| Childhood obesity is at alarming levels | | | | Francisco Schools needs to be made aware |
| in this county. Children in the San | | | | of how nutrition choices will affect |
| Francisco Schools are no exception. Too | | | | their health. But it's a pretty safe bet |
| much television and video games, and too | | | | that the San Francisco Schools don't |
| little time spent playing outside has | | | | have much extra time to teach daily |
| led to an epidemic of juvenile health | | | | health classes. That's OK, what they're |
| issues. It sure doesn't help that the | | | | doing now might be even better. Schools |
| San Francisco Schools have had to cut | | | | need to lead by example. Just think of |
| funding for physical education over the | | | | the message that it sent to children to |
| years. But the 2007-2008 school year | | | | have soda in vending machines and |
| does have something positive going for | | | | options like chips, ice cream and fatty |
| it. Several San Francisco Schools will | | | | meals for lunch fare. The San Francisco |
| provide fresh salad bars, whole grain | | | | Schools are setting an example that the |
| options, and whole fruits and vegetable | | | | rest of the nation needs to emulate. |
| in their cafeterias. Twenty six San | | | | It's high time that schools look at the |
| Francisco Schools from elementary to | | | | messages they are sending to our |
| high school will benefit from a half a | | | | children. What Else Can the San |
| million dollar grant from the mayor's | | | | Francisco Schools Do? While healthier |
| office and the Department of Children, | | | | school lunches are a huge improvement to |
| Youth, and their families. This is a big | | | | the San Francisco Schools, the reality |
| deal. The fact that a school district | | | | is that every public school district in |
| has actually recognized the importance | | | | the country is struggling to succeed. |
| of nutrition in education is enormous. | | | | The San Francisco Schools experimented |
| For the past few decades public | | | | with the salad bars with pilot programs |
| education has acted as if the only | | | | in a few of the schools last year. |
| aspect of learning we should worry about | | | | Hopefully more San Francisco Schools |
| are test scores. The San Francisco | | | | will follow this example next year. It |
| Unified School District has been forced | | | | is more costly for the San Francisco |
| to slash the arts, physical education, | | | | Schools to provide this fresher fare |
| and anything not seen to directly affect | | | | than canned vegetables and mystery meat? |
| standardized tests. How Does Nutrition | | | | I'm sure it is. But the San Francisco |
| Affect San Francisco Schools Students? | | | | Schools will recoup the cost in children |
| Teachers in the San Francisco Schools | | | | who are more likely to pay attention |
| know that a child's academic success | | | | (maybe less ADD diagnoses), higher test |
| lies in several factors: home | | | | scores, children who are less fussy, and |
| environment, proper nutrition, and a | | | | who appreciate the taste of fresh foods. |
| good night sleep greatly impact a | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for |
| student's ability to pay attention and | | | | Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth |
| retain information. The fast food | | | | reports on all U.S. public and private |
| generation currently attending the San | | | | K-12 schools. |