Absolutely shocking!
Parents in Melrose Massachusetts voiced their outrage after recently finding out that the school subjected their children to humiliating BMI tests.
According to the parents the primary school aged children of Roosevelt Elementary School had these exams done in the hallway of the school in front of all the other pupils.
During an interview with Boston News mum Kim Lyall, whose 10-year-old daughter attends the school, said she was horrified at what her daughter was put through;
“I was floored. I’m not one to typically be speechless, and I was speechless.
My daughter was subjected to humiliation being weighed in front of her classmates.
Her privacy was violated. This was done in front of her peers. This was done without my consent.
I feel like bullying at this age, a lot of it stems from being overweight, being underweight.”
Kim and the other parents say they were not informed of any such exam and that their consent was not obtained before their children were tested.
Since the parents of the school voiced their disgust at not only not being informed that their children would undergo a medical exam, but also that it was done without any privacy, Anthony Chui, Health and Human Services Director for the City of Melrose released this statement;
“I’d like to express my sincerest apologies to the Melrose families who did not receive notice of the BMI Screening that took place at the Roosevelt school on March 8, and therefore were unable to have the opportunity to opt their child out of the screening.
We have spoken to the staff member who conducted the screening and can confidently state that there was no breach of confidential BMI data by any nursing staff.
The Health and Human Services Department will continue to work with the School administration and nursing staff to address these privacy concerns in addition to any concerns around the wellbeing of our students to assure this does not happen in the future.”
