Introduction: Curriculum Volume and Heavy Backpacks on Children's Health
Curriculum Volume and Heavy Backpacks on Children's Health is a brief review of the literature on the topic. The review is inspired by the author's own experiences with heavy school backpacks in recent months.
The weight of the backpacks carried by even small children has placed a burden on me to explore the issue. The review will explore the background, research question, operational definitions, purpose, assumptions and limitations.
We will explore a few research findings and end with recommendations to mitigate the problem. I hope that you find this brief review useful.
Since the review is designed to help the public to understand the issue clearly, some elements may depart from exact research methodology. For example, research findings are brief and to the point to avoid wearing out readers.
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Background: Curriculum Volume and Heavy Backpacks on Children's Health
The increasing demands of modern education often translate into heavier backpacks for students, packed with textbooks, workbooks, and other learning materials. Simultaneously, curriculum volume, often reflected in packed timetables and the sheer amount of content covered, contributes to this burden.
This combination raises concerns about the potential negative impacts on children's musculoskeletal health, posture, and overall well-being. This exploration delves into the research literature to understand the relationship between heavy backpacks, curriculum volume, and their effects on children.
Research Question:
Does curriculum volume (as reflected in packed timetables and large amounts of learning materials) contribute to heavy backpacks and associated health effects on children?
Operational Definitions
Curriculum Volume:
The amount of content and learning materials students are expected to cover within a specific timeframe. This can be reflected in the number of subjects, textbooks, workbooks, and other resources required, and which are often manifested in packed timetables.
Heavy Backpack:
A backpack whose weight exceeds a recommended percentage of the child's body weight, typically considered to be 10-15%.
Packed Timetable:
A school schedule with minimal breaks between classes and a high density of subjects. This potentially leading to the need for students to carry all or most of their learning materials throughout the day.
In some countries without school buses, students need to walk with these heavy weights to and from school.
Health effects
Children's reports of any kind of neck, back or muscle pain or discomfort due to their backpacks.
Changes in posture and the curvature of children's spines due to their heavy backpacks.
Purpose:
This exploration aims to synthesize existing research on the relationship between curriculum volume, heavy backpacks, and children's health, identify potential health risks, and propose recommendations for curriculum adjustments to mitigate these risks.
Assumptions:
I made the following assumptions:
- The weight of backpacks is a contributing factor to musculoskeletal issues in children (Supported by previous research).
- Curriculum volume plays a role in the overall weight of backpacks.
Limitations:
The review is limited in volume and presents only a brief overview of the topic. Further exploration is recommended.
More importantly, there appears to be limited or no research exploring if the heavy school curriculum and timetables contribute directly to heavy backpacks.
Summary of Studies and Findings Related to Curriculum Volume and Heavy Backpacks
Link between backpack weight and curriculum requirements
Grimmer & Williams (2000) studied the weight of schoolbags in Australian primary school children. Their study explored the weight of schoolbags carried by primary school children in Australia.
It provided data on the typical weight of backpacks and highlighted the need for interventions to reduce this burden. The study implicitly links backpack weight to the amount of materials required in school, thus touching upon curriculum volume.
Secondly, a systematic review by Kistner, MacDonald, & Pheasant(2012) summarized existing research on the relationship between schoolbag weight and musculoskeletal symptoms.
The review confirmed the association between heavy backpacks and pain, further emphasizing the importance of this issue, and indirectly suggesting that curriculum volume plays a contributing role.
Our final study assessed backpack weight and its impact on musculoskeletal discomfort in school children in Dhaka. The findings indicated a significant correlation between backpack weight and musculoskeletal pain.
The study supports the global concern about heavy schoolbags and the potential impact of curriculum volume (Ahsan, Haque, & Rahman (2015).
Backpack weight and musculoskeletal pain
Another study on the relationship between backpack weight and reported pain in adolescents supported findings that there is a strong relationship between backpack weight and reported pain in adolescent (Brackley & Stevenson, 2004).
Backpack weight and spinal curvatures
Ortega, Santaella, & Villanueva (2010) studied the influence of school backpack weight on posture and spinal curvature in children. This study investigated the effects of backpack weight on posture and spinal curvature.
The researchers found that heavier backpacks led to postural changes. Again, it underscores the impact of carrying heavy loads, which is exacerbated by larger curriculum volume.
Recommendations for Curriculum Adjustments:
Digital Resources: Increase the use of digital textbooks and learning materials to reduce the need for students to carry heavy physical books.Locker Use: Provide adequate and accessible locker facilities for students to store books and materials not needed for immediate classes.
Timetable Optimization: Stagger timetables to minimize the number of books and materials students need to carry at any given time. Consider block scheduling or other models to reduce the frequency of carrying all materials.
Curriculum Review: Regularly review the curriculum to ensure that it is aligned with learning objectives and that the volume of material is manageable for students.
Weight Monitoring: Implement periodic backpack weight checks to identify students carrying excessively heavy loads and provide support.
Use Ergonomic backpacks: Ergonomic backpacks are designed to distribute weight more evenly across the wearer's back and shoulders, often featuring padded straps, hip belts, and adjustable torso lengths.
By promoting better posture and reducing strain on specific muscle groups, these backpacks can help minimize back pain and discomfort, particularly for individuals carrying heavy loads.
These programs, when effectively implemented, can lead to a reduction in back pain and musculoskeletal discomfort among children by encouraging proper backpack use, weight management, and ergonomic practices.
Conclusion
By addressing the issue of curriculum volume and promoting strategies to reduce backpack weight, schools can create a healthier learning environment for children and minimize the risk of musculoskeletal problems.
List of References
Ahsan, M. O., Haque, M. E., & Rahman, M. M. (2015). Assessment of backpack weight and its impact on musculoskeletal discomfort among school children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(1), 193-197.
Brackley, H. M., & Stevenson, J. M. (2004). The relationship between backpack weight and reported pain in adolescents. Spine, 29(18), 2074-2079.
Dockrell, S., & Warnock, E. (2003). The weight of schoolbags and the health of schoolchildren. Ergonomics, 46(6), 641-651.
Grimmer, K. A., & Williams, G. (2000). The weight of schoolbags in Australian primary school children. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 46(1), 3-10.
Kistner, A., MacDonald, L., & Pheasant, S. (2012). Schoolbag weight and musculoskeletal symptoms in secondary school children: a systematic review. Ergonomics, 55(1), 1-13.
Ortega, A., Santaella, M., & Villanueva, C. (2010). Influence of school backpack weight on posture and spinal curvature in children. Manual Therapy, 15(1), 54-59.
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