Schools getting smart?

"SusanLewis" wrote in message
...
Schools back in session and my 10th grader comes home with a 12 week long
project in her Health class. Her objective is to choose 1 topic from a
list of many given to her and gather sources/research, apply them to
herself, chart/journal, discuss and write a paper on if any.. improvements
or disadvantages. From the list of assorted topics were things like..
Increasing exercise. Lowering salt intake. Lowering caffiene intake.
Increasing water intake. etc. There were alot of varied topics to pick
from.

She picked the water intake. So she is having to a.) drink more water. b.)
research its benefits on body functions c.) journal her intake. etc.
Huge applause to the education system as far as Health class is concerned
for doing something like this! This was unheard of when I was in school 20
years ago.

Anyone else seeing any positive changes in schools like this?

Susan
280/187/140

That sounds like a great project!

There has been a quiet revolution in the works by parents and other
concerned individuals to make school cafeteria food more healthy. Our
school board adopted a "Healthy Lifestyles Policy" which among other things
has mandated more physical activity, including organized activities at
recess, and they made it easier for teachers to take their kids outdoors.
In the past we had to have all kinds of academic reasons to go outside
during regular class time. Unfortunately, I teach in a computer lab and my
request for a wireless laptop lab was denied even though I promised to take
them outdoors with the laptops and we could use spreadsheets to chart our
activity

Also, there has been some changes in the guidelines on the cafeteria food.
The only real changes I noticed was that the cook's wonderful tuna casserole
is no longer on the menu and fruit is offered at every meal now. The
casserole was sinfully delicious (with potato chip topping).

Jenn

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 19:34:00 GMT, "SusanLewis"
wrote:

Schools back in session and my 10th grader comes home with a 12 week long
project in her Health class. Her objective is to choose 1 topic from a list
of many given to her and gather sources/research, apply them to herself,
chart/journal, discuss and write a paper on if any.. improvements or
disadvantages. From the list of assorted topics were things like..
Increasing exercise. Lowering salt intake. Lowering caffiene intake.
Increasing water intake. etc. There were alot of varied topics to pick from.

She picked the water intake. So she is having to a.) drink more water. b.)
research its benefits on body functions c.) journal her intake. etc.
Huge applause to the education system as far as Health class is concerned
for doing something like this! This was unheard of when I was in school 20
years ago.

Anyone else seeing any positive changes in schools like this?

When I was in school, a bazillion years ago, anecdotal evidence was
never accepted as fact. Schools are a lot more lax than they used to
be.

Em
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents,
and the second half by our children.
--- Clarence Darrow
(make that YOUR children).

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 19:34:00 GMT, "SusanLewis"
wrote:

Schools back in session and my 10th grader comes home with a 12 week long
project in her Health class. Her objective is to choose 1 topic from a list
of many given to her and gather sources/research, apply them to herself,
chart/journal, discuss and write a paper on if any.. improvements or
disadvantages. From the list of assorted topics were things like..
Increasing exercise. Lowering salt intake. Lowering caffiene intake.
Increasing water intake. etc. There were alot of varied topics to pick from.

She picked the water intake. So she is having to a.) drink more water. b.)
research its benefits on body functions c.) journal her intake. etc.
Huge applause to the education system as far as Health class is concerned
for doing something like this! This was unheard of when I was in school 20
years ago.

Anyone else seeing any positive changes in schools like this?

When I was in school, a bazillion years ago, anecdotal evidence was
never accepted as fact. Schools are a lot more lax than they used to
be.

Em
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents,
and the second half by our children.
--- Clarence Darrow
(make that YOUR children).

I'm not sure what projects they have in their health classes but I was
impressed with the physical education courses available to my
granddaughters. Here's a list of them from the school website. IIRC the
granddaughters indicated they were required to take 1-2 courses each year.


Basic Health Gymnastics Apparatus
Athletic Training Total Fitness
CPR/First Aid Introduction to Weight Training
Human Sexuality Weight Training II
Thanatology Weight Training III
Heritage of Movement/Physical Education Survey Outdoor Education I
PE Independent Study Outdoor Education II
Archery I Recreational Activities
Archery II Basic Juggling
Badminton I Roller Skating
Badminton II Fitness Walking
Basketball I Slim Aerobics
Basketball II Introduction to Soccer
Fencing I Softball
Fencing II Tennis I
Sabre Tennis II
Flag Football Track and Field
Golf I Volleyball I
Golf II Volleyball II
Basic Gymnastics
Tumbling I
Tumbling II


What do the poor children do who prefer more refined activities such
as reading, writing poety, playing music do? Do they have mandatory
classes in these subjects as well?

Sounds a little one-sided ot me.

Em
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents,
and the second half by our children.
--- Clarence Darrow
(make that YOUR children).

I'm not sure what projects they have in their health classes but I was
impressed with the physical education courses available to my
granddaughters. Here's a list of them from the school website. IIRC the
granddaughters indicated they were required to take 1-2 courses each year.


Basic Health Gymnastics Apparatus
Athletic Training Total Fitness
CPR/First Aid Introduction to Weight Training
Human Sexuality Weight Training II
Thanatology Weight Training III
Heritage of Movement/Physical Education Survey Outdoor Education I
PE Independent Study Outdoor Education II
Archery I Recreational Activities
Archery II Basic Juggling
Badminton I Roller Skating
Badminton II Fitness Walking
Basketball I Slim Aerobics
Basketball II Introduction to Soccer
Fencing I Softball
Fencing II Tennis I
Sabre Tennis II
Flag Football Track and Field
Golf I Volleyball I
Golf II Volleyball II
Basic Gymnastics
Tumbling I
Tumbling II


What do the poor children do who prefer more refined activities such
as reading, writing poety, playing music do? Do they have mandatory
classes in these subjects as well?

Sounds a little one-sided ot me.

Em
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents,
and the second half by our children.
--- Clarence Darrow
(make that YOUR children).

Anyone else seeing any positive changes in schools like this?

France has had the week of taste for a few years. For a week, various
lessons are given at schools to teach kids about the various tastes. This
can involve making them sample different spices, or discovering new
vegetables, or they can have a real chef (I mean, the 3-stars kind) cooking
the school meal. The goal is to have them discover new food outside of
French fries/chicken nuggets/coke and keep some variety.

What a great idea. Recently, I purchased a Frugal Gourmet cookbook
and I was really shocked with how much food we DON'T eat (especially
in the US where diets are more limited, I would wager, than France).

I challenge anyone to find a teenager who has tasted pheasant, quail,
goat (hispanics don't count), mutton (native americans don't count),
or even GAR fish! (poor sountherners don't count).

Most people have not concept of what good food even tastes like.

Em
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents,
and the second half by our children.
--- Clarence Darrow
(make that YOUR children).

Anyone else seeing any positive changes in schools like this?

France has had the week of taste for a few years. For a week, various
lessons are given at schools to teach kids about the various tastes. This
can involve making them sample different spices, or discovering new
vegetables, or they can have a real chef (I mean, the 3-stars kind) cooking
the school meal. The goal is to have them discover new food outside of
French fries/chicken nuggets/coke and keep some variety.

What a great idea. Recently, I purchased a Frugal Gourmet cookbook
and I was really shocked with how much food we DON'T eat (especially
in the US where diets are more limited, I would wager, than France).

I challenge anyone to find a teenager who has tasted pheasant, quail,
goat (hispanics don't count), mutton (native americans don't count),
or even GAR fish! (poor sountherners don't count).

Most people have not concept of what good food even tastes like.

Em
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents,
and the second half by our children.
--- Clarence Darrow
(make that YOUR children).

"Auntie Em" wrote in message
...
What a great idea. Recently, I purchased a Frugal Gourmet cookbook
and I was really shocked with how much food we DON'T eat (especially
in the US where diets are more limited, I would wager, than France).

Yes, that's things like this that triggered the "week of the taste" thing
actually. It does extend beyond the school, there are various actions
targetted at adults too. The diet *is* still more varied here, IIRC I saw
numbers saying that the average American eats 5 different kind of food in a
given week versus 20+ for the average French. The main difference is that
many French people are fully aware that cooking is a full part of the
culture, and should be protected just like the rest of the culture. This
explains why we're very arrogant about it and tend to consider other
countries cooking with disdain (which is a great mistake IMHO). But this
works as far as defending traditionnal cooking goes. And this seems to offer
some protection on the obesity and health front.
On the other hand, many Americans seem to have no respect for their own
cooking culture. Which is quite incredible, because if you consider the
whole country, from New York to New Orleans, with all the various imports,
you do have an amazing variety of recipes. Sure, a lot of it is imports - so
what? That's the case for most European cooking. French people eat
sauerkraut and couscous, and they will claim it's French with all their
might if you ask them. A lot of American cooking is simple farmer food -
just like real European cuisine. And once your people have stopped
considering their traditionnal cooking with respect, the food industry has
stepped in and has processed it until it barely tastes like it's former
self. Just compare a McDonald hamburger to the real deal - it's pathetic.

I challenge anyone to find a teenager who has tasted pheasant, quail,
goat (hispanics don't count), mutton (native americans don't count),
or even GAR fish! (poor sountherners don't count).

I haven't eaten all of these either Though I do eat mutton quite often. I
don't like cooking it, but my gf loves the taste, and it's certainly
something I will order at restaurants. It might be fat, but you can't beat
the taste of roasted mutton with herbs. Or, better, or lamb. I did taste
pheasant a few times, though it's certainly not part of my normal meals
since it's game. Though it's common in rural areas where there are hunters.
Goat (kid actually) I did taste a few times, that's an import from our
Carribean community. What exactly is gar fish???

Most people have not concept of what good food even tastes like.

Exactly. That's where education is important. It's false to think that kids
only like French fries with ketchup. It's all a matter of them sampling the
various food. My 11 y.o. sister does like things like garlic, sauerkraut,
red cabbage, real fish (not the square things with 30% fish and 70% fat and
starch)... Sure, she does also like French fries, from time to time. She
would not consider a full French fries diet any more than I would. That's
because her parents ate that way, and so she got used to eat most of what
the whole familly was eating. Sure, she doesn't like some of these things
(my father is crazy about chili pepper and tends to overdo quite a bit), but
then she just doesn't eat that particular food. Likewise, the local school
offers a variety of food at lunch, so she samples different things there
too. Actually, complains from the parents during the mad cow disease crisis
have led the school to adopt some organic food - and this is a regular
public school.
I do hope that what I saw in Supersize me! is only a caricature of what
school catering really looks like in your country. But even if it is only
half truths, it's already quite frightening. If any school *dared* offer
meals like what was shown (the French fries/chocolate bars diet from the
first school), they would not only have the parents yelling their lungs out.
They would also have the kids themselves complaining.

"Auntie Em" wrote in message
news
I'm not sure what projects they have in their health classes but I was
impressed with the physical education courses available to my
granddaughters. Here's a list of them from the school website. IIRC the
granddaughters indicated they were required to take 1-2 courses each year.


Basic Health Gymnastics Apparatus
Athletic Training Total Fitness
CPR/First Aid Introduction to Weight Training
Human Sexuality Weight Training II
Thanatology Weight Training III
Heritage of Movement/Physical Education Survey Outdoor Education I
PE Independent Study Outdoor Education II
Archery I Recreational Activities
Archery II Basic Juggling
Badminton I Roller Skating
Badminton II Fitness Walking
Basketball I Slim Aerobics
Basketball II Introduction to Soccer
Fencing I Softball
Fencing II Tennis I
Sabre Tennis II
Flag Football Track and Field
Golf I Volleyball I
Golf II Volleyball II
Basic Gymnastics
Tumbling I
Tumbling II


What do the poor children do who prefer more refined activities such
as reading, writing poety, playing music do? Do they have mandatory
classes in these subjects as well?

They take those during the other hours of the day. Read more carefully,
these are the *phys ed* courses available, not the only courses available.
Phys ed is still required in many states and should continue to be.

Sounds a little one-sided ot me.

Pot - kettle - black.

Jenn

"Auntie Em" wrote in message
news
I'm not sure what projects they have in their health classes but I was
impressed with the physical education courses available to my
granddaughters. Here's a list of them from the school website. IIRC the
granddaughters indicated they were required to take 1-2 courses each year.


Basic Health Gymnastics Apparatus
Athletic Training Total Fitness
CPR/First Aid Introduction to Weight Training
Human Sexuality Weight Training II
Thanatology Weight Training III
Heritage of Movement/Physical Education Survey Outdoor Education I
PE Independent Study Outdoor Education II
Archery I Recreational Activities
Archery II Basic Juggling
Badminton I Roller Skating
Badminton II Fitness Walking
Basketball I Slim Aerobics
Basketball II Introduction to Soccer
Fencing I Softball
Fencing II Tennis I
Sabre Tennis II
Flag Football Track and Field
Golf I Volleyball I
Golf II Volleyball II
Basic Gymnastics
Tumbling I
Tumbling II


What do the poor children do who prefer more refined activities such
as reading, writing poety, playing music do? Do they have mandatory
classes in these subjects as well?

They take those during the other hours of the day. Read more carefully,
these are the *phys ed* courses available, not the only courses available.
Phys ed is still required in many states and should continue to be.

Sounds a little one-sided ot me.

Pot - kettle - black.

Jenn