What are "we" doing to our children in America?

[chobie]

Good for you. Would you like a medal for that?

Know the joy of knowing I got to make choices for peoples' children who I did not pay the bills for and raise is reward enough.

 

[MushyMushy]

Know the joy of knowing I got to make choices for peoples' children who I did not pay the bills for and raise is reward enough.

Touche!

 

[chobie]

If you want to talk academics, then fine, let's start another thread and talk academics. Right now the subject is childhood obesity and food choices in the cafeteria. How you come up with that comparison is beyond me.

If you don't want YOUR child buying a Twinkie, then don't let her. I happen to like the fact that my DD can buy ice cream or Twinkies at school because I don't keep that stuff at home.

Well considering that a man got off a murder charge because he was insane from eating too many twinkies should be enough proof that plying children full of sugar is not good for learning. Plus there are many other studies out there about the effects of nutrition on learning, so it does relate to education. And the topic is what ate we doing to our kids, and what we are doing to them is selling them crap subisidized by tax payer money. I think that is wrong.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Grow UP !!!!!! I t has nothing to do with what is allowed or not! It all has to do with the parents not only will aloow but wantt to allow!!!

While that is not the way I would have worded it, I think you are completely correct!! Lunch at school is just one small part of what the kids are eating in their lifetime, if they are eating healthy at home an ice cream bar after lunch is NOT going to kill them or make them obese. I don't think we need soda vendors and candy bar vendors in schools but that's not the point. The point is that parent's are allowing their children to become obese, not just a couple of pounds overweight or big boned but downright obese. It IS the parent's responsibility and they are failing. If you feed your child a constant (not sometimes...) diet of soda, potato chips, candy, donuts, McD's hamburgers, etc then you are setting your child up for a lifetime of health issues which will strain them and strain our health care system as a whole. Wake up people! Feeding your child this way is abusive and unfair!

 

[chobie]

While that is not the way I would have worded it, I think you are completely correct!! Lunch at school is just one small part of what the kids are eating in their lifetime, if they are eating healthy at home an ice cream bar after lunch is NOT going to kill them or make them obese. I don't think we need soda vendors and candy bar vendors in schools but that's not the point. The point is that parent's are allowing their children to become obese, not just a couple of pounds overweight or big boned but downright obese. It IS the parent's responsibility and they are failing. If you feed your child a constant (not sometimes...) diet of soda, potato chips, candy, donuts, McD's hamburgers, etc then you are setting your child up for a lifetime of health issues which will strain them and strain our health care system as a whole. Wake up people! Feeding your child this way is abusive and unfair!

When the kid is in school, it is the school's responsibility to take over for the parent, hence the legal term "in loco parentis". Look it up. The school is the parents for the kids, while they are there. Parents who have a problem with that homeschool. It is also the parent's responsiblity to teach their kids to follow instructions and do what the teacher tells them, but if they have not been taught that the teachers do not let them do what they want, they make them follow the rules that apply to all the kids equally. Yes, parents should feed their kids healthy at home and since the school is the parents during the school day they should feed the kids healthy as well, just like a parent does. What parent lets one kid eat what they want and makes their sibling eat the healthy food?

I know some of you have a hard time with this concept, but when you send your kid to school you are giving the school the right to make many decisions for them, one of which is food offerings.

Many schools do not offer crap to kids, and I ever never seen/heard of a parent demanding that they offer it.

 

[DVC Sadie]

While that is not the way I would have worded it, I think you are completely correct!! Lunch at school is just one small part of what the kids are eating in their lifetime, if they are eating healthy at home an ice cream bar after lunch is NOT going to kill them or make them obese. I don't think we need soda vendors and candy bar vendors in schools but that's not the point. The point is that parent's are allowing their children to become obese, not just a couple of pounds overweight or big boned but downright obese. It IS the parent's responsibility and they are failing. If you feed your child a constant (not sometimes...) diet of soda, potato chips, candy, donuts, McD's hamburgers, etc then you are setting your child up for a lifetime of health issues which will strain them and strain our health care system as a whole. Wake up people! Feeding your child this way is abusive and unfair!

I totally agree! While we (disboards) have gotten completely off topic in regards to obesity/morbid obesity it is not the TEACHERS responsibility to reign in a childs eating behavior. Parents need to take their children in hand and actually teach them life lessons at home.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't see the public schools as substitute parents any more than I see colleges as substitute parents. I see them as institutions of learning with a strong element of daycare thrown in. The day they start to parent my son is the day I'm in their faces. (That said, I do however give extra support to teachers because they are so often not only instructors but great friends and mentors.)

As for snacks, I can see both sides so I'm on the fence. I don't see a problem with schools not selling junk food but I do dislike government entities making decisions for us. Luckily, I pack our son's lunch each day and I'll cheerfully continue to pack his three Oreo cookies like always and if any parent dislikes that choice, oh well.

 

[chobie]

I totally agree! While we (disboards) have gotten completely off topic in regards to obesity/morbid obesity it is not the TEACHERS responsibility to reign in a childs eating behavior. Parents need to take their children in hand and actually teach them life lessons at home.

ITA, it is NOT the TEACHER'S responsibility. It's the parents and as the school district takes the legal place of the children while they are in school they need to offer the kids only healthy foods. How you can justify tax payer money subsidizing unhealthy, unconducive to learning, sugar-frosted crap being sold to small children is beyond me.

I realize that many of you could care less about what happens ot other peoples kids, but the school should not have that attitude. They should do the best they can for all the kids, regardless of what type of parent the kid happen to be born to and doing the best means giving them a nutrional lunch that helps them learn. But from purely selfish side, I don't want you sugar-induced hyper crap-filled kid distracting my kid from learning.

 

[chobie]

I don't see the public schools as substitute parents any more than I see colleges as substitute parents. I see them as institutions of learning with a strong element of daycare thrown in. The day they start to parent my son is the day I'm in their faces. (That said, I do however give extra support to teachers because they are so often not only instructors but great friends and mentors.)

As for snacks, I can see both sides so I'm on the fence. I don't see a problem with schools not selling junk food but I do dislike government entities making decisions for us. Luckily, I pack our son's lunch each day and I'll cheerfully continue to pack his three Oreo cookies like always and if any parent dislikes that choice, oh well.

They are legally substitute parents. They do parent you kid in many ways. they don't let your kid wear heely's to school, they don't let your kid bring OTC drugs to school that you might let him have at home etc.

I agree that they should not tell parents what to pack their kids for lunch, but nor should they be selling the stuff at the elementary levels. How is that for a compromise?

When the teacher tells your kid to stop goofing off and do his work, are they not parening them?

I get that many people find the idea of the school being parents abhorrent, but yet in many ways you do want that. Why should the schools police who comes on campus, any kid with a good parent would know no to go off with a stranger and if the kid does not know that, oh well, the school should not do anything because after all "they're not the parent", right?

 

[CEDmom]

There is a time and a place for everything. Elementary school is not the place for children to learn about not choosing junk food for lunch. They have enough to deal with, lunch should be a no-brainer, they go in and eat what is being offered by the cafeteria or by what was packed. And what should be offered by the tax-payers money is healthy food to help them learn. How can you have a problem with that.

Actually, most nutritionist will tell you that it's the perfect age to teach a child about making good food choices. You need to get them when they actually still think adults know what they're talking about . Once kids hit 10-12 and beyond they start tuning out mom/dad and others and relying more on their friends.

I look at nutrition along the same lines as morals and values. You start instilling them in a child at a very early age. By 5 or 6 you excpect them in most everyday instances to know right from wrong.

Why should nutrition be any different? A 5 yo child might be so mad that he wants to hit a classmate however he knows that's wrong and chooses words instead. That same child might be tempted by the cupcake but knows that won't help him run fast at recess so he chooses some raisins instead.

 

[chobie]

Actually, most nutritionist will tell you that it's the perfect age to teach a child about making good food choices. You need to get them when they actually still think adults know what they're talking about . Once kids hit 10-12 and beyond they start tuning out mom/dad and others and relying more on their friends.

I look at nutrition along the same lines as morals and values. You start instilling them in a child at a very early age. By 5 or 6 you excpect them in most everyday instances to know right from wrong.

Why should nutrition be any different? A 5 yo child might be so mad that he wants to hit a classmate however he knows that's wrong and chooses words instead. That same child might be tempted by the cupcake but knows that won't help him run fast at recess so he chooses some raisins instead.

Along those lines, why don't we let the kids choose when they want to do work and when they want to play? Why control any of the school day, just let them make what ever choices please them. A kid with a good parent would make a good choice and who cares about the rest of them?

 

[Planogirl]

They are legally substitute parents. They do parent you kid in many ways. they don't let your kid wear heely's to school, they don't let your kid bring OTC drugs to school that you might let him have at home etc.

I agree that they should not tell parents what to pack their kids for lunch, but nor should they be selling the stuff at the elementary levels. How is that for a compromise?

When the teacher tells your kid to stop goofing off and do his work, are they not parening them?

I get that many people find the idea of the school being parents abhorrent, but yet in many ways you do want that. Why should the schools police who comes on campus, any kid with a good parent would know no to go off with a stranger and if the kid does not know that, oh well, the school should do anything because after all "they're not the parent", right?

I guess that it depends on where you consider the line between parenting and babysitting. I see nothing wrong with the schools making sure that my son behaves and does what he's supposed to during their hours. I do not want them teaching him their personal philosophies or worrying about what he does away from school however. I get to warp his mind as it were.

OK, no junk food in schools then. But the next question is what you consider junk food. Is jello OK? It is low cal but has sugar and is basically devoid of nutrition. What about pizza? This can be total junk food or it can be made in a more healthy way. These choices could get complicated.

 

[chobie]

I guess that it depends on where you consider the line between parenting and babysitting. I see nothing wrong with the schools making sure that my son behaves and does what he's supposed to during their hours. I do not want them teaching him their personal philosophies or worrying about what he does away from school however. I get to warp his mind as it were.

OK, no junk food in schools then. But the next question is what you consider junk food. Is jello OK? It is low cal but has sugar and is basically devoid of nutrition. What about pizza? This can be total junk food or it can be made in a more healthy way. These choices could get complicated.

I personally am just talking about chips, candy bars and soda/slushies. And I'm only talking about the lower levels. I just don't think the school needs to push these things. Also, many school districts are working on trying to make healthier lunches and I think that's a good thing. Anyone wnat to argue that the school should not give a **** about the nutritional value of the food they offer the kids?

I'm wondering if those of you whose kid could be a twinkie would freak out if the school said you can pack them in your kids lunch, but the school won't sell them.

I don't see feeding the kids as a big philosophical parenting choice. I see it as a necessity of school life, like choosing curriculum and class size etc. And this choice should be made the same as every other choice, in the best interest of the majority of the kids.

 

[DVC Sadie]

ITA, it is NOT the TEACHER'S responsibility. It's the parents and as the school district takes the legal place of the children while they are in school they need to offer the kids only healthy foods. How you can justify tax payer money subsidizing unhealthy, unconducive to learning, sugar-frosted crap being sold to small children is beyond me.

I realize that many of you could care less about what happens ot other peoples kids, but the school should not have that attitude. They should do the best they can for all the kids, regardless of what type of parent the kid happen to be born to and doing the best means giving them a nutrional lunch that helps them learn. But from purely selfish side, I don't want you sugar-induced hyper crap-filled kid distracting my kid from learning.

I have to disagree ! I do care about ALL children's choices regardless of socio or economic situations but parents have a huge responsibility in regards to what their child chooses to eat or not.


How did this thread go from obesity to teachers responsiblity? It appears to me it is a lot easier to shift the focus/blame on someone else who truly has no impact on our childs future other than it is to take responsibility for our childs eating habits.

 

[CEDmom]

Along those lines, why don't we let the kids choose when they want to do work and when they want to play? Why control any of the school day, just let them make what ever choices please them. A kid with a good parent would make a good choice and who cares about the rest of them?

You're really not making a logical argument hear. Children need to be allowed to make some choices in their life. A parent who doesn't realize that is in for a heck of a surprise when that kid gets older.

There's nothing wrong with allowing kids to make food choices in the confines of a healthy diet. If I tell my DD she can buy a snack at school 2x a week once she's done with her lunch that gives me control of how much junk she gets and her control of when she gets it. Because DH and I give her a little freedom to make these kinds of choices she doesn't beg for junk all the time or try to sneak it.

As far as school work goes I'd put this inline with letting her choose whether she wants to do her math homework or her reading homework first.

 

[chobie]

I have to disagree ! I do care about ALL children's choices regardless of socio or economic situations but parents have a huge responsibility in regards to what their child chooses to eat or not.


How did this thread go from obesity to teachers responsiblity? It appears to me it is a lot easier to shift the focus/blame on someone else who truly has no impact on our childs future other than it is to take responsibility for our childs eating habits.

Are you pruposely ignoring what I said about it NOT BEING THE TEACHER'S RESPONSIBLITY? I have said that every single time. I also repeated that it is not the schools fault that kids are obese but for God's sake they should not be aiding and abetting either. Just have the schools feed the kids healthy food and let the parents decide if they want to send crap with their kids or not, that is all I am saying.

 

[chobie]

You're really not making a logical argument hear. Children need to be allowed to make some choices in their life. A parent who doesn't realize that is in for a heck of a surprise when that kid gets older.

There's nothing wrong with allowing kids to make food choices in the confines of a healthy diet. If I tell my DD she can buy a snack at school 2x a week once she's done with her lunch that gives me control of how much junk she gets and her control of when she gets it. Because DH and I give her a little freedom to make these kinds of choices she doesn't beg for junk all the time or try to sneak it.

As far as school work goes I'd but this inline with letting her choose whether she wants to do her math homework or her reading homework first.

But that is your opinion about the food choices that many parents do not share. Many of us do feel it is wrong to make little kids have to choose between junk food and good food in the school lunch line and the school can't cater to every indiviudal child all they can do is make the best choice for the most kids.

Your opinion that it is okay to push junk food on little kids is just that an opinion not a fact.

 

[chobie]

Oh so sorry to anyone who is dissapointed that this thread has gone from the typical "I'm a good parent and all these other parents are bad" theme. I know how popular that is. So for all of you:

My obese, indigo, heely-wearing, co-ed sleepover attending children are currently stuffing their faces with twinkies and coke.

Have at the judgments people, you know you want to!

 

[DVC Sadie]

Oh so sorry to anyone who is dissapointed that this thread has gone from the typical "I'm a good parent and all these other parents are bad" theme. I know how popular that is. So for all of you:

My obese, indigo, heely-wearing, co-ed sleepover attending children are currently stuffing their faces with twinkies and coke.

Have at the judgments people, you know you want to!

Sorry, I don't see this thead from going to, I am a great parent, Hear me roar type thread but a thread that once again blames teachers for all the ills of the world. Seems to me that anolgy is not correct either.

 

[chobie]

Sorry, I don't see this thead from going to, I am a great parent, Hear me roar type thread but a thread that once again blames teachers for all the ills of the world. Seems to me that anolgy is not correct either.

I have been very clear and very adament that it is not the teacher's fault or responsiblity. I want the school board to mandate that the elementary schools will only sell as healthy a lunch as possible and refrain from selling candy, chips (the non-baked kind) and soda. That's it. I don't understand why the uproar on this simple solotuion.