The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-13
PUPILS SPINES IN DANGER!
AT LEAST so THE CITY SUPERIN-
TENDENT FEARS,

since the last report OF the Ivy super
intendent OF Schools has come out some
folks have been pointing out that there Is
an opportunity for another money making
ndustry-that Of manufacturing KNAPP
sacks for school children. The mission
proposed for the ltnapsack Is to prevent
children from growing up lopsided or with
a crooked back in consequence of carrying
books to and from school on one arm,
In the report referred to the City Super
intendent deprecates the carrying OF school
books to and from school on the arm and
suggests the use Of a modified form OF
knapsack such as is used in European
schools for carrying school books The
practice OF carrying books on the arm
Is stated to be factor 10 be considered
in the many cases OF spinal curvature
which develop largely during grammar
school years.
The superintendent had observations
relating 10 this subject made in seventy
three elementary schools scattered over the
city. and representing 40 classes, COM
posed OF pupils of each sex and all grades
There we're sixteen observers employed
Some Of the facts cleaned by them are as
follows;
The average number of books required
to be taken home is slightly above four
the number carried varying from three to
seven and representing weight OF from
~ 10 qL pounds. with an average OF 1--WE
pounds. Sixty-nine per cent. Of the pupils
carry their books on the left arm thereoy
bending the body sideways in proportion
TO the weight carried.
Necessity for home study. the safety OF
books, which requires that they must pe
removed from the school when the hmld-
ing is used for an evening school ana the
pride OF Youngsters who like TO appear III
the streets with as many books as possible
are given as reasons for carrying the DOCKS
home.
NV own tentative conclusions, says
the CITY Superintendent, ARE that OWING
to the fact that in grammar school yea s
the spine il having its chief growth ana
development, it is then peculiarly suscep-
tible to any constant tendency away from
the normal: and that the carryingo1 from
Ave to nine pounds for periods VARYING
from five minutes TO half an hour daily Is
n serious factor in the promotion OF curva-
ture OF the spine
-This condition obtains most frequently
in children Of weak musculature. 1t Is the
proud, ambitious. nervous girl who is espe
cially susceptible and who il most apt 10
carry more books than is necessary
Then the Superintendent suggests some
,-emedies for these conditions which in brie
are a popularizing of the two dose system
already in use in some schools, and which
means that books are taken to and
from achool AZ noon as VOL as in the morn
inc and afte moon; care on the part OF teach l.
ers to advise pupils TO carry their pook7
on either arm alternately ana 70 IeShaIn
those who carry unnecessary mate rlal tne
emnloyment OF some device in schools USED
- IL waning Inv which il will be possible
for day pupils to store their belongings SO
that thev need not all be carried PACK anu
forth every day; and last but not least tle
modified knapsack 80 ,,.,,t,
Pending the production o. VIC Fht l, ,,.N
anxious parents and guardians VINO nave
read the SUPERINTENDENT report may
Quiet their fears and take courage DS re.
membering. as an optimistic hothel VI
n large family pointed out. tnat ever s ~
publc schools were frat heard OF chluItIl
have trudged to them books on arm NV
as vet Americans are by no mean con-
sidered n nation Of crooked backs mere
nrn also Dhysicians who seem lncilneu
! 10 make light OF the danger threatening
the rising generations; uot.ooe
For instance. after DR.. Edward W al ac'
/
| ing books home part OF the Ilty 0uptIl!n'
| tendent's reports he remarked reihli'is'
u myself carried seven or eight books
! heavy ones, when ] was hd-csIrleC
! them quite a long distance. too ana WIZ
| getting crooked, either.
"A healthy youngster OF OF
| can carry. | would say. twenty ponnd'
! for short distance and IN any poH,lol
| he pleases without injuring nus spine an
certainly he ought to be able 10 90 una
much twice n day. -
III is also a well known fact that norma
! child OF 5 years can carry without uetn
ment 10 himself anything he can PICK NJ
and sling over his shoulder. a child Wh'
is not normal, who is predlsposea 70 uis
ease. will not attempt to lit or shhe any
thing he can't comfortably carry
There are boys and girls IN TINS citl
| With such weak spines that they can L. am
don't try to, carry more than two pounds
hut such cases will not be found In IN
| nrblic schools or any school LOT ma
matter. If they are not in a hospltai
they are kept at home
sNowadays the New York public school
are planted so thickly that the distanc
betwean them and the homes OF the pupil
ia seldom mere than few blocks. mere
lore oven supposing that school book
arc carried for the most part on the sam
arm I hardly think the practice woul'
or could beget a crooked spine.
Laughing around heavy babies an
carrving scuttlea OF coal up steep flight
Of stairs and heavy baskets OF laundr
have injured many frail child's back. i ar
sure remarked woman physlc'an %h
has worked much in the tenements Bu
when il comes to question oil carrying
few school books we'll must confess
al n