Get Schooled

By JustMe

February 13, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Yes. But no more than the usual level of nervousness about school lunches….

At my school, we have a typical ‘yellow lunch.’ This means things like nacho chips with liquid cheese, corn, bread, and maybe boiled cabbage. If there is ever another color other than yellow on the menu, we get confused. Typical main dishes are those nachos with liquid cheese, nasty burritos, hamburgers, pizza, and chicken nuggets.

The lunch manager says that they only sell what the kids will buy. Of course, there is a snack bar that also sells a variety of chips, candy, etc. They don’t seem to care about nutritional value at all.

In my day, students weren’t given a choice. The trays were prepared and handed to us. Today, students can ‘pick’ what they want and we all know that kids ALWAYS make the best decisions, especially regarding what to eat…..

When will we (society) wake up and realize that kids are not adults and cannot make wise decisions for themselves? They don’t have the knowledge, life experiences, awareness of consequences, etc. As long as the trend is towards ‘hands off’ parenting and let the kids learn by trial and error, things will only get worse.

By Tater

February 13, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

JustMe

The lunch manager says that they only sell what the kids will buy. Of course, there is a snack bar that also sells a variety of chips, candy, etc. They don’t seem to care about nutritional value at all

Another example of the failure of government schools. Catering to the students. Who’s in charge?

School vouchers and school choice. No more government schools!!

By MADMOMMY

February 13, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

It is hard to know what your kids are eating in school even if you pack lunch, but I would rather pack a lunch than leave it up to chance of what the school is feeding them. If they do end up eating something else, I hope as a parent that I taught them about the importance of eating a balanced diet and how to make wise choices when I am not there to give them advice.
School food has needed a makeover since I was in school years ago. It’s a wonder that kids are so fat these days when all they eat is crap and then sit all day long. At least back in my day we didn’t have “choice” and we also had PE everyday.

By HS Teacher Too

February 13, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

I think I recall seeing a news segment — 60 minutes, 20/20, one of those — that addressed the prolific amounts of junk food and processed food available in school cafeterias. As I recall, the gist of the story was that schools that wanted to go back to real cooking (as opposed to re-heating frozen processed foods) were facing with some federal restrictions. It has been a while but I vaguely remember that because the school got some particular kind of funding, they had to purchase from a limited selection that was mandated — and limited to processed meats, for example, versus going to a butcher.

I’m pretty vague about all this because I don’t really remember the details of the story very well, but I’m very curious — does anyone know more about this and why schools are supposedly “forced” to make some of the food choices that they make?

This topic — yellow lunches — reflect part of what I was trying to address yesterday. I think we need to remove the junk food, but I think we need to preserve teh ability for students to make choices. For example, I can’t really justify snack machines that are on during any other time of the day than after school; but I can understand having sweet desserts available as a lunch-line option. A student who comes through the line with three jellos shouldn’t be allowed to make that purchase, though. Why not make “sections” and allow students a limited number of selections from each section? They can skip a section entirely, but they can’t, as in my earlier example, take too many sweets (or meats, or whatever).

I realize this is a tangent from today’s primary topic, but it does relate to healthy school lunches.

If anyone does know about the news story I (so poorly) described above, can you please share it?

By jim d

February 13, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

How funny—kids have choice of food at school but not choice of school.

Rather ironic, I’d say.

NOW is the time to push for choice schools. They actually do work.

And JM, just FYI, I know some 12 year olds I’d trust more to make sound decisions than some of the adults I know.(specifically a few that teach)

By jim d

February 13, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

When you are talking about a 25 billion dollar a year business—-stop and think!

By Janine

February 13, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

Are any teachers here old enough to remember when you would walk near the cafeteria in the morning and delicious aromas were waftingdown the corridors? THe “lunch ladies” would would be baking chicken [sometimes frying], making meatloaf, baking rolls,simmering spaghetti sauce, making sheet cakes, cobblers, etc. And sometimes, actually pretty often, early in the morning,they would have fresh cinnamon rolls sitting beside the teachers’ coffee pot.

By Tater

February 13, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

jim d

God Bless you my friend. We wouldn’t have to worry about what the “government” says is ok for our kids to eat. The mystery meat is an anomaly and I don’t believe we should be overly concerned with it. It happens, its not like the failure of government schools which happens EVERY DAY

I hope people are starting to understand that government schools have accomplished a obese nation by the garbage they serve because, as JustMe points out, its up to the children to make the food decisions.

For all of those who read this blog and have kids in government schools, IMMEDIATELY remove them and work three jobs to send them to private school or home school your kids.

Government never does anything right (except the greatest military in the world) and we leave it up to the incompetence of Federal, State and Local governments to teach our kids.

I will say that not every school district is a failure, however, you must research information on which schools are best. I really feel bad for the teachers who are trying to make a difference. They are the ones who understand what a failure government schools are and have to deal with the stress every day.

By Joy in Teaching

February 13, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

The cafeteria ladies in my school are purely disgusted about the garbage that they are being forced to give to students. Most of it is overly processed, under seasoned, and full of fat. They often apologize for having to serve pizza EVERY single day as well as the pre-formed patties of mystery meat.

I personally miss those really good school rolls.

By DB

February 13, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Janine, even though I’m not a teacher :-), I’ll respond to your question: My junior high school (public) cafeteria manager was a genius in the kitchen. That woman could COOK! Fresh yeast rolls that were so light they almost floated off your plate, crisp fried chicken, amazing spaghetti (the noodles were NEVER overooked), fresh green beans, and her desserts were amazing. She was such a great cook that on Thanksgiving and Christmas, her kitchen staff made melt-in-your-mouth pecan, mincemeat and apple pies to sell. Teachers and families had to get their reservation in by mid-November, because they ALWAYS sold out, and the proceeds went back into the cafeteria budget. This was a woman who took great pride in her work — and her cafeteria. Drop something on HER floor, by God, and you WOULD be wiping it up! That cafeteria was almost as clean after lunch as it was before!

My kid’s school (private) actually does a very good job on meals most times, I really don’t mind eating there if I find myself at school at lunchtime. There’s usually two choices of main dish, a decent salad bar, two kinds of soups, a panini bar, a sandwich bar, and only one dessert. I get annoyed with the drink fountain, because it has nasty things like punch and lemonade in it (no soft drinks), but there’s plenty of milk and water available, too. The food service manager also provides food for board meetings, athletic banquets, award nights, etc., and does a beautiful job. There’s only two snack and drink machine available to kids on campus, and they are turned off until after school, except the one in the senior lounge, as a senior privilege (just can’t take anything out of the lounge.)

By posterchild

February 13, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

I wish we could get back to the days of reusable trays and flatware. It makes me sick when I think of how much garbage is generated by school cafeterias in the form of styrofoam trays, plastic forks, the bags that wrap the forks and napkins…

I read the AJC article about the beef a few hours after I ate some of DeKalb’s “beef nuggets” yesterday. Serves me right for forgetting to pack a lunch.

By jim d

February 13, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

Tater,

Unfortunately my idea of choice schools and yours don’t really match up. Mine is simply choice without toatally abandoning our public system.

I belive that true choice would however, include many different methods of providing an education.

As for the mystery meat and quaility of foods being served in the schools, I’ve not enough time to research it today but might it be as simple as the schools having accepted the Governments FMNV as a standard rather than as a nimimum requirement in efforts to cut funding from their budgets? FMNV = foods minimum nutritional value.

By jim d

February 13, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Poster child,

Always wondered about those things (nuggets) I grew up on a farm where we frequently dressed livestock for the freezer and I never did quite figure out exactly where the nuggets were. (Well with the obvious exception of on the bulls.)

By jim d

February 13, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

BTW Tater,

Thanks—-he has blessed me time and again. The best being with a child capable of rational thought and sound decison making capabilities. :-)

By JustMe

February 13, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

Tater and jd

As I have said repeated…. I have no problem with instituting school choice - just not with my money. If you want to implement school choice and not force taxes that pay for schools, then great.

I have a major issue/problem with taking money from a single person by force (taxes) and simply handing the money over to a person with a child in the form of a voucher or whatever.

You can twist words used for lunches, for bus rides, for whatever and try to justify your stupid voucher idea, but it just doesn’t fly with me when you are talking about my money.

Regarding lunches If I were a parent I would send a sack lunch with my child and intentional not allow them money to take to school. That would be my choice. ;-)

By Tater

February 13, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

jim d

You are probably right on the government standard. I’m optimistic that this is a one time incident.

Regarding school choice, you are right. I’m totally against any government school. It’s kind of like the IRS, which is another government failure. Should I even mention all the other government programs that have a dismal track record.

All parents should be given a voucher and let them decide which school is best for their kids.

If we agree to disagree I’m ok with that. :-))

By Janine

February 13, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Forgot something. Back in the day there wasn’t much choice involved in the lunches served. However, if you didn’t like the menu on a particular day, EVERY SINGLE DAY at the end of the cafeteria food line, there was a bowl of peanut butter mixed with a little honey… and loaves of bread. THis was true from elementary school all the way through high school in my Virginia town. Not such a bad idea???

By jim d

February 13, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

Gee JM,

A bit testy today?

Tell me the difference since we are already being stolen from for education. What the f%$#’s the difference if it goes to a group of politicos or a private firm as long as the job gets done?

By Tater

February 13, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

JustMe

I have a major issue/problem with taking money from a single person by force (taxes)

Should be taking money from anybody. Give me my school tax back from my (and your) property assessment and turn that into a voucher for the parents. The single people, retired, etc. would have to pay $0.00 in school taxes.

Gee, what a concept. Give people back THEIR money, give parents a CHOICE

And the problem with this is…..

By jim d

February 13, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Tater,

I agree in principle, however, I’m smart enough to know it will have to come in smaller increments

By JustMe

February 13, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

jd - To answer your question…..

Our society has the idea that a minimum level of education should be provided to every one of its citizens. Based on that idea, our government instituted a way to collect the money to do that through taxes. The local government was given the authority to set up schools to benefit all people in their community.

This is why I support this approach. I elect the government officials and entrust them to spend my money wisely. If money is simply handed over to someone with children, there is no accountability or guarantee that the money is spent wisely.

For example, what if parent A takes this voucher and sends their child to school Y. School Y does not really teach content at all, but lets the kids play. The kid is given great grades - the parent is happy. There is no over sight for my money - it is wasted. Plus, the kid gets screwed out of an education. Where is the accountability?

That is just one example of what may happen. There are many others.

Why don’t you guys support a voucher system for the military? Using your logic, should the government just issue vouchers to us and we can pick what weapons to purchase to protect ourselves? Does this really make sense at all??????

By Teacher, Too

February 13, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

I haven’t eaten a school lunch in the nineteen years I’ve been teaching. I bring my lunch every day. I work out too much to eat the junk they serve to students. It’s laden with fat and calories. If I am going to have something fattening, you can bet it will be something worthy, and it won’t be from the cafeteria.

Have you looked at our population lately? We are a nation of obsese people. I (and other teachers) have requested to remove the vending machines from the building. No way- they generate too much revenue for the school to give up.

We have a majority of our students on free/reduced lunches, yet they have money to buy the junk in the vending machines. What is wrong with this picture? Then the kids’ feelings are hurt when we talk about the obesity problem in our schools/communities/ nation.

I have said this many times- we are either a school and need to conduct ourselves as a place of learning, or we are a food court where the kids do nothing but eat all day long. We have become the latter. Kids do not stop eating all day long. I addressed this with my principal, and her response was, ‘Well, the kids need to eat.’ Yes- in the cafe for lunch during the lunch period. If a kid needs a snack late in the afternoon, how about a piece of fruit or some nuts? Why trash food all the time?

By flipper

February 13, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Ugh, what I have seen in school lunches disgusts me. I can’t even identify what they are serving without looking at the printed menu most days that I have found myself in a school cafeteria. My kids don’t eat it and wouldn’t eat it if it was offered to them b/c it disgusts them too. All of my kids have packed lunches and will until they graduate unless there is some dramatic change in school lunches.

Well, I am not being completely honest. My kids have eaten school lunch on occasion. First, for some reason, they will eat the pizza so I let them have that (about once a month). My hope is that no one can mess up cheese and bread too badly. The other times they eat school lunch are when they are being disciplined for not doing chores or misbehaving, etc. One of the consequences in my arsenal is that I don’t make their lunch the next day if they have been “naughty.” It works like a charm - much better than grounding or taking away computer time. There is nothing they dread more than having to eat that slop - my middle child even cries when faced with the possibility of school lunch. Even the PBJ’s are terrible apparently.

My neighbor started letting her kid buy school lunch in middle school. Her kid promptly put on a good 15-20 pounds - going from healthy looking athletic girl to significantly pudgy and pale blob of fat in just a few months. Then her mom quit letting her eat at school and the 15 pounds came right off and the color returned to her face.

By jim d

February 13, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Ok JM,

I see your point although I disagree based on another scenario that blurrs the difference.

How about this one; A public school taxes at a rate without our consent, enabling them to take what they need regardless of if it can be accomplished as well and less expensively than they are capable of doing just because they are a branch of government. Let’s say that (god forbid) a student in the public syatem were passed on to the next level regadless of if they can read or cipher (which we all know would never happen)

I’d be hard pressed to say that child wasn’t robbed of an education?

So where’s the accontability in that instance?

By jim d

February 13, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

JM,

Let me also point out that you are in all reality one of the staunchest supportes I’ve ever seen for parent accountability. How is it that you feel parents should be held accountable when they have little say in the matter and yet you don’t feel teachers should be held accountable for that very reason?

By gwinnett educator

February 13, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

I have been packing my lunch for the past 2 wks and have already dropped 5 lbs.

This was the same case when I taught in DeKalb. I kept extra weight on me non stop. Then the light bulb went off and I started packing a lunch…lost 36 lbs from the start of the school year to October.

RIDICULOUS I say.

By Tater

February 13, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

JustMe

Our society has the idea that a minimum level of education should be provided to every one of its citizens

Too bad the government schools cannot even provide the minimum level of education.

Great posts on the peanut butter and honey option!! Don’t believe for a second that the kids won’t eat if it’s not junk food.

By JustMe

February 13, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

jd -

Ah! But, you forget some critical points….

By Old School

February 13, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Much of our school cafeteria food is government issue. The size/capacity of the dining area, the kitchen equipment, and the other accoutrements of the facility are all dictated by the state. I don’t think the staff could assemble a biscuit from scratch if they tried and I really miss that. But…

That isn’t to say we haven’t had some memorable experiences from that government “input.” Like the time we were “blessed” with a boatload of surplus prunes. After many attempts to get the kids to eat them stewed, the cafeteria workers hit upon the perfect disguise. EVERYONE chowed down on them and came begging for more. You see, one little addition and we had the moistest, chewiest, most delicious brownies ever!

And never had the restrooms seen such repeat business…

But it beat the surplus salted peanuts that were added to the lime jello!

By Tater

February 13, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

JustMe

Just as Bush said he would reduce taxes and some voted for him just for that

That is exactly what he did. Do your homework!

So much for government education.

By jim d

February 13, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Schools do set the tax rate for education through an elected Board is true. But getting these well entrenched politians out is a monumental task at best, just look at clayton county.

You gotta be talking about the very same magic dust that parents have to make kids good, Right? Sure, no problem you can have half of mine. (do the math here .50 x 0 )

By HS Teacher Too

February 13, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Tater, I have a problem with people without kids paying $0.00 in taxes as you suggest, simply because society benefits from an educated populace. (However poorly educated some may be.) I don’t see it as being practical to say that the single folks out there who don’t have children don’t have to pay school taxes, and likewise for the senior citizens whose children are long gone. First, we all benefit, so to some extent we should all pay. The most popular argument to this effect is that we all benefit from prisons, though most of us won’t ever “use” one. Second, I just don’t see it as sustainable to only tax “users” of the system.

That being said, show me an alternative and I might be persuaded otherwise. I’m not stomping my feet in protest; I just don’t believe it can be done.

(That says nothing of what I believe about the quality of that public education, of course, and you probably have a fairly good idea of my opinion on that!)

By jim d

February 13, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Too,

In Taters defense, Would you say it would be raesonable to assume that if a private enterprise can reduce the cost of education by say 50%, only 1/2 the people could pick up the bill with no tax increases.

By HS Teacher Too

February 13, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

I was just playing, trying to find answers to my earlier question and found this link to federal regulations on school lunches. It’s rather lengthy, but some of you may be interested. If the link doesn’t work, here it is for your copying and pasting pleasure: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/regulations/7CFR210.pdf

By Tater

February 13, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

HS Teacher Too

Privatization will be much more effective without the Federal, State and Local governments interference. Think of all the $$ spent on the Fed-State-Local levels.. How much bureaucracy is needed to support such a failed system??

I’m trying to throw some ideas out there that apparently stimulating discussion, which I’m very happy to see. I just want everyone here to understand that we MUST do something different rather than continually talking about school reform. Government schools are not working, nor will they ever work.

By Hick from the Sticks

February 13, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Hah.

I’m too lazy to walk the eight miles to the cafeteria. I just bring my little lunch, and munch heartily.

Though, if the Valentine is not up to specs, the wife may give meat with Mad Cow disease for just a bit of flavoring.

Mmm…mad cow content teaching…

By HS Teacher Too

February 13, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

jim d, I’m not sure I am understanding what you’re saying. Call me obtuse b/c I realize it is probably obvious.

Tater, I’m not disagreeing. I’m at the point where I think the only way to fix it is to start over. I’m just thinking numbers — and of course, not having them makes the discussion frustratingly hypothetical.

By the way, I am glad you joined this blog. I’m really enjoying your comments and perspective.

By HB

February 13, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

But it beat the surplus salted peanuts that were added to the lime jello!

Ew, ew, ew. Sadly, though, it reminds me of many items offered at my elementary school 20 years ago. One lunchroom specialty was homemade pizza that consisted of some sort of spongy bread material (think cornbread-ish) topped about an inch high with the same odd mystery meat and sauce concoction they put in the sloppy joes, topped with a sprinkling of an orange, definitely not mozzarella, cheese. It was prepared sort of like a casserole in a gigantic pan and then served in squares. To this day, one of the oddest recipes I’ve ever seen. My mom used to beg me to buy lunch at school and save her the trouble and expense of making one for me everyday, but I always begged and pleaded my way out of it. Then she came to parent lunch day and never again suggested it again.

I think such meals are why junk food is now served. The stuff served before was cheap, of poor nutritional quality, and disgusting. Why not move to cheap, pre-packaged, processed food of equal nutritional quality and better taste? School food has needed an overhaul for a long time. Do federal and state regulations really prevent schools from buying non-processed meat and fresh vegetables? Or is it just that they can’t afford it? Either way, how sad that rural schools can’t buy local produce that is so readily available?!

By JustMe

February 13, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

Tater

You are so very defensive! I never said Bush didn’t give tax refunds, did I???? Chill.

By Tony

February 13, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

School lunches are based more on the USDA commodities programs (read that as farm subsidies) than anything else. While some efforts have been made to reduce the “bad” stuff like fats, sugars and salt, the bottom line is the school food programs have very little wiggle room for choices if they want to remain under the school lunch program. As already pointed out, the programs are USDA sponsored and are another example of federal government intruding into local issues.

By OldSchool

February 13, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

The very last time I ate school cafeteria food, the main course was “Shrimp Shapes.” Best I could figure, a shrimp had been seen in the vicinity of the breading plant so that counted when naming the little curled cornmeal fritters with the slight essence of the sea.

I lost 35 pounds in just a few months when I started providing my own lunches.

But I do miss terribly the homemade yeasty hamburger buns and the syrup & biscuits served every Friday during MY high school days. (I guess THAT gives away my location!)

By Lee

February 13, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this

You could eat at Longhorn’s (or any other restaurant) every day and be sick of it after about six months. Human nature, I guess…

Regarding the discussion on privatization of public schools, never gonna happen. You have too many bureaucrates, quasi-public, and private entities who have a vested interest in keeping the status quo. Do you really think the Federal DOE, State DOEs, PAGE, MACE, GAE, PSB, Assn of School Boards, Assn of School Superintendents, Schools of Education, and the multitude of publishers will relinquish control? I’m sure there are hundreds more groups and associations out there whose very existence depends on keeping public education intact.

Parents, students, and teachers are merely a necessary nuisance in their eyes.

Never underestimate the ferocity that a bureaucrat will exhibit to protect “the system.” And if there is one thing government is efficient at, it is the creation of bureaucracies.

By JustMe

February 13, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this

Whoa Tater!!!!

I think we hit on something we can agree upon! Well, sort of.

You said you want a voucher system. I am a bit confused because you also said that people without children would pay $0.00.

If this is true, then why not simply eliminate all taxes collected for school, period. Then, only people with children will pay the school of their choice out of their own pocket for their child’s education and there would be no ‘school taxes’!

If this is what you are basically saying, then great! I can agree.

However, let’s be realistic here. Most people pay maybe around $2,000 per year for property taxes. Of that, maybe $1,500 at most goes towards public education. I don’t know of too many (if any) schools that have that cheap of tuition per year for those with children. Do you know of any? And, don’t forget about transportation costs, etc.

And, if someone has more than one child, then forget about it. I guess child #2 and on will just work in some factory without any education at all.

But hey, if that’s what you want - I will be behind you 100%! Being single and without children, I would LOVE it!!!!

By WFC

February 14, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this

Ignorence is bliss, I guess.

*In Fulton County, no tax money is spent on school lunches… each cafeteria must be self-supporting. This makes them slaves to the whims of the kids. The lunch room staff struggled mightily.

• Lunches served at the two private schools where I worked were the absolute worst.

• I ate out most of the time or brought my own salads. Kids didn’t have these options.

By jim d

February 14, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

I’ve hesitated to reflect back—fearing I’d be aging myself, but what the heck.

Returning to those good ol days of yester-year. We had an open campus. We were able to either walk the couple of blocks back to the heart of a sleepy mid-west town to eat lunch at either the local diner or the corner drug store lunch counter if we didn’t care for the schools lunch menu. Or we could hop in our cars and go out to the highway drive in for a burger and fries.

So what does this tell us? Well for one thing it tells us something that a few bloggers here already knew and something a few refuse to accept. “Schools can’t stand competition, Be it for providing an education or for providing a lunch.” It also confirms that monoplies will always provide an inferior product

By jim d

February 14, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

One other small detail that has pretty much been overlooked in regards to the issue of childhood obesity and how our school lunch programs add to the problem.

Time of day my friends. When a child is offered lunch just a few hours after breakfast there is a long stretch between lunch and dinner that causes children to raid the frig as soon as they hit the door in the afternoon. This effectively eliminates much of an appetite for any kind of a healthy dinner, leaving them hungry again to snack just before going to bed.

In conclusion I’d suggest that perhaps it isn’t just what they are eating but When

By WFC

February 14, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this

Good point on the “when” Jim D. Some schools are so big that some kids have to eat “lunch” at 10:30 AM.

By Joy in Teaching

February 14, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

You may have hit on something there, jim d. Sixth graders at my school begin eating lunch at 10:28. I imagine that by the time some of them get home at around 5:30 or so, they head straight for the fridge to fill up on junk.

By jim d

February 14, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

WFC,

True but those schools generally have vending machines the kids can hit between classes that are chock full of “Healthy” snacks. Right?

By jim d

February 14, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Joy,

We alwaays keep apples and other fruit for snacking but it really could be a battle. Fortunately my child has a natural propensity towards eating healthy foods and working out, which has resulted in his remaining a lean, mean fighting machine.

By Old School

February 14, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

In defense of school cafeterias and lunch programs: My husband is a retired elemenatary school teacher. During his many, many years at his rural school, he was witness to students for whom school breakfasts and lunches were the only decent meals they got during the day. I remember the heartbreak of hearing how one little boy would eat everything on his plate and ask for whatever his classmates didn’t eat…especially on Fridays because he never knew if there would be food at home over the weekend.

It happens all over the state. It happens in city schools and country schools. So grouse all you want but for some, school cafeterias are REAL important.

By Tater

February 14, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

HS Teacher Too

Thank you for your kind words. Took afternoon off with the crud that’s going around :-(( Not 100%, but at least I can function (sort of).

By Old School

February 14, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

“elemenatary” WHAT was I thinking! I know how to spell “elementary.” Please overlook my error.

Thank you very much.

By NW Georgia

February 15, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

In the early to mid 20th century kids walked home for lunch if they lived close to school, or brought their bag lunch to school. Older kids could eat at local restaurants if convenient. That worked FINE. The “school cafeteria” idea probably originated as a profit motive, given the economy of scale. Terrific “home-cooked” type meals were served using REAL vegetables, meats, and desserts. Since aroud 1965 lunches changed. Isolated food poisonings scared government watchdogs into eliminated good-tasting food by banned the old-style cafeteria “home-cooking”. In came sterile, tasteless canned and prepackaged foods. Auto accident lawsuits and other fears led schools to ban kids from going to local restaurants or home to lunch. Two-working parent families stopped fixing bag lunches for kids, not realizing school lunches were no longer like the “good old days” foods the parents fondly remembered. Last, some schools are strong-armed into signing exclusivity contracts with corporate food providers, eliminating tasty or pricier competition. However some progressive public schools have programs where students work co-op in cafeterias, and there are deli bars and alternative choices.

By luvs2teach

February 18, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

About 8 years ago, when my son was in 4th grade, he got to be on a student committee whose job it was to taste-teste some of the food choices. He liked things like teriyaki (non-breaded) chicken nuggets and rice pilaf. He thought a lot of the “mystery meat” choices were gross.

I look at what my students eat on a day to day basis and it’s disgusting. I have a lot of kids who just have a gatorade and a bag of chips…and we wonder why kids aren’t learning - their brains are starving.

Food for thought (lol) - I have a gifted class during my lunch period this year - more than half of them bring their lunches!! What does that possibly tell you?