Too many of our children are overweight and out of shape. According to the 2005-06 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report, 22 to 31 percent of children are overweight and 30 to 41 percent are physically unfit. We’ve got a problem, but the good news is we are moving in the right direction.
The 2010 Silicon Valley Reads project’s selection this year is Michael Pollan’s In Defense Of Food: An Eaters Manifesto. I have just read it and concluded that it should be a must-read for every student in 7th grade physical education class. Perhaps some local philanthropist can make the funds available to make this happen, since districts are barely holding to solvency. There are approximately 21,000 7th grade students and at a paperback cost of $15 per copy the gift would need to be around $315,000. It would be a gift that would keep on giving.
Information is powerful, and if the information contained in Pollan’s book were to be discussed seriously in classrooms around Santa Clara County it would change lives forever. I wish I had the money.
In response to the burgeoning problem of childhood obesity, the Santa Clara County Office of Education in 2005 initiated the nationally recognized Fit for Learning program (FFL), to rave reviews. More than half of all elementary schools in the county are implementing FFL. This program is designed to increase physical activity for elementary school students while improving their overall nutrition. An in-classroom resource guide encourages use of a monthly health theme. For the month of February the theme is: Heart-Healthy Body.
It is interesting to note that the FFL October theme is Let’s Move, coincidentally the same name given to First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign for ending childhood obesity within a generation. This laudable goal is directly correlated, in my mind, with increasing student achievement. As a recent White House press release states, this is “America’s move to raise a healthier generation of kids.”
We landed a man on the moon within a decade from President Kennedy’s announcement to its fruition. We can do the same with ending childhood obesity, but it will take a coordinated effort by all community, political, and school leaders.
Michelle Obama also deserves enormous credit for creating a kitchen vegetable garden (first one in history) on the White House grounds for children. Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley, working with renowned organic chef Alice Waters, created the first Edible Schoolyard project several years ago. The time the students spend in the garden and cooking its produce is an integral part of the middle school science curriculum.
This Edible Schoolyard project is replicable and should be encouraged on every middle school campus. Many times there are more than 18 acres to a middle school campus. The edible schoolyard uses one acre of fertile land and a garden manager to accomplish its mission. What a great way for parents and community groups to become involved in a very worthwhile venture.
It is encouraging to note that the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Civil Grand Jury, Santa Clara County Office of Education and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, among others, have worked together to put Santa Clara County as a leader in the goal to eliminate childhood obesity while improving nutrition. The national Let’s Move campaign will only help us meet the goal.
One last thing: School districts should seriously consider changing the title of their food service director to Chief Nutrition Officer. It’s not about the food, but how nutritious the food is. We can do much better in the food we serve our children, but it might cost us a little more. Our children deserve it.
DiSalvo says, “Michelle Obama also deserves enormous credit for creating a kitchen vegetable garden (first one in history) on the White House grounds for children.”
Say what?
Wikipedia says, “The first White House vegetable garden was planted in 1800, by the second president of the United States John Adams and first lady Abigail Adams….Thomas Jefferson, the second president who resided in the White House, transformed Adams’ garden with the addition of ornamental and fruit trees….In 1825, (John Quincy) Adams personally planted seedlings such as fruit trees, herbs and vegetables to support his household….During World War II in 1943 President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden on the White House grounds.”
Even the Clintons had a vegetable garden on the roof of the White House.
Obviously, children of the First Families and staff were involved in these kitchen vegetable gardens before the New Vegetable Era began in January 2009.
Actually, this IS the first White House garden specifically planted to help educate children about healthy food choices.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/dining/20garden.html
But Chris, that’s not what DiSalvo said and that’s not what the New York Times article you linked to said. Chris, you can have your own opinions, but you cannot have your own facts no matter how hard you try.
Next thing you know Bo’s crew will be complaining that there aren’t enough European vegetables represented in the book.
I was simply making mention that the intent of creating this garden is what makes it unique and different from Elanor Roosevelt’s. I hope I didn’t cause you to do additional Wikipedia research!
BTW, The Obama’s are the fist residents of the White House to intentionally place a bee hive on the grounds. Here’s a pic!
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/gardening/whitehousebeehive.jpg
Did the Secret Service make sure these are not Killer Bees working for Al Queda?
Currently no W.A.S.P.‘s at the White House.
The Mercury News is scooped again:
http://www.examiner.com/x-13587-Bay-Area-Pro-Soccer-Examiner~y2010m2d22-Quakes-Get-Fit
> I have just read it and concluded that it should be a must-read for every student in 7th grade physical education class. Perhaps some local philanthropist can make the funds available to make this happen, since districts are barely holding to solvency. There are approximately 21,000 7th grade students and at a paperback cost of $15 per copy the gift would need to be around $315,000. It would be a gift that would keep on giving.
It appears that you are counting only PUBLIC SCHOOL 7th graders, and IF THIS IS THE CASE, I ask why only public schoolers?
If this is as valuable a resource for any 7th grader as is being asserted, AND the funds are from private philanthropic sources, THEN why should 7th graders in private schools (INCLUDING religiously oriented and parochial schools) and home schools be excluded from this initiative?
If non-public school students are excluded from this program, then I oppose it. If they are included, then I support it.
Explain who “they” are. We’re all dying to know.
One of Them,
Fully concur with your assertion. Yes, all children in 7th grade in SCC in public, private, or even home schooled should read and discuss the contents/meaning of Pollan’s book. I was not sure of the total n of 7th grade students in SCC.
Joseph Di Salvo
School gardens teach responsibility, patience and bring pride to local communities. I volunteered with a group called Collective Roots and was impressed with the scope of their efforts in bringing gardens to local schools.
Check them out at: http://www.collectiveroots.org/
“Active Commuting” is where you get places by burning calories and not carbon based fuels. After 60+ years of funding 99-1 highways over other transportation infrastructure, even the feds are looking at alternatives such as rails-trails where urban corridors for bike and pedestrian commutes can be created to link trips (school, residential, shopping, transit).
If you are biking to school and everyone else is driving a car (think High School social realities) you are somehow less than. There’s documented evidence from communities that targeted school age children for auto trip reductions and achieved huge results (over 50% walking or biking to school instead of driving or being dropped off by parents.) De-stygmatizing human powered travel as not just something “ghetto” that the poor kids do is huge.
So can we try any of this in San Jose? Are school districts even remotely related to where people live anymore? Are elementary schools and junior high schools a safe distance for children to travel?
High Schools serve larger catchment areas, but growing up I could have easily biked to the local High School, but didn’t as soon as I got my hands on a hand-me-down car from the parents. Its a freedom and cultural thing. In our post-industrial society, even if you have the cleanest hybrid in the world, the price of all that pavement and infrastructure and congestion caused by solo commuters is still casting a huge carbon footprint. If people are rich and lazy, would they consider changing their habits if it meant helping the earth and also helping themselves (health benefits)?
Blair,
Great point. To encourage walking or biking to school there is a day set aside to promote this goal. The International Walk-To-School Day is October 6, 2010. http://www.walktoschool.org. Unfortunately, only a few school districts participate. Perhaps we can make it a countywide effort this October.
Joseph Di Salvo