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PiscesSchools Ban Bake Sales: Say What?!
What do you think?
Brett Berk: The New York City Board of Education has implemented a new policy banning bake sales in all of their schools. Well, mostly. Some groups -- like those connected to parent associations -- will be given a sweet pass. And if you want to peddle your toxic fat- and sugar-laden goods after 6 PM, once the building is chained and shuttered and feels like the stage set for some creepy horror movie, have at it. But otherwise, keep your brownies to yourself.
As an educator and child advocate, I totally understand the motivation behind a move like this. Allowing these kinds of things to be sold on school property and during school hours gives some illusion that they're officially sanctioned and supported, which isn't the best health-related message. And with four in ten NYC Public School students hitting the obese mark, implementing a policy like this might feel like doing something instead of doing nothing.
But moves like this, while symbolic, tend to lack impact, unless they're accompanied by deeper thoughts and actions. Like the recent flurry of interest in "family dinner time," or the past interest in Mozart for Babies, these kinds of simple, one-shot actions are not long-term cures, any more than washing down three Advil with a glass of Alka-Seltzer is a long-term cure for alcoholism. What we need in this country is not only efforts at regulation -- the decrees of which are simple and splashy and somehow comforting -- but also a coordinated and dedicated national health education curriculum for kids and parents, one that transcends the kind of simplistic fat:bad/broccoli:good lessons that we're currently teaching. (We could also use better access to affordable healthy foods in low-income neighborhoods, where fresh fruits and vegetables are often difficult to come by. Organic subsidies, anyone?)
These things are much harder to put into place, mainly because we have no coordinated and dedicated national health care policy, which is where one would traditionally imagine something like this coming from. Perhaps that will change at some point soon. Until then, the school soccer team (a healthy form of physical exertion we should be supporting) will have to find some other way to get the money to buy their uniforms. Hummus and carrot sale, anyone?
 | Brett Berk, M.S. Ed., has worked with young children and their families for over 20 years--as a classroom teacher, preschool director, and research consultant--and is the author of "The Gay Uncle's Guide to Parenting." |
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- 25 Comments
If schools had better funding, they wouldn’t need bake sales. Nowadays people can’t afford things like the wrapping paper sales my daughter’s school has…so what else are they supposed to do?
Oh geez. I thought you were SERIOUS about a brownie variance. But you didn’t talk about that at all. And I also thought maybe you’d say something about an exception for the littlest girls scouts, you know the brownies.
But no. So I ask you, who is going to buy this now that brownies are banned?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2g4YBGn8i4
Why does it have to mean that sweets are “sanctioned” by the schools? The goods sold at bake sales are representative of the various cultures that comprise the school population. No one is forced to eat those sweets. I call horseshit on this decision.
Excellent information here. This interesting post made me smile. Maybe if you throw in a couple of pics it will make the whole thing more interesting.
It absolutely looks to be so.Great post by the way!
Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I’m more of a visual learner,I found that to be more helpful well let me know how it turns out! I love what you guys are always up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the great works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll. This is a great article thanks for sharing this informative information.. I will visit your blog regularly for some latest post.
The summary was very well done and quite usefull.
I have read about this case and it was sensational. Although it was very clear that Al Hassan al-Majid and the rest of his group did it, they barely manage to counter it. Their defense was good but the evidence was overwhelming.
I hope you have a nice day! Very good article, well written and very thought out. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future.
I hope you have a nice day! Very good article, well written and very thought out. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future.
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
I know it sounds crazy but this reminded me of Abraham Lincoln’s: “Everybody likes a compliment.”
You pose a hard question. It really comes down to what you want to do. If youre most interested in holing up in your room, then Id say go to Occidental. It has a lovely Shangri-La feel to itvery far removed from civilization. Healdsburg is a better choice if you want something more active. You can hit a few wineries, then walk around the Plaza to sample goodies from the local gourmet groceries. As for Sonoma, well, I love Beltane Ranch. Check it out on the Sonoma page of the site. Staying in town is also fun because you can walk around, and of the three destinations, its the closest to the city.
I was raised in Mendocino, and I also admit that this is a pretty good account of my hometown. Although I have to say, I consider Mendo to be more faux-new england, than acctual new england. With the exception of the first settlers, the Fords and the Kellys, and the houses they built, the other houses were built quite late and are more new england style then anything. I also appriciate that you metioned the secluded-ness and small-ness of the town(though we all complained about it as kids). Too many tourists come to Mendocino to shop for Tommy Bahamas and video tape the ocean, only to go home complaining that there wasnt anything to do. Mendocino is a great place if you want to relax, have some great meals, and enjoy the outdoors (and lets not forget respecting the unique liberal atitude of the town!), it is not a disney-esque characature of a beach town (i.e. carmel). So I for one appriciate that Mendo is very difficult to get to, otherwise it might already BE Carmel.One great thing that there IS to do, is see a fantastic show at the thirty year old Mendocino Theatre Co. Ive been living in Ashland, Oregon for some time (though Im moving back to Mendocino as fast as my legs will get me there), and I must say that the Menocino Theatre Co. produces wonderful theatre that rivals anything that OSF produces. If you find yourself in Mendocino its not to be missed! And next season will be a real knock-out, dont miss it!
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Not quite on the Schools Ban Bake Sales: Say What?! | momlogic.com issue Now I’m not saying you are not a human being with out education. The mind was made to be trained and with out education, a person is incomplete in that sense.
I think it’s a great idea, I work in a public school, and I am constantly turning down sweets and other things from people. A lot of the students here and way too fat for their age, and need some healthier choices in their diet.
But this is also yet another problem that schools cant fix. People need to start being parents to their children, and stop trying to be their friends.