Dear all:

Perhaps a better analogy for weighing and other assessment tools is educational testing. You don't want an educational system where children are promoted from one grade to the next having never really mastered any skills.  It would not be fair to them to not evaluate them and, if they had learning disabilities, simply say "Oh well, you're just as good as everybody else, it doesn't matter if you are dyslexic and can't read."  No you would want that to be identified and the educational strategy appropriately modified for that child to excel.  On the other hand, you don't want a system whereby children are tested so constantly that they never learn anything other than how to take a test -- or even worse how to take a test in just math or reading, without learning anything at all about art, science, social studies, etc....  Testing can be helpful and it can be stressful.  It can be used wisely or unwisely.  Some types of learning are better assessed with qualitative tests, while others are better assessed with quantitative tests.

Best regards, 

Susan Burger

PS.  I actually think that mothers should be able to weigh their own babies.  There is evidence to suggest that you can train mothers at low literacy levels to interpret growth charts appropriately.  It is akin to the arguments that used to be put forward that women shouldn't have access to home pregnancy tests because they needed qualified counselors or health care practitioners to help them interpret the results of the test.  I think it is CULTURE that pushes women to interpret growth in ways that are not helpful.  AND culture can be changed.  The formula industry transformed the culture of infant feeding, so this means that it is pliable and can be transformed -- it is not set in stone.

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