Julie Deardorff
Chicago Tribune
March 26, 2006
A new federal law orders parents to do some health-related homework: help schools design tougher nutrition and exercise policies for next year.
But it might prove to be a daunting task. Not only are most parents unaware of the mandate, but when quizzed about their kids' school health habits, the results showed they desperately need a review course, according to a report by Skokie-based Action for Healthy Kids.
Yes, many parents have likely heard that Illinois education leaders recently voted to ban junk food and high-calorie sodas in elementary and middle schools. But the national online survey found there's "a critical need to close the gap between parents' perceptions of school policies ... and the reality in schools today." Here's a quick look inside the hallways.
Parents' view: Fifty percent of parents believe schools are doing an "excellent" or "good" job educating children about nutrition.
Reality: The average school health education curriculum includes an average of just five hours of nutrition education per school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Parents' view: Seventy-seven percent support a daily physical education requirement, with a recommended allocation of 48 minutes daily. Most rated their child's school as "excellent" or "good" when it comes to making daily physical education available to everyone.
Reality: Only 5.8 to 8 percent of American schools provide daily physical education.
Parents' view: Fifty-two percent believe schools do an "excellent" or "good" job encouraging children to consume healthful food and beverages.
Reality: Most schools allow students to purchase soda, chips and candy on campus.
To help change the reality, all schools participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs must draft and implement local wellness policies by the beginning of the next school year.
The new federal law demands that parents work alongside teachers, administrators and school food-service personnel to try to make healthy changes.
Steve - These are some unbelievable statistics. As we have said countless times in the past, much of the onus for the abismal nutrition & health policies, school lunches, etc. fall squarely on the shoulder's of the parents. Parents are resistant to major changes because that means they would be pressured to make the same changes at home. If parents really cared about this issue, things would be different.
Unfortunately, the new federal law that Julie refers to is severly flawed. We have spoken to several members of school boards across Chicagoland that laugh at the guidelines. The government is passing the buck in the case, and they are partially correct. Until the parents stand up and demand major changes, not much can get done.
But it might prove to be a daunting task. Not only are most parents unaware of the mandate, but when quizzed about their kids' school health habits, the results showed they desperately need a review course, according to a report by Skokie-based Action for Healthy Kids.
Yes, many parents have likely heard that Illinois education leaders recently voted to ban junk food and high-calorie sodas in elementary and middle schools. But the national online survey found there's "a critical need to close the gap between parents' perceptions of school policies ... and the reality in schools today." Here's a quick look inside the hallways.
Parents' view: Fifty percent of parents believe schools are doing an "excellent" or "good" job educating children about nutrition.
Reality: The average school health education curriculum includes an average of just five hours of nutrition education per school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Parents' view: Seventy-seven percent support a daily physical education requirement, with a recommended allocation of 48 minutes daily. Most rated their child's school as "excellent" or "good" when it comes to making daily physical education available to everyone.
Reality: Only 5.8 to 8 percent of American schools provide daily physical education.
Parents' view: Fifty-two percent believe schools do an "excellent" or "good" job encouraging children to consume healthful food and beverages.
Reality: Most schools allow students to purchase soda, chips and candy on campus.
To help change the reality, all schools participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs must draft and implement local wellness policies by the beginning of the next school year.
The new federal law demands that parents work alongside teachers, administrators and school food-service personnel to try to make healthy changes.
Steve - These are some unbelievable statistics. As we have said countless times in the past, much of the onus for the abismal nutrition & health policies, school lunches, etc. fall squarely on the shoulder's of the parents. Parents are resistant to major changes because that means they would be pressured to make the same changes at home. If parents really cared about this issue, things would be different.
Unfortunately, the new federal law that Julie refers to is severly flawed. We have spoken to several members of school boards across Chicagoland that laugh at the guidelines. The government is passing the buck in the case, and they are partially correct. Until the parents stand up and demand major changes, not much can get done.
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