Comments on: Loco parentis: schools to send parents “your kid’s too fat” notes

By: Legal trends to watch in 2011 | The Chicago Injury Lawyer

Legal trends to watch in 2011 | The Chicago Injury Lawyer — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:10:25 +0000

[…] the same vein, Overlawyered recently reported that Flagstaff, Arizona schools will begin to weigh all students and send home warning notes to the […]

By: Smart Dude

Smart Dude — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:55:41 +0000

Lets weigh the teachers and administrators of this delightful school district and make this public information.

How many of those living off the fat of the land are calorically challenged, at taxpayer expense?

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:43:13 +0000

That’s very nice of the school to send home those types of notes when they’re SO well-known for serving these same children low-fat, low-calorie meals that are packed with fresh fruits and vegetables.

By: Melvin H.

Melvin H. — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:30:56 +0000

“Overweight, marginally overweight, or underweight”, huh?
Let’s see, what would be considered any of the above?
One can also say goodbye to football linemen, gymnasts, and maybe basketball players and swimmers.
And, keep in mind that the goalposts for such as what determines diabetes and “normal” weight have been moved several times in the last 20-30 years.

By: nevins

nevins — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:55:01 +0000

Too bad they are using BMI (junk science) that has already been discredited by the Mayo Clinic

Ian
can you elaborate on a source claiming BMI as junk. Mayo Clinic seems quite happy to use BMI on its web pages.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bmi-calculator/NU00597
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/DS00698/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis

By: gitarcarver

gitarcarver — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:18:35 +0000

Instead, it’s just a notification that something’s going on and it should change. You know, kinda like how bad grades on report cards work.

I don’t think the analogy is a good one at all, Jeff. The report card shows how a kid is doing in another environment that is not seen constantly by his parent. One cannot make the same claim for an overweight child. The child is seen by their parents every day.

I can see all sorts of issues with this. First is that the kids that receive notices will be known and kids being kids, will start ti attack and ridicule the heavier children. Nothing like a schoolboard setting a kid up for ridicule, bullying and harassment.

Secondly is that I am having problems with the idea of a private medical record being given to the school district so they can send out the notices. So much for privacy.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:45:49 +0000

Too bad they are using BMI (junk science) that has already been discredited by the Mayo Clinic

By: Small government guy

Small government guy — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:54:41 +0000

Do you win a Michelle Obama salad bar if you are above 50%?

By: mojo

mojo — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:48:32 +0000

Can I send back a “Your Administrator is too stupid” notice?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:21:25 +0000

Cut the bogus “kids who fail to conform to desired weight ranges” nonsense. As someone who is actually in Arizona right now, I can tell you that a tremendous percentage of Latino and Native American kids are overweight to the point that they are developing serious illnesses at a young age. It isn’t healthy and the problem is that since it’s so common, people have lost sight of what’s considered “normal.” There is no disciplinary component to the weight (a proverbial “lose weight or else” threat). Instead, it’s just a notification that something’s going on and it should change. You know, kinda like how bad grades on report cards work.