BCT Editorial – 7/31/06

This page was last updated on July 31, 2006.

Belly up; Editorial; Beaver County Times; July 31, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Getting American children to eat healthier foods is a parental responsibility

“What’s next? Classes teaching table manners.

“In yet another example of society forcing schools to assume parental duties, the federal Children Nutrition and WID Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandates that schools have wellness programs in place when school starts in late August.

“The law’s primary objective is to combat childhood obesity rates and sugar intake.

“As a result, potato chips and sugared soft drinks are out, and carrot sticks and non-carbonated beverages like milk and juice are in when it comes to menu choices children will have.

“In many instances, school districts already have been moving in that direction.

“As a matter of principle, the thrust of the federal law is hard to question. Our children should be eating better, and childhood obesity is a national disgrace.

“But there’s a failure to recognize reality that dooms these efforts.

“Start with this. Children only spend about 11 percent of a calendar year in school. The rest of their time is spent with family and friends. Schools can put healthy food on the menu, but they can’t force children to eat it. They also can teach children the importance of eating right, but they have no control over what children consume in their free time.

“Also, exercise is an important component in any healthy lifestyle, yet physical education classes have shrunk to once a week in many districts as academic courses have been added. If we’re serious about reducing childhood obesity, phys ed should be a daily activity. (Don’t worry, couch and mouse potatoes. It’s never going to happen.)

“Finally, parents are responsible for what their children consume. Parents are responsible for instilling good eating habits in their children. Parents are responsible for making their children appreciate the positive benefits of good nutrition. How many parents would pass those tests?

“We wish some school district would monitor the content of the food that children bring in their lunch boxes. Sight unseen, we’d be willing to bet the ratio of apples to Ho Hos would be pretty lopsided.”

[RWC] Though I could nitpick, the editorial wasn’t too bad until we got to this paragraph. Here the left leanings of the Times finally sneak in. The Times actually advocates government officials (school districts) searching student lunch boxes? Is the editorial author kidding?

Remember, this is the same newspaper that’s upset we’re eavesdropping on the international communications of terrorists and tracking international money transfers of terrorists.

According to the Times, it’s wrong to snoop on terrorists but it’s perfectly OK to search lunch boxes for food content. Incredible!

“There’s also a level of adult hypocrisy that won’t go undetected. Children, especially teenagers, can spot a hypocrite a mile away. They don’t have to look very far to see adults in their lives who aren’t practicing what is being preached to the teens, and they’ll react accordingly.

“We wish schools good luck in this endeavor. However, don’t hold them responsible when you don’t see a lot of svelte American children running around. The responsibility for this weighty matter rests with parents, not schools, and unless they’re willing to change, nothing will change.”