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CNN Live Today

Do School Books Weigh Too Much?

Aired April 25, 2002 - 14:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To southern California right now, inside the schools there in San Diego, looking at a new way of standardizing textbooks. Not for their content, but for their weight. Reporter Nancy Aziz has that story now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NANCY AZIZ, XETV REPORTER (voice-over): Little Jamie's backpack weighs almost as much as she does these days. Why the hefty load? Heavy books, and lots of them. Now two state lawmakers are working to help kids lighten the load by setting limits on how much kids' textbooks can weigh.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The backpacks are getting to be heavy. And it's tough on kids' backs.

AZIZ: No one disputes that. Some texts weigh as much as 5 pounds apiece. But some say Jamie's weighty problem really isn't a matter for the state.

RICHARD RIDER, LIBERTARIAN PARTY: Well, I'm kind of looking forward to seeing those miniature highway weigh stations, as the kids go into the school. And writing tickets on the kids carrying -- who are too studious and carrying too many books.

AZIZ: Richard Rider of the Libertarian Party says the problem of heavy books is best handled locally. And that's what's been done at Marston Elementary, where the school took money it received for good test scores and bought two sets of books -- one for school, the other for home.

BETSY COOK, PRINCIPAL, MARSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: So that kids didn't have to carry their books back and forth between home and the classroom.

AZIZ: An that's the goal, a lighter burden for kids. After all, just being a kid, there are so many other heavy issues. Nancy Aziz, Fox 6 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Thanks to XETV again for that story.

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