Incorrectly worn backpacks mean lopsided kids

I would have loved the opportunity to lug my high school materials in a backpack as opposed to the ubiquitous Globite (“School bags weigh heavily on minds and shoulders”, February 19). The Messel science textbook, Coroneous maths book, English novel and a few bulky folders ensured a steady procession of kids walking lopsided daily into high school campuses. Of course, we looked forward to Tuesday and Thursday as you could counterbalance the load with the old TAA or Ansett shoulder bag holding one’s footy or cricket gear for after school training.
Peter Snowden, Orange

It was interesting to see an analysis of what is carried in the average school bag and what it weighs. As the illustration showed, students typically carry their backpacks on only one shoulder. It’s apparently “uncool” to wear backpacks on both shoulders, the way they are intended to be worn. Wearing a backpack this way places a strain not only on one shoulder but affects the whole spine. Definitely the way to set up future back problems.
Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights

Did the Gonski review factor in funding for school lockers? If not, it now seems that students attending a public school are more likely than their private school counterparts to finish their education with muscle and joint irritation from carrying heavy school bags. The playing field between the education systems seems to become less even on a regular basis.
Lyn Savage, Coogee

Any children I have seen wearing a backpack, has worn it over one shoulder, not on their back. This concerns me as it will make the child lopsided and so bad for their posture.
Jean Kingdon, Wahroonga

Voice campaign needs charisma

We do need a sophisticated marketing strategy for the Voice and an army of grassroot supporters (“Gut instinct v political debate”, February 19). But to counter the loudmouth anti-Voice operators on various media platforms we also need vocal, high-profile advocates. We can’t leave it to the politicians to form our collective will on this. The Voice is calling out for genuinely charismatic champions – and also someone like Simon Holmes a Court behind the scenes to fund and galvanise action. To all the movers and shakers in our community, please get on board.
Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Ed Coper seems to expect a change to our Constitution (major or minor doesn’t matter – size doesn’t guide the Constitution’s sacred cow status), without what he calls incitement and division, when those elements will necessarily accompany any move by anybody at any time to exact any Constitutional change. To do it quietly, with little dissension, and a virtual shutdown of debate via deviously ignoble inference, would be Constitutional change by stealth.
Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield

Let’s target human infestation

The rat infestation has been eliminated from Lord Howe Island, allowing for the recovery of native species, especially birds (“How Australia rescued an island plagued by 200,000 rats”, February 19). We should also do something about the much larger human infestation of the Australian mainland that is causing a world record rate of extinction of native species.
Geoff Black, Caves Beach

Free popcorn and a choc top?

Why are taxpayers expected to subsidise film producers to work here (“If we build huge studios, will cinema blockbusters come?”, February 19). I am sceptical of the benefits to Australia from subsidising big companies. No government has done a balance sheet showing money spent and real income from the subsidy. It is all guesswork designed to make a play for my taxes. Perhaps the film producers should offer free film nights to compensate taxpayers for our largesse.
Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield

Growth in the film industry in Australia can bring nothing but good . However, big blockbuster films should not be the only aim. It is the films of the quirky, the intimate understanding of our past and futuristic post-apocalyptic possibilities, with a unique Australian flavour that has been most memorable in Australian film making. By all means grab the blockbusters for revenue, but it is important to reinvest in the industry to deliver a bit of ourselves to the world in a quiet film space. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Gratitude to the surgeon

Reading this article made me realise how blessed we are to have had such a gifted surgeon as Dr Shun working in public health (“The surgeon who pioneered children’s transplants, and inspired Grey’s Anatomy”, February 19). As a community we are certainly glad that he arrived on our shores and made a supreme effort to give back to his new country. Bravo.
Pam Cameron, Rozelle

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