Some parents say their children were embarrassed in front of classmates.
By Lindsay Tice
Staff Writer

AUBURN – Some parents of Webster Intermediate School students are angry that the school’s gym teacher tested their children to see how fat they were.

And then embarrassed and upset the kids when she gave them their results.

“It didn’t give any explanation,” said Jane Clavet of the slip of paper her sixth-grader received. “It just gave a number. You’re fat or your not.”

The furor began about two weeks ago when gym teacher Mary Jo Hodgkin measured students’ body mass index, or body fat compared to height and weight, using new laser equipment that the school system had purchased through a grant.

“In effort to, you know, increase awareness,” said Principal Dick Brouillette, who said his school has been working to promote healthy lifestyles among students.

Such body mass tests are recommended by the Maine Department of Education.

But many Webster parents said they knew nothing about the test until their kids brought home a printout that they said designated them obese, average or underweight.

Some of the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders were in tears when they told their parents about it. Some were confused or suddenly worried about their weight.

Word spread quickly to parents.

A few days after the test, at least three parents had written or called the principal. Others said they complained to the superintendent of schools.

Parents agreed that kids should be educated about healthy eating, exercise and obesity. But they were angry that the test was given without their permission and that their children were handed sensitive exam scores in front of their classmates.

“They’re not dumb, they know everybody’s being tested for the same thing,” Clavet said. “If I had wanted it done I would have had it done at the doctor’s office. Why put them through that in school?”

Clavet said she’s taught her daughter to eat healthy and stay active, not obsess about her weight.

“I don’t know what the gym teacher said when she handed her the chart,” she said.

Other parents were concerned about the accuracy of the test.

Pam Leary said her 100-pound fifth-grader was told he had 30 percent body fat and was moderately obese. Leary, who has experience in exercise physiology and has done body mass index testing professionally, believes her athletic son is actually average or under average for weight.

“I had a pretty good idea what he should be,” said Leary, who called the gym teacher last week to question the accuracy of the test. “I am concerned about the misinformation.”

Hodgkin, the school’s gym teacher, did not return phone calls from the Sun Journal.

The school’s principal said he was surprised by the controversy.

“We just thought it was something that would be of service to them,” Brouillette said.

He believes the body mass index test was accurate and informational. He said students could have said “no” to the exam if they were embarrassed.

“They did have a choice not to participate,” he said.

But many parents said their children were too shy to defy a teacher.

“I’m sure she just went along with everybody else,” said Clavet of her daughter.

Brouillette said he doesn’t believe the school should stop doing body mass index exams. But in the future, he said, his school might consider confidentiality and parental permission more carefully.

“I think it’s an issue that we really need to take a look at,” he said. “We didn’t think it was going to be a big issue.”

ltice@sunjournal.com

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