Fears pupils are skipping lunches and obsessively counting calories have forced one leading girls' school to ban Fitbit watches.
The popular health monitor and watch tracks users' steps and calories burnt, urging people to do at least 10,000 steps a day.
But Stroud High School in Gloucestershire has become increasingly concerned about the trendy gadget's impact on students' mental health , which they say has left girls skipping lunches.And if that doesn't work, what else do you have in mind? Forcefeeding?
Deputy headteacher, Cindi Pride, said: "There have been many reports about how excessive use of social media can have a negative impact on mental health, particularly for girls.
"And the situation is getting worse. It can have a real impact on self-esteem with people comparing themselves to others.
"We are also banning FitBits and smartwatches.
"These monitor the number of calories burned and we found that some girls would monitor the number of steps they had taken and the number of calories they had used.
"If they didn't feel they had taken enough steps in the morning they wouldn't eat lunch."That's up to them. If they are that stupidly self-obsessed (and let's face it, what teenage girl isn't at that age?) then so what if they skip lunch?
The percentage of girls who develop a serious mental disorder like anorexia is minuscule, despite the shrieking of the progressive press. What's really worrying you, the prospect of being sued?
She added: "We don't need our girls to be counting calories.
"They are young women who are fit and healthy and they do exercise and PE and do not need to be obsessed with steps of calories."If they are fit & healthy, why are you worrying unnecessarily? It's a teenage fad. They'll grow out of it.
Must be an even numbered week.
ReplyDeleteIf it was odd numbered, they'd be screeching about da obesity, and demanding the right to strip search pupils for concealed chocolate bars.
Much though I hate him, Richard Littlejohn got it right: it's never about [excuse d'jour], it's about showing you who's boss.
How about teaching them to read and write and leaving the rest to the parents?
ReplyDeleteMost ladies i see on my travels have never skipped a meal, a lot of land whales about
ReplyDeleteThat is the problem with these interfering nannying busybodies though isn't it? They swing back and forth like a windsock. At one stage they were sending out letters warning against damaging teenagers self esteem with 'fat shaming' while at the same time sending out fat shaming letters to any kids whose BMI was deemed to be too high.
ReplyDeleteI have a GPS multisport watch that has a fitbit type step counter on it. I usually do my ten thousand steps each day but I treat it as a bit of fun really, I'm not going to start going without food if one day I only manage six thousand. Everyone involved appears to be exhibiting a complete lack of common sense.
Stonyground
Maybe they could donate their lunches to some younger kids who are getting 'free' meals? Save the taxpayer a couple of bob
ReplyDelete"... excessive use of social media can have a negative impact on mental health..."
ReplyDeleteSeems like cause and effect are being confused here: excessive use of social media is a result of delicate/damaged/bad mental health, not its cause.
Whenever I happen to chat with young ladies-which isn't almsot never these days- I make a point of mentioning that at their age i had a 44" waist. When the inevitable question comes, and it always does, I answer simply 'Oh i discovered cigarettes and the weight magically just melted off' (which is almost the truth, i just fail to mention the alcohol, chips, drugs, sex and wall to wall industrial grade martial arts training).
ReplyDeleteWalking is the real danger:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4115013/teenage-girl-raped-twice-birmingham-witton-station-villa-park/
Squires
ReplyDeleteGood job it wasn't a serious matter like a nasty look or - horror of horrors - a physical disarrangement of a hijab.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/30/man-charged-rape-14-year-old-girl-station-birmingham/
ReplyDelete"Must be an even numbered week.
ReplyDeleteIf it was odd numbered, they'd be screeching about da obesity..."
Spot on! When they whinge about how stressful the job is, I always think about stories like these.
"Most ladies i see on my travels have never skipped a meal, a lot of land whales about"
Very little signs of anorexia in the ladies of colour that attend the Southend schools!
"I have a GPS multisport watch that has a fitbit type step counter on it. I usually do my ten thousand steps each day but I treat it as a bit of fun really..."
Much as I do with PokemonGo? ;)
"Maybe they could donate their lunches to some younger kids who are getting 'free' meals? Save the taxpayer a couple of bob"
A capital idea! :D
"Seems like cause and effect are being confused here: excessive use of social media is a result of delicate/damaged/bad mental health, not its cause."
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
"...I answer simply 'Oh i discovered cigarettes and the weight magically just melted off' (which is almost the truth, i just fail to mention the alcohol, chips, drugs, sex and wall to wall industrial grade martial arts training)."
That's going to get you locked up one day!
"Good job it wasn't a serious matter like a nasty look or - horror of horrors - a physical disarrangement of a hijab."
Boy, I bet the perpetrators would be caught a lot quicker!