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The funny thing is that a child could be a little chubby and they would take that as being obese when they are not. I think its dumb like you said the parents know, and if they want to do something about it they will. A note is not going to help.
2007-01-31 11:40:51 · answer #10 · answered by angel01182 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋