Weight Grade on Report Cards Angers Parents (Wyoming School District Uses BMI to Grade)

Four times during the school year in Campbell County, Wyo., the school sends report cards home. Anxious parents and worried students are provided with the typical grading categories -- academic performance, attendance and a work ethic score.

But here in Gillette, there's an additional grade that has some families up in arms.

It's called the body mass index, or BMI, a calculation based on height and weight that indicates whether your kid is too fat. The school chooses the word "overweight." If your child scores too high, it's the fitness equivalent of a bad grade. When Taylor Barbour came home with a BMI score of 32, seven points over the "normal range," his mother, Rosie Barbour, was none too pleased. Her anger was directed not at her 12-year-old son but at the school.

"It just doesn't have any place in the school," said Barbour. "It's fine if you want to teach them how to eat healthy, and make better choices during health class, but I don't think giving them BMI on their report card" is the answer.

'The Strong Kids Club' On top of that, the school district sent a letter in the mail inviting Taylor -- and 172 other kids with high BMI scores -- to join an exercise program three times of week. It's called the Strong Kids Club and came free to his family, with a promise that "it will be fun."

(is ONLY the personal opinion of wintertime.)(Gabz)

Yes, it is my personal opinion that homeschooling is the superior way to raise a child.

(Homeschooling is great, no doubt about it, HOWEVER, it is not opinion, but rather FACT, it is not for everyone.}(Gabz)

I completely agree. Those from less than ideal families should institutionalize their children.

(Every parent makes the decision they feel is in the best interest of their family in regard to the education of their children.)(Gabz)

Those “feelings” are not always correct, and parents decisions can be based on imperfect or wrong information and data.

(There is no such thing as “perfection” in the choices, just what the parents have determined to be best.)(gabz)

Just because a parent has determined that it is “best”, does not mean that it is in reality “best”.

(Someus choose public school, some of us choose private school, and some of us choose homeschool.........NONE of us are wrong.)(gabz)

If decisions are based on invalid information, parents can and do make wrong decisions regarding their children’s educations.

Wintertime... maybe if you didn't come across in the way you do...such as this post you made to me when I said my child couldn't be in a boot camp type training for children, remember it?

It wouldn’t be fair to kids like her that are not able to do those things. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Fair. Fair. Fair. Can’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Instead, have all the other children unfit because one child has asthma and can’t participate. ( sigh!)

There are ways to get your point without coming across as you are. You've made some very good points on other posts to me on homeschooling. So have many, many people on FR. So many that I intend to do it all summer to prove to my husband that it can be done. I think theres no point in everyone getting mad. I think that there are fat children everywhere. I happen to have child who is a picky eater that won't eat meat. She is tall & thin. She is in a public school that forbids sugar to be the first ingredient in any snack or lunch sent to school. I have many issues with the public schools however not everyone can homeschool. Since I am a stay at home mom I think I can and I know I can get advice here. I think thats what it should be all about not fighting. If any of you all want to get mad at me thats fine by me. I just think the fighting is silly. Personally I think some fat children are the product of parents who have no wish to take the time to feed their children healthy diets. Some children are chubby as little children then grow and lose the weight. Some children are going to be big boned and heavier then others. I do believe more parents should take the time to go out and play with their children. I see more parents taking their children to sports then actually taking the time to play with them. IMO thats important. Anyway I wish the mean comments weren't needed. Aren't we all just concerned about what is best for our children? ~P~

BTW...regarding hunger pangs.

I personally found that whey protein shakes mixed with water (90-130 calories) keep the pangs away.

Boiled egg whites, and almonds.

A shake in the morning, a shake at night.

It’s the protein of course.

I just lost a bunch of weight and I’m not hungry because of the protein.

I love the books written by David Kirsch!

“I completely agree. Those from less than ideal families should institutionalize their children.”

Again.
No respect for anyone else’s choice.

You either do not KNOW how to state your opinion so that it is unoffensive, or you just are clueless that it IS offensive, or you really do NOT care that you ARE BEING offensive.

Since 1 of these 3 possibilities is true, and none of them will probably ever change, it is probably pointless to bother.

But, like I said in my post to Scotswife, I probably don’t have enough brains to let it go.

Unfortunately in some districts they do. e.g. Broward County recognizes obesity as a problem and some principals don’t want to hire overweight teachers. It is unfortunate that some people have become so preoccupied with appearance. Really it should be looked on as discrimination if they won’t hire a teacher due to the teacher’s weight. Unfortunately though being large isn’t a protected class.

let’s consider she’s cranky because she’s always hungry.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Pure personal insult that adds nothing to the debate.

But,,,being a thick skinned conservative/libertarian I’m not going to send this to the administrator.

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