http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2007/06/11/longer_school_day_leaner_kids/
While I do apprecitate the fact that they are making more nutritious vending choices available--umm--why don't they just keep the kids an extra 2 or 3 hours and then they can really work wonders with American kids. Goodness knows they're doing a great job now. (slight sarcasm) Thanks for the post.
I think, though, that it'd be great to put exercise back into the curriculum. If kids are going to be at ps anyway, then more nutritious food and actual exercise would be GREAT to add in! I never did understand why exercise was the first thing thrown out! How about throwing out s-x ed, that shows kids how to do all the things they then say are not good to do---but if you are, here's how to go about it?!
What really irritates me about this is the spirit of the proposal for a longer day. Once again, the government is stating in no uncertain terms that they are the ones responsible for our children on all levels. I agree that ps should be focusing on fitness, but the school day itself should be restructured. Keeping kids away from their families for even longer is not the answer. Most kids come home from school exhausted already. By extending the school day, they open the door to extend it further and further. Now it's "if kids need exercise we'd better keep them longer so they can get it." Next it will be "if kids need healthy breakfast, we'd better get them earlier so they can get it." Then it will be "if kids need healthy dinners, we'd better keep them until dinner time." And on and on.... Perhaps I'm coming off as a bit of a conspiracy theorist here, but I am nervous enough with our push for mandatory public preschool. Our district already has public pre-k in many of the elementary schools... I'm just waiting for them to decide it's required. Maybe I'm selfish, but my kids are my kids and I'm the one responsible for them!
I agree---restructuring is what they should do, NOT extend the day! That's why I offered another class that I think they could exchange for a PE/exercise class! Yeah, the government is working on getting more and more power....
