Rebecca Halonen
National Karate Schools, Sartell
How do we make decisions about what our children eat? Do we want schools to buy our children’s love with minimally nutritious pizza? Is it wise to allow boy or girl scout troop leaders on a limited budget to serve the least expensive sandwich possible? How do we want to teach our children about food choices in a country where obesity is rampant and heart disease accounts for the largest percentage of health-related illnesses and deaths?
I believe this topic is over-dramatized in our country today. That said, it’s important to realize children learn by example and modeling to a much greater degree than by lecture or discussion. Do we want our children’s teachers and schools to condone fast-food lunches and candy on a regular basis? What lessons would they learn at school if lunch consisted of mac ‘n’ cheese, buttered bread and a brownie? Kids might like this fare and it would be easy on the budget. However, I don’t believe the school’s job is to befriend kids and save money. I believe the school’s job is to teach our kids to be healthy, informed adults.
It’s various governmental and regulatory entities that make decisions about school policy and what lessons that policy teaches our children. Government officials are hired to take the place of parents for our kids in areas where we as individual parents have little or no control. Adults don’t need government to decide what’s best for individual families, but I am glad government tries to ensure our food supply is safe. Parents as free citizens of America have the duty and privilege to make decisions for their children. Individual parents have little control over the decisions schools make for children. We expect our elected and appointed officials to protect our children in schools and other public situations.
According to columnist Ron Scarbro (Sept. 12, Opinion page), natural selection will weed out people who are too stupid to know what is good for them. Do we really want our children to face the process of natural selection without learning how to be successful and survive? Schools, sports and other public group activities provide examples and contribute to children’s knowledge and their ability to make informed decisions. Our school lunch programs fall under the jurisdiction of our government, not Mr. Scarbro’s or any other individual’s counsel. Mrs. Obama may not be Mr. Scarbro’s mother, but she is aware children may not be trusted to make informed decisions regarding their diet. Her campaign to provide healthy food for our children should be applauded by parents everywhere. I am glad she chooses to “BUTT IN” to try to improve our children’s health and promote learning nutrition by example in our school systems.
Ms. Halonen and National Karate Schools are proud to promote healthy choices and lifestyles when parents trust us to help their children learn to be successful, confident adults.
