According to scholars, we are such wrecks at being parents that we are not able to mandate our own children’s health. We must depend instead on government professionals to be able to prevent the inevitable. What that is, reported by one scholar:
“We are going to have the first generation of children who are not going to live as long as their parents.” Dr. George Blackburn, Harvard Medical School
The Federally Mandated Wellness Policy has schools offering online reports of what they do to abide by the mandates.
Where did the large plans and huge goals from the government’s wellness program actually take the schools? During the four years since this plan was set in place, has obesity been substantially reduced by the school lunches, breakfast programs, along with other things?
Have the school systems reported far reaching changes and improvement? In many instances, not likely.
The Guidelines:
* “Establish a local school wellness policy no later than the first day of school after June 30, 2006.
* School Wellness Policies must contain at least:
– Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, etc to promote student wellness
– Nutrition guidelines for all foods available during the school day should promote student health and reduce childhood obesity”
These guidelines are interesting in that they don’t explain for us, as parents or educators, precisely what our goals ought to be. They say nothing about where the funding will come from for any new physical activity programs and new eating patterns for the children.
The foods being served from the cafeterias are “Super Donut, S’mores pop tart, fruit loops, corn dogs and so forth….” says one blogging mother who plans to review her school’s Wellness Policy. What new outlook does offering sweet treats and fast food type meals provide?
Las Vegas School Districts monthly menu includes pizza, chicken nuggets, nachos, as well as other foods that don’t seem to encourage the goals behind the wellness policy.
In the Federally Mandated Guidelines, exactly where do these kinds of foods fit? Are they within the letter of the Wellness Policy? Or even within the spirit of it? Are they teaching better nutrition by example?
Interviewing parents from three school districts in two states, each stated they hadn’t been contacted by their schools at all with regard to the wellness policy and the purpose of the federal government with regard to it. Can we make the changes that are needed without the assistance from the family involved?
The Federal Mandates seem to lend more credence towards the school’s influence on the child than the parents have. In nearly every case, this is flawed. Involving the family in your efforts to improve a child’s outlook toward food and wellness will be a lot more successful. However, this isn’t being done.
The intent of our government appears to be a good thing, and the federal mandates are of course geared toward saving us from ourselves and helping our children to become better equipped to live a long and healthy life, free of heart disease and obesity issues.
Though applaudable in all aspects, it’s hardly sensible once you consider the following:
-Parental and family involvement is not encouraged
-In many cases, the fastfood lifestyle and eating routine is being encouraged by the appearance of food in most cafeterias
-School budget reductions in recent times have left the schools without the money to buy pencils, to replace old books, and also to keep good teachers, let alone buying locally grown fruits and vegetables to assure compliance with a healthier tomorrow.
The final outcome of the Wellness Policy on the obesity of the children nowadays is still to be found. While we have hope that it may alter the future for a number of those kids, without some change in how schools are interpreting the policy, that might not be in the cards.
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