It’s Hard to Eat Healthy

As I perused the strategically-placed aisles on my trip to the grocery store, ignoring my sweet tooth and systematically avoiding shelves of candy, cookies and ice cream, I was dismayed but not surprised by the steadily escalating prices of the “good stuff.” Or at least, the “good for you” stuff. Milk: $4.00 a gallon. Eggs: $2.55 a dozen. Whole wheat bread: $1.49 a loaf.

 

Eating healthy just got a lot harder.

 

But I’m not the only one feeling the crunch. To offset record-high fuel prices, which dictate costs of just about everything—hence, the soaring food prices—grade schools across the country are scaling back on costs by cutting corners in the kitchen.

 

Many schools are putting nutrition on the backburner, opting for less healthy but more affordable food alternatives for students. The Miami-Dade County school district in Florida overhauled its lunch menu, nixing hard-boiled eggs and increasing the price of some a la carte items.

 

Good eating habits have to start early, and growing boys and girls need nutritious food not a lesson in bad dietary decisions that could haunt them in their teenage and adult years in the form of obesity, diabetes or heart disease.

 

Almost 18 percent of children 12 to 19 years old are overweight, according to a 2003-2004 National health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control (NCHS/CDC). The numbers will continue to climb along with fuel prices if healthy childhood eating habits aren’t encouraged now.

 

So instead of substituting white bread for whole wheat or canned fruit for fresh, we need to shout a resounding “No” to poor quality food in our schools. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are Virtual Classrooms the Way to Go?

No doubt, we’ve made headway since rotary phones and typewriters spanned the shelves of Sears and Roebuck. We prefer Macs to word processors and the iPod to the once- ubiquitous CD player, bemoaning any hint of technological stagnancy while casting mocking glances at those shameless mavericks who boldly flaunt Polaroid cameras instead of digital. We adhere to the school of perpetual upgrades.

 

Sussex Technical high school in Delaware took a tip from this particular school of thought, upgrading its curriculum in January to include virtual classes. Students can choose from six virtual courses (algebra 1, pre-calculus, Spanish 1, Spanish 2, American government and physical education) to supplement their in-school class schedule. The online coursework and instructors, courtesy of Florida Virtual School and Apex Learning in Washington, allow flexibility and, essentially, a customized learning environment where students dictate pace and schedule. Students can choose when to go online and do the coursework, provided it’s completed on time. And to boot, the school system foots the bill.

 

The program is ideal for students struggling with schedule conflicts. A needed or desired class that’s incompatible with a student’s schedule or not offered at school (like AP courses) might be taken virtually. Students can make up failed classes without the time and expense of summer school.

 

But let’s slow down and put on the breaks before we get ahead of ourselves. The program isn’t foolproof, and it’s not for everyone. Some students find the at-home environment less distracting and more conducive to learning, while others find the program enables procrastination and need the direct and constant guidance of a teacher.  

 

The state spent $150,000 on the pilot program and requested $1.2 million to expand the virtual school at the start of the July 1 fiscal year. Here comes the million dollar question: Is it worth it? Some students can thrive in an independent environment, while many others fumble. Does the virtual school limit or enhance educational growth and opportunity without the convention of classroom instruction?

 

As long as schools remain discriminative and avoid hastily prescribing to the notion of “All technology is good technology” the virtual school will probably be an asset rather than a hindrance to good education…My only concern—I don’t know how you take PE online, but to each his own.

 

 

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804230330

 

Happy 38th, Earth Day

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/NEWS03/804230356

 

In light of Earth Day’s 38^th anniversary Tuesday, Sanford Upper School in Delaware implemented a wholly paperless day—a fitting homage since the “holiday’s” 1970 inception. A senior at the school initiated Paperless Day, proposing the school refrain from paper usage the entire day, in an effort to encourage a “greener” society. The student estimated about 2,400 sheets of paper were saved.

 

This was an admirable step for the school, and surely similar green-conscious initiatives will follow, but one day a year is just not enough.

 

Kind of makes you think, doesn’t it? But how often does it make us act? Sure, we’ve adopted the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and we’re even doing that hip recycling thing, but not enough of us implement the ideals of environmental consciousness as lifestyle changes, rather than a temporary fix to a burgeoning environmental crisis. We exacerbate the problem of global warming, a thinning ozone layer and melting polar ice caps when we fail to act consciously.

 

Paul Brooks was right on the money in his 1971 observation in The Pursuit of Wilderness: “Today you can murder land for private profit. You can leave the corpse for all to see, and nobody calls the cops.” We’re not doing enough to conserve our environmental resources, and