| Author |
Message |
Megan Mitchell (Mem3931)
Junior Member
Username: Mem3931
Post Number: 5
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 2:18 pm: |       |
We are all aware of how dangerous obesity rates are getting. We know that something needs to be done about it but are all the actions being taken? In some school districts BMI is now being put on the students report cards. Do you think this should be done? Is it really proving a point? How can this be implemented into a "class"? |
Kelly Lynn Conron (Klc9793)
New member
Username: Klc9793
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 5:22 pm: | |
I think that putting a students' BMI on their report card is a great idea. Parents might know that their child is lazy or overweight, but when they open up their child's report card and see that the school has made a point of notifying them, they might take it more seriously. It is crucial to let parents know that their child is at risk for serious health problems in the future. As physical educators, we can only do so much in the classroom. What really will make the difference is if when the students go home, their parents promote being active also. |
Patrick Jansen (Pdgjansen)
Junior Member
Username: Pdgjansen
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 12:54 pm: | |
I don't think putting a child's BMI on their report card is a good idea and here's why. What if a child's BMI is high and another child notices their BMI and starts making fun of them. Now you have a child upset that other children know they are out of shape. Then the child will go home and tell their parents, or they may hide their report cards from their parents. |
Corinne Davelli (Corelli)
Junior Member
Username: Corelli
Post Number: 3
Registered: 9-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 1:42 pm: | |
I think it is a good idea to put a student's BMI on their report card. If they are obese this might help them understand the dangers of obesity. This could also be helpful in getting students to change their lifestyle before it is too late. The student could also explain BMI to their parents and possibly make a difference in their lifestyles. As horrible as it is to think of a student getting made fun of for being overweight, it is usually based on their appearance, not their BMI. I do not see any harm in posting their BMI on report cards. The worst thing that I can think of happening is that the student and/or parents will ignore it and not try to make positive changes. |
Dan Persse (Dpersse)
Junior Member
Username: Dpersse
Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 3:59 pm: | |
I think that it is essential that parents are aware of the health of their child, and BMI does just that. Like knowing a child's progress in Math, Reading and Writing why should health be left out of the equation. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, what good is being academically sound when your body is in bad health?
I place the score of thier BMI on a report card both Fall and Spring. I attach a double-sided letter explaining BMI is a TREND number, and have the healthy/unhealthy values listed on the back of this double-sided document. What Patrick suggests is inappropriate and very unlikely to occur...they won't know what their score means unless the parents share their score with them. We are responsible for PHYISICALLY EDUCATING students AND parents (and community). I can see the day when a parent(s) sue a school district for NOT telling them that their child was obese. Doing BMIs I had my 5th graders leave the elementary a couple of years back with 49% were in the 85% or higher.
Thanks for asking this question.
To view my BMI letter and report card(s) for 3rd, 4th and 5th go to: http://www.blaine.k12.wa.us/bes/bespe/ |
Jordan Wiegand (Jcw0969)
New member
Username: Jcw0969
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2008
| | Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 4:09 pm: | |
I think that putting BMI on students report cards could work out either really great or really bad. The good thing is that it might wake up the parents a little that something needs to be done or it could be bad. Students might get very discouraged by this and if they didnt really like Physical Education then you can only imagine what they would think of it now. So there are some good points and some bad. I think that it should just be up to the physical educator. It should be his/her opinion. |
Nicholas Daltorio (Daltorio)
Junior Member
Username: Daltorio
Post Number: 3
Registered: 3-2008
| | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 2:09 pm: | |
I think adding bmi scores on the report card is a good idea. As long as you educate the parents on what the numbers mean and what is a good score and what is a bad score. The bmi scores will let the parents see if their child is over or under weight with out saying the words overweight or to skinny. Most parents do not even know what bmi stands for so if a letter is sent home explaining bmi then i think giving the parents their child's results in O.K. |
Jennifer Lanke (Jlanke13)
New member
Username: Jlanke13
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2010
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 4:00 pm: | |
I think that by putting BMI on children's report cards, it will open awareness to not only the child, but the parents. If the child is above "normal" healthy ranges, then there is a reason behind it, and usually that stems from the parents. Sure some parents could get angry at this, angry because they don't want to hear someone associating them as being a bad parent. I think mostly it will open their eyes and kick them into gear, getting the parents on board with us to help! We are here to help children improve their health, and in order to do that parents and children need to know where they stand. As far as the discouraging the student, that's where the physical educator's job comes into play. We need to EXPLAIN BMI to students. Create an understanding in them, and then in every class provide ways to improve fitness. |
Matthew Bassett (Bassett1976)
Member
Username: Bassett1976
Post Number: 35
Registered: 1-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 10:23 am: | |
To be honest, placing a BMI score on a report card will come on deaf ears. Parents might see the number and only a small few would make a case to find out what that means or how it would change. BMI scores should be treated as confidential as students can be made fun of for their scores. I learned this lesson the hard way one of the first years I was teaching. (A student allowed other students to observe her height/weight).
Instead, I would talk with your school nurse (or the district contact) and come up with a plan to send home a letter. The letter should explain about BMI and how that a BMI score in (this range) can show health issues that are detrimental to the students health.
A few thoughts about this:
1) You will need to send a letter to everyone, not just those who are already overweight or obese. Students in the normal range should be taught ways to stay in the normal range.
2) Have a list(s) of ways to help turn things around. This could be a web page that is designed to work on either eating habits or exercise habits.
3) Explain what BMI is, most parents will not know and many students will "forget" when asked by a parent. |
