"School Sends Girl Home With ‘Fat’ Letter: Skinny Third Grader Considered Overweight"- Madison Russell

 Gwendolyn Williams and her classmates received a "Fitnessgram" letter from their school in New York regarding their Body Mass Index and Weight. Although they were not supposed to open or read the letters, they did: and responses were not positive ones.

 Apparently, Gwendolyn and some of her friends were "overweight" or in Gwen's terms, "fat." Crying, doubting themselves, and analyzing of appearance soon followed.

 Angry, Gwendolyn's mother, Ms. Williams, contacted the school and received their condolences. However, this raised a lot of questions regarding the school system and its role in the health of its children. Ms. Williams believes that the school should somehow give letters such as these directly to the parents, so that children do not have to questions its contents and themselves in the process of handing the notices over to parents.



http://www.inquisitr.com/1266298/school-sends-girl-home-with-fat-letter-skinny-third-grader-considered-overweight/

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  First, we need to analyze the title of this article. "School Sends Girl Home With ‘Fat’ Letter: Skinny Third Grader Considered Overweight"

  Skinny is not a terrible word to use for the weight of the girl, but could there not be another word used in place of that one? Skinny, thin, tiny, small--fat, large, rotund, curvy...there are few words to describe the appearance of someone and the way they appear. It seems that each adjective used to describe someone has a negative connotation to it, and thus offends. We need to change this, stop getting so offended.

  Our society is too sensitive- at least regarding weight. Schools should not be telling the parents or children of their weight issues, that is what doctors are for. What about those who cannot afford the doctor? There are a number of resources in libraries and the internet alike for these kinds of things- if they even really matter. When a child's health is compromised, these things are appropriate. But until then, schools do not need to involve themselves. They need to teach.

 Maybe schools could teach people how to love themselves. That is far off, and will probably never happen, but self confidence is key in the world around us. Look like you know what you're doing, and people will usually respect that and leave you to do you.

 I digress.

 The science of body mass index is unknown to me- however, maybe those who analyze such things should do so only to notify people of potential health risks that sprout from their weight. We need to change the way the word "healthy" is used. The way "skinny" is used. The way "overweight" is used. Their connotations. Then, maybe a new generation of self-aware, self-confident individuals will grow to lead our country.


(...then maybe we can teach a few lessons in humility and not being too proud.)