Childhood Obesity Vent
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| Sat, 02-05-2005 - 2:46pm |
I haven't posted in a few months, so I hope you remember me ;) Our computer was down (finally got myself a brand new shiny one last week!) and well . . . . life is busy. Anyway, I hope to post more often again - I was just getting to know some of you when our computer went out. So . . . . . my topic of the day that I am enraged about.
I found out at a PTO meeting last week that the Texas Legislature is trying to pass a new law to go in to effect for the 2006-07 school year which states that teachers MUST include the childs WEIGHT and BMI on their report cards. I am so angry, I could lose my mind over it.
First of all - teachers are not health care professionals. Secondly - by listing a childs weight and BMI on a report card, we are helping childhood obesity how? And can I have that of the teachers while your at it? I was told that the snow-cone machine was no longer in use, because it "doesn't meet the state's nutritional guidelines" - a snowcone!?! And we serve WHAT in our school cafeteria?
Why don't you start some classes to help educate parents, re-vamp the school cafeteria so that kids CAN make better choices, because what they have to choose from can't be all that swell. Do you think that obesity is 100% controlled at home - or will the school take some of that responsibility for it? And in a society that already has enough body-image problems, how will this help.
Am I nuts for getting worked up about this? Has anyone else heard of this in their state? Looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say!

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I'm squarely in the camp that thinks you're deluding yourself. ...listens/follows directions, makes good use of time, makes efort toward neat work, completes assignments on time, demonstrates organizational skills sort of stuff" are developmental milestones. The lack of those skills translates into an inability to listen to multiple step directions and follow them, an inability to concentrate and focus, an inability to complete work in a timely manner, and disorganization. These aren't the characteristics of a free spirit, but of a child with developmental delays and perhaps learning disabilities. They're not good traits under any definition.
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Huh? I'm confused. If all that really matters is that he get good grades and plays the game, it looks like he did it pretty well. Why are you all of a sudden concerned that he actually be challenged? Are you saying that even a person who gets the great grades might not necessarily be prepared to deal with the real world?
Are we having a Freaky Friday two days early?
In spite of our disagreement in other areas of this thread, I completely agree with you that, generally speaking, the expectations of a teacher/school does little to prepare a child for the *real* world. Schools are still geared to produce factory workers, or as you put it, sheep. They are set up for the average - those on either side of average tend not to "fit in" which isn't neccessarily a bad thing. I am certain your son will develop those organizational skills, and in fact, I am sure he has some - they are simply not "average".
Nick
Ok either I was unclear (which certainly wouldn't be the first time) or you made some assumptions.
I agree that actually learning the material and being challenged is what's most important. What I do not agree with is that grades don't or shouldn't matter at all.
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I'm confused, what is exactly is wrong with trying to do
PumpkinAngel
Why do you need a school to do that?
PumpkinAngel
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