Apparently schools in some states are sending ‘fat letters’ home to parents warning them that their children are obese. The determination is made on the Body Mass Index (BMI) and is included with other information regarding the child’s overall fitness. Some parents are angry about the letters, claiming they unnecessarily stigmatize their children; others feel the letters help remind them to urge their kids to eat healthily and exercise, particularly when the letters are accompanied with information on nutrition. So far there isn’t any evidence that these letters do anything to change either the eating or exercising habits of the children who receive them. As a school teacher I regularly graded children on their academic performance and occasionally had to call parents to inform them that their children were rude. So, we already accept that our schools test and report on the intelligence and social behavior of children; is it not proper that schools report on the physical status of children as well? Or is this simply another case of a state agency reaching too far? Your thoughts?
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 07:39:43 +0000