The Weight of It

My husband David was a fat kid. The kind of kid that was teased mercilessly at school and who, to this day, remembers every harsh and cruel word that was inflicted upon him because of the size of his body. I’ve heard too many of his sad stories not to feel compelled to send a letter to Annie’s school today concerning the systematic weighing of children.

But don’t feel bad for Dave, even before he blossomed into the hunk he is today, he still had a way with the ladies. Proof of it here at a visit to the Playboy Club in Chicago.



Janet Aravena
Principal
P.S. 187


June 21, 2006


Dear Ms. Aravena,

My daughter Annie Kosh came home Tuesday and shared some disturbing information. She said that the children in her class had their height checked and their weight taken and that the scale was in full view of all the kids in the class. The women who took the information told each child the results in a voice that could be heard by others. Annie said that it made several kids uncomfortable and one, in particular, who was relentlessly teased by his classmates, was left in tears. Annie is a “normal” weight, that is, when she stands on a scale, the number is “acceptable.” However, this is not true for all children, and as you know, the stigma attached to being overweight can be deeply painful, damaging a child’s self-esteem for years to come. In lieu of that, a child’s height and weight should be taken discreetly and with respect. I urge you to make sure that this happens in the future. I'm certain you'd agree, P.S. 187 should not only be a place that educates, it should also be a place where the privacy, dignity and psychological well-being of all your students are fiercely protected.

Sincerely,

Katie Bowen-Kosh
Student: Annie Kosh Class 3-309