Comments on: Why blame the government for fat kids? http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/ Parenting, Politics and News for the Perfectly Challenged Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:08:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Michelle http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-119705 Michelle Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:03:07 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-119705 I find it hard to believe that ANYONE fails to understand the challenges to getting kids to exercise and eat healthy when they are in poor and impoverished neighborhoods. For one thing, many kids in truly dangerous areas literally can not go outside for fear of something happening to them. This I know from talking with kids in those areas. Also, as someone correctly pointed out if they are children of the working poor there may be other extenuating circumstances. If the government wants to create a war on obesity and they want families to take more responsibility for their health, then why shouldn't they have to aid in the process? It is not all or nothing... I do not think the article was trying to say that the government has to assume full responsibility for this. Rather, they need to help to create an environment where healthy living is more of a possibility. I find it hard to believe that ANYONE fails to understand the challenges to getting kids to exercise and eat healthy when they are in poor and impoverished neighborhoods. For one thing, many kids in truly dangerous areas literally can not go outside for fear of something happening to them. This I know from talking with kids in those areas. Also, as someone correctly pointed out if they are children of the working poor there may be other extenuating circumstances. If the government wants to create a war on obesity and they want families to take more responsibility for their health, then why shouldn’t they have to aid in the process? It is not all or nothing… I do not think the article was trying to say that the government has to assume full responsibility for this. Rather, they need to help to create an environment where healthy living is more of a possibility.

]]> By: DrBookgrrl http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106406 DrBookgrrl Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:51:10 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106406 On the PE requirements, you are required by law in Illinois (in H.S.) to have 7 semesters of PE. The 8th semester is health. Something that's being left out of this equasion - and it's a BIG something - is the fact that the government is in bed with the farmers and the farm lobbies, and basically hand schools crappy food thanks to the farm subsidies programs. And also due to farm policy, we have a plethora of food infused with cheap sweetners like high-fructose corn syrup, which why twinkies cost less than an apple. On the PE requirements, you are required by law in Illinois (in H.S.) to have 7 semesters of PE. The 8th semester is health.

Something that’s being left out of this equasion - and it’s a BIG something - is the fact that the government is in bed with the farmers and the farm lobbies, and basically hand schools crappy food thanks to the farm subsidies programs. And also due to farm policy, we have a plethora of food infused with cheap sweetners like high-fructose corn syrup, which why twinkies cost less than an apple.

]]> By: Cara http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106258 Cara Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:17:24 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106258 Here in Texas I think that PE is being cut because they're trying to cram as much study time for standardized tests into the day, not so much a because of a lack of money for PE teachers. Some of the elementary schools don't even have recess every day. Can you imagine a first grader not being able to go outside and run around at least once during a 7 hour period? Anything that isn't directly related to something that's on a state exam is cut including PE, music and art. It's so very sad. Here in Texas I think that PE is being cut because they’re trying to cram as much study time for standardized tests into the day, not so much a because of a lack of money for PE teachers. Some of the elementary schools don’t even have recess every day. Can you imagine a first grader not being able to go outside and run around at least once during a 7 hour period?

Anything that isn’t directly related to something that’s on a state exam is cut including PE, music and art. It’s so very sad.

]]> By: julymom http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106220 julymom Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:00:20 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106220 [quote comment="106218"]Hmmmm..... when I was in HS in IL, we had PE every day. It was required every day for all four years. I was in HS from '83-87 (yeah, 20 years ago!). I wonder when that changed.[/quote] I went to HS in IL from 88-91 (87 was in SC and we had PE once a week unless you were in band or ROTC, and then you were exempt) and we were only required to go twice a week. Must have changed right after you graduated, or it could be done by district, I suppose. [quote comment="106218"]Hmmmm….. when I was in HS in IL, we had PE every day. It was required every day for all four years. I was in HS from ‘83-87 (yeah, 20 years ago!). I wonder when that changed.[/quote]

I went to HS in IL from 88-91 (87 was in SC and we had PE once a week unless you were in band or ROTC, and then you were exempt) and we were only required to go twice a week. Must have changed right after you graduated, or it could be done by district, I suppose.

]]> By: Petulant Pixie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106218 Petulant Pixie Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:44:21 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106218 Hmmmm..... when I was in HS in IL, we had PE every day. It was required every day for all four years. I was in HS from '83-87 (yeah, 20 years ago!). I wonder when that changed. Hmmmm….. when I was in HS in IL, we had PE every day. It was required every day for all four years. I was in HS from ‘83-87 (yeah, 20 years ago!). I wonder when that changed.

]]> By: julymom http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106215 julymom Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:24:15 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106215 [quote comment="106202"]If 5 day a week PE is being enforced in IL, it must be for upper grades only -- it's only once a week at our elementary school. They do have recess daily, however.[/quote] I was going to say this same thing! We're in southern IL and ds has PE one day a week. He does have 3 recesses a day (all grades K-8 do at his school), but only 1 day of organized PE. I went to HS in IL, and we had PE 2 times a week (which I got out of at every available opportunity), but that was a million years ago. I do think parents are mostly to blame for overweight children. Parents have to set the example. My family eats fast food maybe 2-3 times a month (maybe), but I know some kids who eat fast food 3-5 times a week. It's so easy to cook something healthy and it's really not that expensive. We eat a lot of fish (expensive fish too, like tuna steak and coho salmon), but you don't need a lot of it if you cook a lot of veggies with it. People don't give kids veggies, because they think they won't like them, but I think it's more the lack of exposure at an early age. Yes, PE should be reinstated in schools, because kids NEED to get exercise and run off that excess energy (which makes it so much easier to get them in bed at night), and schools need to offer healthy meals, but health needs to start at home. [quote comment="106202"]If 5 day a week PE is being enforced in IL, it must be for upper grades only — it’s only once a week at our elementary school. They do have recess daily, however.[/quote]

I was going to say this same thing! We’re in southern IL and ds has PE one day a week. He does have 3 recesses a day (all grades K-8 do at his school), but only 1 day of organized PE.
I went to HS in IL, and we had PE 2 times a week (which I got out of at every available opportunity), but that was a million years ago.
I do think parents are mostly to blame for overweight children. Parents have to set the example. My family eats fast food maybe 2-3 times a month (maybe), but I know some kids who eat fast food 3-5 times a week. It’s so easy to cook something healthy and it’s really not that expensive. We eat a lot of fish (expensive fish too, like tuna steak and coho salmon), but you don’t need a lot of it if you cook a lot of veggies with it. People don’t give kids veggies, because they think they won’t like them, but I think it’s more the lack of exposure at an early age.
Yes, PE should be reinstated in schools, because kids NEED to get exercise and run off that excess energy (which makes it so much easier to get them in bed at night), and schools need to offer healthy meals, but health needs to start at home.

]]> By: Petulant Pixie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106209 Petulant Pixie Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:37:12 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106209 I don't know, here in MN even in our wealthy school district, they only have it twice a week. In Alex's school, they have so many semesters of PE required in the 6 year time frame. I don't even know what they are. But, in 6th grade the kids not in band had a semester of PE and they had it every day. The alternate semester, they had their study skills/computer keyboarding class. The kids in band (like Alex) had to make up the PE requirements by taking two PE classes (90 minutes each) every day for the month of May Term. So, if it weren't for his karate, then for the entire school year except for the last month, he'd have no PE, and then he had three hours of PE a day for a month. If it weren't for the conditioning he had in karate, he probably would have had a heart attack the first week of May Term. I don’t know, here in MN even in our wealthy school district, they only have it twice a week. In Alex’s school, they have so many semesters of PE required in the 6 year time frame. I don’t even know what they are. But, in 6th grade the kids not in band had a semester of PE and they had it every day. The alternate semester, they had their study skills/computer keyboarding class. The kids in band (like Alex) had to make up the PE requirements by taking two PE classes (90 minutes each) every day for the month of May Term. So, if it weren’t for his karate, then for the entire school year except for the last month, he’d have no PE, and then he had three hours of PE a day for a month. If it weren’t for the conditioning he had in karate, he probably would have had a heart attack the first week of May Term.

]]> By: Jessica http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106203 Jessica Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:53:34 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106203 [quote comment="106194"] So, to ensure that the kids are getting adequate exercise and nutritious meals while in the care of the public school would go a long way towards improving those areas of their lives.[/quote] I agree. I think it's horrible that kids don't have PE everyday anymore. And it's not going to change anytime soon either. I just saw on CNN (I think) that schools, realizing the need for more PE, have bought Wiis with those dancing games, because it's economical and they don't have to pay a PE teacher. Does anybody know specifically, why schools can't afford PE anymore? I mean, I know they're underfunded and I know that referrendums are constantly being defeated, but what makes today so different than when we were kids? Anyone? [quote comment="106194"] So, to ensure that the kids are getting adequate exercise and nutritious meals while in the care of the public school would go a long way towards improving those areas of their lives.[/quote]

I agree. I think it’s horrible that kids don’t have PE everyday anymore. And it’s not going to change anytime soon either.

I just saw on CNN (I think) that schools, realizing the need for more PE, have bought Wiis with those dancing games, because it’s economical and they don’t have to pay a PE teacher.

Does anybody know specifically, why schools can’t afford PE anymore? I mean, I know they’re underfunded and I know that referrendums are constantly being defeated, but what makes today so different than when we were kids? Anyone?

]]> By: Prescott http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106202 Prescott Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:42:45 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106202 If 5 day a week PE is being enforced in IL, it must be for upper grades only -- it's only once a week at our elementary school. They do have recess daily, however. If 5 day a week PE is being enforced in IL, it must be for upper grades only — it’s only once a week at our elementary school. They do have recess daily, however.

]]> By: Petulant Pixie http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106194 Petulant Pixie Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:15:34 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2007/08/28/why-blame-the-government-for-fat-kids/#comment-106194 Well, the problem with the kids in the impoverished areas is that a lot of them are working poor. Where both parents hold low paying jobs with irregular hours, so the kids' meals and exercise aren't really supervised. Getting homework done, keeping out of trouble, and just getting through the day are the big priorites of folks living like that. So, to ensure that the kids are getting adequate exercise and nutritious meals while in the care of the public school would go a long way towards improving those areas of their lives. Well, the problem with the kids in the impoverished areas is that a lot of them are working poor. Where both parents hold low paying jobs with irregular hours, so the kids’ meals and exercise aren’t really supervised. Getting homework done, keeping out of trouble, and just getting through the day are the big priorites of folks living like that. So, to ensure that the kids are getting adequate exercise and nutritious meals while in the care of the public school would go a long way towards improving those areas of their lives.

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