I was watching Good Morning America before coming to work. They offer many segments on healthy living. There was a short news item today about the military being concerned because a substantial proportion of potential recruits (20% if I remember correctly) were enough over weight that they could not be accepted for military training. Military officials were planning to present this problem to Congress and were recommending that school lunches be improved.
So, this is where my sensitivity kicks in. Why was the one suggestion, the one solution that could be imagined to improve adolescent health, focused on a “school problem”? So, the piece of pizza the teenager selected rather than go through the salad line is the source of the health crisis and the two cokes and cheese balls the same kid eats while sitting in front of the television after driving home at the end of the school day is not an issue? Was this the only suggestion the military officials could generate or the only solution the news folks decided to offer as an example?
Maybe educators should be pleased the public expects so much of them. Your kid have a drinking problem or making other poor life choices? Don’t worry, the school should be able to fix it. Is your kid fat? The schools should be able to come up with some magic, one meal a day, health plan. Is your kid harassing other kids from the computer in his bed room? No problem! Educators will create a program to address cyberbullying and counter your disinterest in supervision. It is great to be regarded as “the solution”. I think school boards should print tee shirts for teachers with this short motto – I am THE SOLUTION.
What about an extended school day so that this increasing list of challenges can be fit around the subject matter necessary to qualify the school as meeting standards? Only if teachers are willing to work more hours for the same pay? Really! But school boards and parents, did you like the tee shirt idea? Tee shirts would be cheap.