CHILDREN in Italy will not be allowed into school if they are carrying satchels which exceed 15 per cent of their body weight. The new rules, outlined in a circular sent to all schools by the education ministry, follow years of debate on the damage caused to spines of children who have to carry heavy bagsevery day.
Recognising that the ban will not be easy to enforce, the circular provides an escape clause for heads by allowing that “occasional and minor infringements can be tolerated where journeys are relatively short and the pupil’s frame and muscularity indicate a robust constitution”.