Better health

By Michelle

May 3, 2006 09:08 AM | Link to this

Apparently nobody can make their own choices… .

By Naj-

May 3, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this

We can find valid reasons to keep or eject the soda machines from our schools. Its all contingent upon what we deem most important to our children. Personally, my wife and I stay as far away from soda as possible and teach our children the same. Every so often there’s soda opened, but very seldom. If healthy, active and vibrant kids are our goal than I say dispose of the machines. If revenue and popularity are our goal, then continue the machines.

By another teacher

May 3, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this

It’s about time. Now, I hope they take all that candy out, too. Try to imagine a group of 30 high-schoolers who have all had soda and candy for breakfast! Yikes!

By edge770

May 3, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this

liberal social do-gooders that have nothing better to do than control the activities of others by nothing better than economic blackmail. What next no purchasing of cokes at McD’s or QT of high school kids?

By bill kecskes

May 3, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

This is a problem that never should have been. Educators should have modeled wellness and good nutrition from the outset but the individual schools have genuine needs that unfortunately are not being funded by either the state or school systems. Carroll County schools take in over $1,200,000 a year from so called “junk food” machines and in turn fund some absolute necessities such as computers, books, supplies, etc. I’m proud that Carroll County has made great efforts these past two years in moving away from so called “junk foods and drinks” (more politically correctly referred to as “foods of minimal nutritional value”) and is substituting healthier drinks and snacks. It can be done and I hope Carroll County Schools are leading the way in this regard. I know Sen. Brian Kemp has made this issue of “junk food machines” in public schools and the issue of adolescent obesity and nutrition the centerpiece of his campaign for State Agriculture Commissioner. Educators all over this state are conflicted in their obligations to model to wellness and ntrition to the students we serve while at the same time finding supplemental monies to fund necessities to operate schools and educate children.

By Eric

May 3, 2006 09:27 AM | Link to this

I think this is a great idea. Take away choice. Schools should be in the business of promoting both healthy minds and healthy bodies. Those who say that we are taking away kid’s freedom of choice must have dropped out of school before kindergarten. As I recall school kids never had this freedom. You can’t wear what you want, you can’t say what you want, & you can’t do as you want. The Supreme Court once famously said “Freedom of Speech ends at the schoolhouse door.” I guess so does freedom of choice. Show a parent who gives their child total freedom of speech at home and I will show you a child who is going to end up in jail. Bravo, now lets see if we can’t get the junk food manufacturer’s to do the same.

By Erica

May 3, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

When I think back on High school all our coke machine were on a timer. You could only purchase them for a short peroid of time in the morning and after school they usually blocked the hall to get to the Coke machines in the afternoon except for those that stayed after for an activity. I think if they don’t make them as assesable it’s better. If some one wantes to drink one let them, it’s not like they are holding a gun to there heads and saying “Make yourself fat and unhealthy by drinking this”.

By Eric

May 3, 2006 09:29 AM | Link to this

Please read that second to last line of my earlier comment to say “Show me a parent who gives their child total freedom of CHOICE.”

By Leigh

May 3, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this

Kudos to the beverage makers and schools for removing the machines from the schools. I am a mother of 3 school age children. When I visited my middle school daughters cafeteria I was appalled to see the cost and number of “pop” machines. The cost was extreme and it was a poor drink choice for children. We avoid soda in our home and in our children’s diet. We should focus on a better education for our children. A subject of this nature should never be a difficult decision.

By Chuck

May 3, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

This will not shave one single pound off of obese children. Pepsi and Coke have huge brand awareness which, in this case, works against them. Should we take a look at the nutritional value of lunches served at schools - day in and day out? No, that would be pointing the finger too close to home for the government. How about the death of PE in schools? and I am talking about Physical Education, not recess! Physical EDUCATION. Where students are taught how to take care of their bodies and what are the right and wrong things to put into them. Yes, things that should be taught at home, but that is an entirely different topic. The fact is, banning kids from drinking Sprite or Dr. Pepper at school is not going to make them fit and healthy.

By Ross

May 3, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

The thing that takes away choice is a “pouring rights” contract that requires any user of school property to buy the product of a particular company.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides that by the year 2010, regular soda will be replaced by diet soda.

Diet soda is not a healthful product and public property is no place for the advertising of any product, let alone an unhealthy one. The six-foot high electronically backlit commercial signage should be removed. Moreover, folks don’t realize that it costs $400 to refrigerate and light a vending machine and so vending is reallly just a way to turn the overhead item into a discretionary slush fund. It is an irrational funding mechanism, in particular, because money is leaving the community.

Competitive bidding laws should be enforced — otherwise kids just pay higher prices and much of the money leaves the community.

Finally, the tendency of benzene to form in soda is highest in diet drinks. Soda companies should be made to adhere to the limits for benzene in drinking water (if that level is exceeded, the FDA should direct a recall like other countries, to include the UK, South Korea and Finland have).

Benzene in Soft Drinks http://www.schoolpouringrights.com

By matt

May 3, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

bravo to the soft drink companies for doing this. schools may need to do their part by doing a better job of physical education, but coke and pepsi are acknowledging that their product IS playing a part in the health of young people, and i think this is great decision.

By Barbara Williams

May 3, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

I am so glad to here this. I only wish they would take them out today.Children use their lunch money to buy cokes instesd of buying lunch. The lunch program has got’na out of hand. Today’s lunch program gives kids 2 or 3 selections. If we were to go back to a plate lunch with a choice of eat it or not kids would learn to eat the right foods. That’s how I learned how to eat. I’m 57 years old and I was a person that wouldn’t eat. good.

By molly

May 3, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

I’ve got a great business idea. Buy a soda machine and put it 2 feet off any school property line. Hate to burst your bubble, but kids will get soda other places. This idea is the biggest waste of resources and brainpower I can think of. Besides, at $1.50 plus for a bottle of WATER, the distributors are just increasing their profit margins.

By Tam

May 3, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

Well, I guess if we don’t make the unhealthy in one way, we will do it in another. The aspartame in diet sodas they will now be drinking are carcinogenic. Way to go America! Besides, the kids who are most prone to drink sodas have that same influence at home and more than likely it will not change. What we need to teach our children and ourselves is moderation. It’s ok to eat or drink anything so long as you do it in a sensible manner. This process of removing regular soft drinks from schools is heartwarming but it will not change the statistics of overweight and obese children. That will have to start at home.

By David

May 3, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this

This whole argument is a farce. It is about money for the school administrators. They sell snacks, ice-creams and fruit juices (mostly sugar) in the schools for huge profits for the school administrators. This money is almost always under the table and used as a giant slush fund for the principals and administrators pet projects and parties. The school systems simply want the soft drink machines out because they don’t make as much money with soft drinks and that is what the kids prefer. Had a friend who was the local school nutrition coordinator (oxymoron) and she said the school lunch room was a cash cow for the schools. They want to force kids to walk through the lines and take a plate even if they don’t eat because of the money.

By Jeff

May 3, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

In America, you CAN:

Kill a child and have no consequences. (Abortion anyone?)

Protest the imigration laws of a country you are in illegally and not be deported.

Put out a pamplet describing how to get away with raping young boys and be heralded as a champion of democracy by the ACLU. (NAMBLA)

In America, you can NOT:

Choose to kill yourself with your own habits because someone might walk by and be offended. (Smoking)

Buy the drink of your choice in your school, because someone is afraid you might get fat.

Build what you want on your own land. (Various zoning/ environmental laws).

Be held acountable for the choices you make in doing your work or not. (Effect on students by NCLB)

And the list goes on….

Ironically enough, the very people telling me to stay out of their bedrooms are telling me what I can and cannot do everywhere else!!

By decaturparent

May 3, 2006 09:53 AM | Link to this

Juice is no better than soda - it’s just not bubbly. Why can’t kids just dring water and avoid the roller coaster blood sugar levels.

I don’t like government interference in schools, but I like corporate profiteering interference even less. I’m glad to see the soda companies held responsible - they have been bribing the school systems for too long.

By def

May 3, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this

Why would anyone think that “diet” soda is any better for kids than regular soda? Soda machines DO NOT belong in any schools. There was a time (not so long ago) that a soda, just like chips, was a “treat”, not a staple food.
As the mother of 3 teenagers, 16 thru 19, I can tell you that if this crap is not provided to your kids at home on a daily basis, then they won’t be inclined to visit these vending machines at school.

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

I don’t get it. There were no vending machines when I went to high school, but we had a choice - chocolate or regular milk - at lunch (or not at all). We also couldn’t leave a class to go to the bathroom. But it wasn’t a problem because students didn’t have 20 oz cokes every two hours. See, I guess what I’m saying is every whim we had wasn’t met, heck it wasn’t even considered. And now people complain because their kids can’t load up on cokes and candy and talk on their cellphone in school? School isn’t supposed to be like home, it’s school - just like jobs aren’t like being at home. There are places where you are free to do whatever you want and places you aren’t - Why can’t people get on board with this concept?

By TheRoss

May 3, 2006 09:59 AM | Link to this

Glad they are doing it. I understand how schools fell into this trap, but they should never have been there in the first place. It wasn’t that long ago when I was in high school, and all we could get to drink was water from the fountains, or milk. It should still be that way.

By Jeff

May 3, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

BTW: I’m a caffeine-addicted teacher that has been known to go through a 12 pack in a day. I know what the stuff is doing to me, and I don’t mind of students choose to avoid it. What I oppose is being told that I HAVE to do something this way.

To borrow some French (only because the linme was used heavily in the AR):

Vive Liberte!

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

Jeff,

You can smoke yourself to DEATH for all I care, but don’t force me to inhale your smoke in a public place.

By Jeff

May 3, 2006 10:06 AM | Link to this

Rebel,

I’m not saying smoking indoors (excluding bars) should be allowed. I’ll even go so far as to say outside within 50 feet of a doorway should be banned. What I have a problem with is telling me that I can’t smoke in an open air environment because someone might be offended. Note that I believe all open air stadiums (shuch as the Ted, but not Phillips) should have some kind of smoking section. I believe I should be able to smoke to my heart’s content in a bar, or that the decision should at LEAST be up to the owner of the establishment. The Government should NOT decide this. I’ll stay out of your bedroom when you stay out of my bar!

By Jon Pruett

May 3, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

While we’re at it….why don’t we bring discipline back into the schools? It would make it safer for everyone involved AND it would keep the kids from thinking that no one can touch them. If the parents didn’t agree (they would have to sign documents stating that the school is allowed to carry out discipline if the rules are broken), the kid would either not be allowed to attend school or be expelled home after their first offense. The very threat of discipline used to keep kids in line when I was in public schools. Why have we gotten rid of it? If parents don’t want you to touch their “little angels” then those same “little angels” should obey the rules. It’s really the parents that are not doing their duty. What are we teaching them once they graduate? Will the police ignore them if they break the law?

About the Coke machines….just another way for people to blame someone else that they are obese. That’s like eating 3 Big Macs every day and blaming McDonalds for making me fat. It all comes down to choice. Now the kids will just have to drink their Cokes before and after school. Unless they get physically active and stop all the time watching TV and playing video games, they will remain health risks.

By Tony

May 3, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

Wow! Freedom of choice to kill an unborn child….but not to choose what we drink!

By Mike

May 3, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

Our crappy school system should be worrying about firing under performing teachers and getting us moved up from 48th to something respectable. This shouldn’t even be an issue.

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this

Jeff,

I agree with you. I smoke cigars - which is allowed in less places than cigarettes. I’ll smoke on any deck (bahama breeze, hooters) that allows it. But I recognize my choice to smoke can negatively effect others, so I don’t do it in an environment where others are subjected to it.It’s like the soda thing, it’s not illegal, but there is a time and place for it. Any of these kids can load up on Coke at the QT with a 100 oz cup - so let em do it there, instead of at school. There are times I’d love to do things, and you know this, but as an adult you just can’t - this is a good place to start with kids, don’t let em get what they want whenever they want it.

PS. I agree on the bar thing, I play poker at a bar where everybody smokes (but I’m not allowed to smoke a cigar), but I know it’s my choice to go there and if it bothers me too much - I won’t go anymore. All bars should be like that, let the clientel decide whether smoking is okay.

By Ann

May 3, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

Praise the Lord It’s a start

By Tiffany

May 3, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

I think they should just go ahead and have a Jaeger Machine in the school. Alcohol and learning go hand in hand right?

By Tyler

May 3, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this

I did not have Coke machine or junk foods machine when I was in schools in the 1970’s. So what is the big F##King deal! Kids cannot drink water or milk? I thought they were for an education.

By meme

May 3, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

David, you are right, it is all about money.

By Jeff

May 3, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

Tiffany,

At the college level (particularly senior year and grad school): AMEN TO THAT!!!

I remember fondly talking abstract algebra with my professor at the local watering hole over some drinks. (Roughly half the class was there… fun times!)

By Steve

May 3, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this

These kids need to learn how to make choices. Such as, the choice to be as fat as their parents.

By Ryan

May 3, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

Bravo Mike, Bravo! that is the bigger picture. If kids want cokes they will get them, in school or out of school. Granted most teachers will tell you that no cokes equals calmer kids. There are several problems with this issue. Pros and Cons. I think all posts so far have brought that to light. The older I get the more I realize that things that children go through day in and day out are so much different then what I went through. Kids are wearing either really big clothes or very little clothes. The music they listen to is much different. Countless numbers of magazines are telling young girls and women that they need to be thin. Boys are being targeted by shows or magazines that being a gangster rapper is cool and its alright to call a woman a b***……or its cool and funny to act like a red-neck and be less intellegent. Now most people think that children today are just plain lazy, well thats not far from the truth. But there were lazy people when I was a kid you just didn’t hear about it all that much. The really big problem is that there is more of a focus on soft drinks and looks then there is on a childs education.

This is just one more way in which children are being belittled. A misconception is that children don’t know any better. Why? Because people don’t tell kids the truth about the world and how it operates. Why is there an emphasis on being thin? Because it is everywhere we look. Why is it everyehere we look? Because it is in demand. If people stopped buying Cosmo and other publications things might get better and we could all get back to what really maters-having a safe and healthy ENVIRONMENT for the future leaders of the world!

By lisa

May 3, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

I think its a great thing they are doing. Finally, someone wants to take some initiative. It seems if the parents can’t or won’t do anything to better their childs lives & health, then the schools stepping up to the plate is probably the next best thing. Think about it, your child spends more than 1/2 their day at school. Why shouldn’t they have a say in their well-being?

By Ryan

May 3, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

One more thing, if you take away a child’d ability to make choices what kind of an adult are they going to turn into?

1984?

By Dewaine

May 3, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

Kids should not have the freedom to choose what to drink in school, particularly if they are like my child. Give them a choice and they will pick a soft drink most of the time. You take one look at my child and you think he would be a good football player and possibly a pro. The truth is he is like most kids - he never does any exercise on his own time and never drinks water. Yes, the schools are failing the kids but our government must realize every kid is not smart enough to attend a regular school. The Soviets realized that and placed the academic students in high schools and placed the other students in vocational schools. That alone is what is wrong with schools. You cannot place a failing student in a higher grade. They should not even attend school if they cannot grasp the basics.

By KP

May 3, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this

Way to go!!! We have to take every opportunity to teach better eating habits to our children. Whether we know it or not, it does take a village to raise a child, and removing sodas from the schools will not infringe upon any inailable rights of the children. This is about the schools that house our children most of the day, every day, making better chioces for our children. That’s what we should all do.

By Mike

May 3, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this

At what point are we going to stop coddling the youth of this country and start letting them sink or swim on their own? Is this really preparing them for the real world where they have to make tough decisions every day? So a kid has a soda, there are much worse things they could be having then a soda. At what point does this rediculousness stop?

Do we ban books in schools because they are to heavy and an overfilled bag could lead to back injury?

Lets ban hot dogs too because those aren’t to good for you.

Let’s also ban any fast food resteraunts in a 15 mile radius of any school.

Seriously where is it going to stop? Frankly whoever came up with this idea should be ashamed that they are not spending all their time focusing on providing an education.

I am willing to bet the same people that want to ban soda are the same people that want to get rid of after school sports programs. Brilliant!

WAKE UP WE ARE RANKED 48TH LET’S F******* ON SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE!

By JC

May 3, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

Most teachers don’t allow drinks in their classrooms, so the only opportunity for the kids to buy sodas would be before school, at lunch, and after school.

I don’t see this as a big deal, because in all three cases the kids will be able to easily obtain a soda at those times anyway. Why couldn’t a school partner up with Coke to sell Desani water in vending machines? That’d be great for kids into sports, band, chorus, etc. where a cold & portable drink comes in handy.

By Jason

May 3, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this

It’s not the soda that is making our children fat. It is the sitting on their butt playing video games and the lack of exercise that this behavior promotes. Don’t blame Coke or Pepsi, blame yourselves for being crappy parents. The public school system should not decide whether or not my kid has a soft drink at lunch (by the way everything in the south is a Coke) for lunch.

By Mike

May 3, 2006 11:17 AM | Link to this

Why is “focus” a censored word?

By TechFella

May 3, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this

I say way to go to the people that made this happen. People are way too complacent about our fat society and its costing us dearly in everything from health care to choice of clothing selection (its all extra large!!) From the beginning putting sodas in schools was a bad idea, it just sends the wrong message. If your teacher drinks soda, your parents drink soda, and all your friends drink soda… what kind of choice are you going to make? Getting kids in the habit of drinking water and juice during the school day will hopefully set them on the right path for the rest of their lives… and then maybe in 50 years 60% of our adult population wont be porkers.

By Marion of Texas

May 3, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

This is an excellent idea. Schools should not be a market for Coca Cola or any other soft drink manufacturer. Children under 18 are not adults. Responsible adults should make decisions such as this for them. My children’s schools allowed my children to buy colas even though I myself objected to this and wanted to be in control of their intake of foods and drinks. But the control was left up to Coca Cola and the schools and my wishes counted for nothing. I am glad to see that NOW at last I will be able to limit their cola intake. Studies show that daily intake of colas, even diet drinks, is associated with the development of diabetes. In short, for parental control of their children’s dietary intake and for public health, this is a step in the right direction.

By k

May 3, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

typical overfed out of control americans.

By MK

May 3, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this

I think that is it ridiculous to take out sodas. Taking them out is not going to help the issue. Parents should be held responsible if their child is overweight. Not the public.

By Liza

May 3, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

You’re right. Taking coke and pepsi out of schools isn’t going make the kids lose weight- but it’s a start! Kudos to the cola industry!

You show me the health benefits from drinking Coke and I’ll fight for having the machines put back in school. But until then, Coke and Pepsi are doing the right thing. Besides, no one is saying your kids can’t drink the stuff…they just can’t drink it at school.

By David

May 3, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

I love how people always quote “studies” to try to give their opinion more credibility. Show me ONE study that show diet cokes cause diabetes.

By mike ramirez

May 3, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

you can sum it all up with one word: RETARDED!!!! I have been drinking cokes/pepsi (yes, both) for a very long time, I have stayed physically active (I actually am an amateur boxer) and I am not FAT!!!….I started when I was in high school, mainly to stay awake, and it has never affected me in one aspect, period!…those people complaining that the cokes/pepsi products are getting them fat are the same lazy people who will not engage in any physical activity whatsoever, like freaking walking!, so dont expect me to change my life-style because your fat butt is making excuses as to why you’re so fat. put that breakfast “bucket” of chicken down, and do something about it.

By HS teacher

May 3, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

As a high school teacher, I am thrilled with this idea. I see these carbohydrate and sugar junkies lined up at the snack [crack] machines at all times of the day. They threaten us when we tell them to move and many spend as much as $6.00/ day at the machines. Many of you parents that are not cooking a decent breakfast for your children and so their idea of a balanced breakfast is a honeybun in one hand and a Coke in the other. They have their sugar high and then they crash in class.

By Trevor

May 3, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this

As a libertarian, I firmly champion the rights of the individual over the institution.

However, as an educator, I speak from daily experiences, SUGAR is ruining the opportunity of many young people to expand their faculties. The number of students diagnosed with ADHD has skyrocketed in the last decade; behavior disorders are as common now as the mini-skirt in the 80s; standardized testing is abysmal (they can’t sit still or concentrate for 2 hours). I watch every morning as students skip breakfast (i.e. grains, fruits, milk) for junk (Starburst, M&Ms, HoneyBuns).

What these kids eat outside of school is not my concern, but what they eat before coming to my class is. You can’t go to work intoxicated, you can’t play baseball on steroids, and you can’t pass my Econ tests doped-up on sugar.

By DonA

May 3, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

Why not keep them in the schools and simply restrict the time they can be bought?

Or is it all about the money?

By ryan

May 3, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this

Teachers became teachers to teach your children. They didn’t become teachers to raise your children. If people continue to say that the school system shoud have the right because kids are there the majority of the time then you are really saying raise my kid because I don’t want to OR raise my kid because the rising costs of living are keeping me at my job longer and I don’t have the time.

Oh, and Marion are you around your children all the time.

Hey and while we’re at it lets go to uniforms in public schools……oh and lets cut back spending on the arts in schools to show children that having an imagination is not going to help them in the long run. All the people I have known who have lived sheltered lives have been or are currently drug addicts, alcoholics, or dead. And if you think for a moment that you children are little angels then think again they will and do all sorts of things its just that society is helping them beome better manipulators so you don’t have a clue. Lets coddle our children so they can be skinny! The question is how many of us are drinking soda while posting on this blog? The answer is probably alot, you may say you have the right to choose-and you do. Do you want your children to grow up thinking for themselves or thinking like you do. If its the latter then in a way it is very unamerican. I don’t know how many teenagers I have encountered that cannot clearly think for themselves…….lazy….possibly, but then again why think for yourself when I have someone thinking and making decisions for me? This is another small part of an already HUGE problem with society. A better topic could be why is there people in other countries that can speak the english language clearly while some americans can barley be understood with their speech? Or how can Sweden have the lowest teenage-pregnancy rate in the world? We mock ourselves everday and our parents and grandparents laugh at us and what does the country do in return for them….try to take them out of the picture because they don’t matter anymore. The world has turned into a money market…just go take a look in the Terry College of Business at UGA you’d think you walked into the World of Coke. And if you have an opinion on this matter worth typing on your keypas then you obviously were’nt coddled as a child and left to grow up thinking for yourself and making choices. There are bigger issues than soda in the classroom….how much did you pay for gas today?

How about reading “Anthem” by A. Rand

By Chuck Beyer

May 3, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this

We didn’t have diet cola, only the real thing when I was a kid. I don’t remember having very many obese kids in school. It is NOT the cola, it is sitting on one’s behind watching TV, playing computer games, and eating too much tasty high fat foods. You can drink all the sugar coke you can handle while riding your bike, playing tennis, jogging, etc. etc.

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this

Yea, Ryan - 1984 because they can’t choose to grab a coke. Better put your helmet on - the sky is falling!

By Joyce Jones

May 3, 2006 12:07 PM | Link to this

They never should have been there in the first place. It’s an excellent idea to have them removed. At my daughters high school in Cobb County, they also have candy and ice cream machines. Will they be removed also? These thing inhibit the students ability to learn.

By mike ramirez

May 3, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this

dont even bring that adhd bs into play. you know what adhd, or add, really is??? LAZYNESS!!!! you can’t pay attention?? but yet you can play video games for hours without help from drugs??? how lame.

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this

Oh, now it’s Anthem. What dystopian novel will we refer to next!

By Trevor

May 3, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this

For all you non-educators, Coke isn’t the issue. It’s a larger epidemic-sugar. When 1/4 of a school’s student population is diagnosed with behavior disorders (everything stems from a lack of self-control), measures have to be taken to alleviate the burden this places on teachers.

Ryan (and Co.), I can’t do my job b/c I’m constantly having to deal with behavior problems, that undeniably, stem from an overdigestion of sugar. Sugar has NO nutritional value; all of its side-effects are negative.

This isn’t a socio-economic issue; it’s just effective class management. Don’t over analyze.

By Robert

May 3, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this

Just great…. so rather than being fat, our kids will now just get cancer from the artifical sweetners. Is this really a “better” choice?

And, what the heck is “unsweetened juices”? You mean they actually add sugar to my orange juice? Isn’t it already sweet enough?

By David

May 3, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

AMEN Mike!, The adhd and add epidemic started when each school added a “counselor” to their payroll. Local doctor told me that a couple of years ago we got a new school counselor here (new coaches wife) and all of a sudden he started getting a half dozen parents a week coming in wanting to get their kids on drugs for adhd or add. Sadly, if he talked them out of it, the counselor recommended they change doctors.

By Michael

May 3, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

Apparently some of the conservative minds on here have never been around a minor before. We don’t allow kids under 18 to vote, right? You know why? Because as a society we have decided that they aren’t old and/or mature enough to make their own decisions.

So why is it some of you think a 15-year-old can make the right decision 180 days out of the year about how much high fructose corn syrup to ingest? Schools are entrusted to be substitute parents during the day (that’s not the same as “raising the kids”). The schools make decisions on what kids are allowed to buy for lunch every day (another topic for another day). Why should peddlers of liquid cocaine be allowed to get around this?

I am quite amused that one person blamed “tasty high fat foods” while soft drinks get off the hook. Almost all of that fast food and soft drink stuff is close to poison. If you don’t believe me, go rent “Super Size Me” and read some health studies on the subject. It’s not freedom of choice when you try to coerce minors. Shall we start putting those old cigarrette machines in schools next?

By Martha

May 3, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this

Thank goodness. Why can’t they end the soda sales immediately? And end all candy sales at all on school campuses? and end the lunchrooms selling donuts, pretzels, slushies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, etc?

By Randy

May 3, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

I think the anti fat jerks should stay out of other peoples lives. Give me a break it’s Coca Cola for God sakes.

By Jeff

May 3, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

Trevor,

As a fellow educator, I do understand your comments. However, just as assuredly as blaming ADHD is a cop-out, so is blaming the sugar. Point Blank: Students are responsible for their actions. (Period.)

There will be no free rides, no excuses… (Jaime Escalante)

By Trevor

May 3, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

Kudos, Michael.

By Martha

May 3, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

And another thing (while I am at it)—why don’t we have a registered dietician design meals for all schools and then every school can pick the meals from a list and NO DEVIATION or JUGGLING. Our kids eat Pizza and French Fries 3 times a week, while drinking chocolate milk!!

By Bill D.

May 3, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

This tradegy should have never happened in the first place. If Coke and Pepsi REALLY “cared” about our children it wouldn’t take FOUR YEARS to phase out the poison from ALL the schools. That our state and county school administrators ever allowed it to happen should be a crime. I haven’t bought Coca Cola stock since the first contract, and won’t again until they treat our children as something other than disposable consumers.

By Mary

May 3, 2006 12:25 PM | Link to this

I agree with Mike. Who cares. I am more worried about why my child is getting such a poor education and why other states are doing a better job teaching kids. After reading this blog and seeing it as a front page story we now know why. We are more concerned about this then why are we are almost last a state. Shame shame everyone who is spending any precious time on this and not improving the education our kids are NOT getting.

By Mike

May 3, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

Michael,

You are obviously a product of the GA public school system. Putting voting and drinking a soda on the same level is not only amusing but more evidence we should be concentrating on education not the students soda intake. If kids aren’t allow to learn by making mistakes on the smaller decisions in life like drinking soda and staying healthy. How are they to make the right decision to vote? To me it’s a far lesser evil to get a kid that is overweight and learns from the mistake then to vote for a democrat who is going to push these sort of ideals on us all.

By David

May 3, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

Bill? Ok, let me see if I understand this. You consider their product “Poison” and “haven’t bought Coca Cola stock since the first contract”, indicating you had stock prior to those contracts and I will again buy stock as soon as “they treat our children as something other than disposable consumers.”

But their product is poison to kids…. WTF???

By Sherri

May 3, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

We didn’t have soda machines when I was in school. When you went to lunch you could have milk or juice and water fountains for in between. I never liked them putting those machines in the schools in the first place!

By thelight

May 3, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

While we are at let’s take coke machines out of office builders for all you fat role model parents.

By Michael

May 3, 2006 12:33 PM | Link to this

As a substitute teacher I can tell you it’s not the fault of the regular teachers that these kids can’t learn. There is some bad parenting going on. When there are kids that get sent to In School Suspension and treat it as a joke, apparently something is amiss. I honestly think if there was a program that would send delinquents to some sort of military high school then teachers and administrators would have a figurative bullet in the gun.

This also doesn’t mean you can’t fix two problems at the same time. Most jobs require multitasking; why shouldn’t education be the same? Make the kids smarter and healthier at the same time. It’s just like giving the Elementary kids recess and then teaching them math.

Parents: get creative with the kids! It really is hard to just want to read a book and answer questions. Figure out a way to help your kid relate all of these subjects to things they like.

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 12:39 PM | Link to this

Mary,

If your child is getting such a poor education, why don’t you take it upon yourself to supplement her education with work at home and on week-ends instead of complaining about the level of education she’s getting. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink! Just dropping your kid of at school and hoping he gets educated isn’t the way to go. If my children are dumb or can’t read in HS, that’s my fault for being an ignorant and lazy parent. I can’t push that blame off on someone else. My children and their success and failure is ultimately my repsonsibility!

AND by the way some of you think we should give kids the CHOICE to go to school or not, they need to start thinking on their own, don’t they? Let’s see how many kids will go to school everyday when given the choice to go or not.

By mike ramirez

May 3, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

the problem is so deep, and the solutions are so simple, but hey lets watch american idol. who has time to come up with simple solutions while im watching my tv, with my best friend “coronel sanders”

By Steve

May 3, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Simply amazing. Where are the parents in all of this? Where is their responsibility? Who said schools were supposed to raise kids? What about exercise and getting off the couch? I guess that parents are to busy at the gym trying to stay in shape to be involved. Dumping sodas will stop kids from getting fat? Yup and Peter Pan is real.

By Eric

May 3, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

Why does everything have to become liberal this and that? Our rights are being taken away! I didn’t realize that pumping our kids full of garbage to eat and drink is part of what we want as one of our liberties.

When I was in high school a decade ago, there was one soda machine by the gym, and it was only turned on during off school hours. High fructose corn syrup in soda among other junk foods are terrible for your body. I still drink soda, but way less than I used to. I do weight training and have altered my conditioning program eliminating most soda and non-pure sugar cane product. The result, it improves your health, it’s as simple as that. Issues from blood pressure to weight can improve from eliminating lots of sugar, most of which come from drinking way too much soda.

Free markets? Schools are to EDUCATE children (at least in theory, some don’t seem to have that one down), so maybe we should properly EDUCATE children about nutrition. Selling Coke and Pepsi instead of water and healthy drinks runs counter intutive to that.

But why do so many have to make this into some sort of political issue? Less junk for the kids in school is good, but this issue is minimal compared to the issue of the pathetic education most public school kids are getting.

By Camille

May 3, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

While this may address the problem at the elementary and high school level, I really don’t see how this would address the high school kids. Unless things have changed drastically, I believe that high school kids are allowed to leave the campus during their lunch break (we were able to when I was in school, and I’ve noticed that some of the high schools in Gwinnett county do also). Taking the machines out of the high school itself only keeps the kids from purchasing these items during school time. During lunch, they are able to get whatever they want from wherever they want. And, I see many kids hanging out in the local fast food restaurants during lunch. Besides, like so many others have stated, these machines should never have been placed in the schools in the first place.

By DS

May 3, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this

It seems that focus is being misplaced. The problem with obesity rates is NOT drink machines and snack machines in schools. The problem is kids do not get outside and play. They would rather sit in front of a TV or computer playing video games. Parents rather than cook healthy meals will buy whatever from fast food or the frozen food section of the grocery store for breakfast and dinner. Schools in attempts to raise academic acheivements have opted to eliminate phys ed classes, because the unions and bureaucrats have placed such paperwork burdens upon teachers that they cannot teach their subjects in a proper fashion.

More than likely, five years after this agreement if fully in effect, the same people who were seeking to blame BIG cola and BIG snackfood will still be complaining about why have obesity rates gone down. They are still rising. Of course, if these same self-righteous, hypocritical, do-gooding individuals were asked to make or support real, substantitive changes to the American education system that work rather than use our children for their social science experiments, they would balk.

By ryan

May 3, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this

Martha excellent point!

ADHD is a problem that does plague a large number of children and adults. Medication is prescribed that helps. However, its the psychiatrists that get kick backs from pharms that keep this medications in people who really don’t need it. As a person who has worked in the education field I have see this first hand and most of you know this to be true. Is it behavior problems or lack of discipline. You all have seen this to a degree-when goiong out to eat is a jungle gym. Having to jump over kids to get to your table. Just because McDonalds has a playground doesn’t mean that all establishments should be treated in that same manner. There needs to be discipline. And when I say this I am hoping for educated people to read this and not take it literally. The world has changed so must we. I have seen kids diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder…basically this is A CHILD and medication is given. If kids were more active then there would not be left over adrenaline in their systems. This is easier said then done, lets face it it is harder for people to be with their kids today. Who is paying the price, not the children, its the educators that deal with our children everyday. Over worked and under payed. Class sizes are large and mix that in with sugars I cannot even begin to understand. How many of you take your work home ever night, now talk to a teacher and find out how much they bring home and throw in a couple of kids of their own, and a home to take care of and your have the hardest job in the world. And all that teachers get is that they are not doing enough. But its ok because our kids have a salad bar to choose from with lots of Ranch dressing to throw on top. I am forever grateful for teachers you are brave and deserve so much more.

Rebelyell, I am happy to know that you are familiar with those books. But as I type and you type some of your rights as an american have or are going down the toliet. Mock me all you want but there is a bigger picture. I will take your opinion afterall it’s better than possibly hearing you say git r done or whatever that is.

20% of the total population unserstands the concept of irony.

By David

May 3, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Lets see how many concession stands remove soft drinks from their menu at school sporting events. Not likely. Football, basketball, baseball, track, ect… their all on school facilities, right? Well, they should not be serving soft drinks there either. Is it just me or does this seem hypocritical. Well, actually I guess I am wrong about that, cause in both cases schools are doing what will net them the most MONEY$$$$$

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

You’all kill me! You act as if Coke machines in schools is guaranteed by the US Constitution! And people who want them removed are trying to destroy this great American Tradition! Wake up, idiots! Coke machines were never in schools! People put them there to make money, PERIOD. You’all use no logic.

How does not being able to buy a coke in 8th grade, but you can kill a child make any logical sense? You can’t get an abortion in High School! But would you like that? In fact, let’s make high schools wonderlands where kids can do whatever they like, whenever!

And MIKE, since you’re a such bright man, NOT educated in Georgia, which by de facto, makes you smarter than everyone who is or was, please tell me you think kids should be allowed to decide whether they shcould go to school and at what age they should be given this choice? using your logic - they need to start making decisions on their own - so let’s allow them to decide whether they can go to school or not!

And let’s let em decide whether they say the pledge of allegiance or not, or if they must stand or not for the pledge. In fact let’s give them an option to choose what country to pledge allegiance to, say Mexico, if they like!

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

Ryan,

NSA wiretapping and parts of the Patriot Act (warrantless searches) erode constitutional freedoms. Taking Coke machines away from 15 year-olds do not. This is not a slippery slope. A slippery slope is being illegaly monitored by the government, not having to wait until 3:20 to get my coke on.

By ryan

May 3, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

Pardon the typo: 20% of the total population does not understand the concept of irony.

By Like that is going to work

May 3, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Is soft drinks causing low test scores? Do people actually think that limiting things to teenagers,ie raising driving age, banning books and video game, throwing out vending machines, or banning smoking, is going to stop teens from doing these things? Wake up everyone. The more people restrict stupid things, the more likely teens are going to do it one way or another. Try educating your kids. Don’t just say “no”. Explain “why”. They will respect and listen to you.

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

And Ryan,

If you really want to talk about 1984, look at much larger current trends that parallel the book. A never-ending war (war on terrorism), a symbolic figure-head that is feared and hated by the populace (OBL), and many others.

By ryan

May 3, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this

Rebelyell, not to mention having a peaceful demonstration which possibly opposes the Pres. of America can no longer be within a eye shot of the Pres. You have rights but we can take certain parts of it away. Certainly you see the bigger picture or do you only see whats on the surface?

My helmet is on and the sky may not be falling but we are put on a terror alert everday by the wonderful media- Fear! But you can feel better knowing that all your favorite reality tv shows are on.

Is Soda the problem or is Meth?

If a kid is out there going to school and then goes to a part time job because he/she wants to make their life better or possibly show some respect to their parents by earning their keep then let them have a coke and a smile.

Coffee beans are now going up in price due to the increase of gas prices?

By l

May 3, 2006 01:22 PM | Link to this

Question: Are teachers still allow a soft drink vending machine in their lounge?

By Brenda Jackson

May 3, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

This is wonderful news. Now let’s remove the junk food that is passed off as lunch. Childhood obesity in this country is out of control. Since recess/gym class is not available at most grade levels, it is an appropriate step in the effort to address childhood obesity.

By Jeff

May 3, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

l,

won’t matter to me… I bring my own! (for the most part)

By l

May 3, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this

I asked that bc I am graduating this summer in education. I need my daily dose of caffeine.

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 01:30 PM | Link to this

Ryan,

Terror alerts only happen around election time or when a scandal hits - you know this!

By Ryan

May 3, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

Yes good points but you will probably be out at the bars on cinco de mayo knocking back a few all in all that holiday has nothing to do with you.

It is real hard to compare abortion and cokes. Abortion is such a tough topic where there will probably never be something set in stone. because BOTH sides bring up such good points that it is hard to make a final decision. A coke at school does not take a unborm life or aid someone out of an unwanted preganacy due to tragic reasons. I do unsterstand where you are coming from but to try and compare the two is a stretch.

Again, I agree with OBL, however we need to look at what “WE” as americans are doing to our own country.

By Traci

May 3, 2006 01:47 PM | Link to this

Aspartame is far worse for children than sugar. Ironically, one of the more recognized side effects of asparame is short term memory loss. With one of the worst public school systems in the country, you’d think we’d be looking for all the help we can get. Google “aspartame” and find out what you’re really doing to your body to stay “thin”. Here’s a novel idea, drink water.

By Barbara Heimlich

May 3, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

Soda represents empty calories, has no nutritional value, and shouldn’t be in the school systems. The use of/drinking of sodas should be a parental choice, not a school choice. Barbara in CT

By Come on

May 3, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this

Children are just retarded little people. Its a soda or a candy bar that makes you fat. Its eating like a horse and not doing anything active. Morons.

By Kat

May 3, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

I understand that students under the age of 18 really don’t have much of a say in the matter, and once out of school, are free to make their own decisions. But that said, I really think that school lunches are more of a problem. Now they have Pizza Hut, McDonald’s that are being served right on campus. Not to mention the nacho line. I remember that my school had the typcial “school menu” meaning, what the school cooked was supposed to be healthy. But after the Pizza Hut, and the Nacho line caught on…people avoided the “healthy lunch” line.

Problem is, most school do offer healthy alternatives, but because there are so many other options available, students may not take advantage of them. They might want to, but all their good intentions fly right out the window when one starts smelling all those yummy cheezy slices of pizza.

As long as this does not eventually lead to public restrictions of what adutlts choose to eat then I don’t have a problem with it.

And seriously, add back in recess!!

By Rebelyell

May 3, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this

Ryan,

That was my point: comparing Cokes to Abortion is a stretch, yet two posters complained that “in America you can choose to kill a child but not to get a Coke.” A most ridiculous comparison. Besides the obvious fact that neither are illegal. I can drink a coke while getting an abortion, if I choose. My point simply was, you can choose to get a coke, just not in school and you can choose to get an abortion, just not in school, and you can choose to play a video game, just not in school, etc.etc.

By Cletus Snow

May 3, 2006 02:18 PM | Link to this

All junk food should be removed from taxpayer funded schools,private schools that aren’t taxpayer funded can make that judgement for themselves. Taxpayer funded schools should have NO guns,smokeing,drugs,violence or junk food.

By RW

May 3, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

Diet drinks are much more unhealthy than sugar-sweetened drinks.

Sports drinks contain high levels of sugar and sodium. Compare the nutrition labels below, and tell me which we should eliminate:

*Drink #1: * Ingredients: water, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin (glucose polymers), citric acid, salt, natural flavors, potassium citrate, potassium phosphate, niacinamide, yellow 5, pyridoxine hydrochloride, blue 1, cyanocobalamin

Nutrition Facts: serving size 8 fl oz; servings per container 4; calories 70; fat 0g; sodium 55mg; potassium 30mg; total carbs 19g; sugars 15g; protein 0g; vitamin b6 10%; vitamin b12 10%; niacin 10%

Nutrition per package: calories 280; fat 0g; sodium 220mg; potassium 120mg; total carbs 76g; sugars 60g; protein 0g; vitamin b6 40%; vitamin b12 40%; niacin 40%

Drink #2 Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructorse corn syrup, caramel color, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, potassium citrate, potassium benxzoate (to protect taste), caffeine

Nutrition Facts: Serving size 8 fl oz; servings per container 2.5; calories 100; sodium 25 mg; total carbs 27g; sugars 26 g;

Nutrition per package: Calories 250; sodium 63g; total carbs 68g; sugars 65g

Drink #1 is Powerade, drink #2 is Coke with Lime. Tell me why again that the sports drink is a better choice? More calories, carbs, and sodium per bottle doesn’t sound more nutritious.

By

May 3, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this

Traci,

Here is a novel idea, You drink what you want, and I will drink what I want. You let your kids drink what you think is right, and I will let my kids drink what I think is right! “(FDA): To date, FDA has not determined any consistent pattern of symptoms that can be attributed to the use of aspartame, nor is the agency aware of any recent studies that clearly show safety problems.”

By Pamela

May 3, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

There will be drinks left in the machines. Why do we continue to take away free will? These are high school students. Let them choose. We are producing a generation of wimps! We spend more money on education and yet our young adults can’t decide for themselves what they drink? How sad!

By HB

May 3, 2006 03:51 PM | Link to this

I don’t really understand the free will/choice argument. It makes it sounds like reasonable healthy choices are available to students on an equal basis with junk food. I suppose a student can choose to have a soda or not have a soda from a school machine, but if the machines are anything like they were 10 years ago when I was in school, they don’t have the choice between healthy and not. The vending selections are overwhelmingly unhealthy. The healthiest options at school were in the lunchroom and could be purchased only during a student’s scheduled lunch period. The junk food was available all day long. Not to mention the fact that the “healthy” food served was often low quality: canned and/or overcooked vegetables, mealy apples, etc. Get rid of the junk and provide some appetizing healthy food!!!

As to what some people have posted about how this won’t stop kids from drinking soda, I think you’re missing the point. It’s not uncommon for students to grab 2 or 3 sodas between classes during the day, plus whatever sugar they buy after leaving campus. The goal isn’t to stop kids from drinking soda entirely; it’s to stop encouraging them to drink so much! And that’s exactly what schools are doing by making sodas the most readily available snack to their students.

Will banning soda sales reverse the obesity problem? No, but it is one of many steps that can help the situation. Yes, kids will still be able to buy the junk off campus, but at least schools will be setting a good example by refusing to peddle the junk themselves!

By KATHLEEN

May 16, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this

As a Registered Dietitian, I find this discussion fascinating. Having gone through the DeKalb County school system in the 1970s and 1980s, we did not have drink machines in either our elementary or high school and for that I am very grateful. I have a feeling we were all hyper enough and didn’t need the assistance with caffeine (smile).

One major concern is not just the concern with childhood obesity (which by the way can be a precursor to Type 2 Diabetes—yes, children can get this too!), but also bone density. Did you know that you reach your peak bone mass by age 30? Sodas are high in Phosphorous and when children are substituting milk for soda, they do not get the Calcium that they need for healthy bones. Consequently, if the amount of Phosphorous in their bodies is greater than the amount of Calcium, the bones leach Calcium out to balance the amount of Phosphorous, which can lead to brittle bones.

If you are concerned about the menu choices offered in your child’s school, get a copy of your child’s school lunch menu and get in touch with your local PTA to raise your concerns. Your nutrition director may very well be a Registered Dietitian, so voice your concerns to him or her. It is possible to provide healthier choices for school lunch if people speak up.

One thing to remember is that children model what they see. If mom and dad are eating junk food and fast food and drinking soda, then how can mom and dad expect their child to eat and drink healthy foods and drinks?

Food for thought.