Posted on 03/28/2005 9:51:43 AM PST by Vision Thing
HONOLULU -- A state lawmaker has suggested Hawaii's public schoolteachers be forced to weigh in as part of the fight against obesity in students, KITV in Honolulu reported.
State Rep. Rida Cabanilla introduced a resolution in the house requesting that the Board of Education establish an obesity database among public schoolteachers.
"You cannot keep a kid to a certain standard that you yourself is not willing to keep," Cabanilla said.
It's been documented that more than 20 percent of Hawaii's children are at risk, or are already overweight, according to the station. There are no statistics on teachers.
The resolution calls for all public schoolteachers to weigh in every six months.
The measure calls for the education and health departments to formulate an obesity standard and appropriate measures for teachers who cannot meet the standard.
"As a matter of fact, we should start at home, but since the legislature has no way to regulate homes, we can at least start in school," Cabanilla said. "And teachers have a lot of impact to these students."
The teachers union said it agrees that teachers are at the front line when it comes to the education and health of children, but it says the resolution is misguided.
"I think at this point and time, the focus really needs to be on putting highly-qualified teachers in the classroom," Hawaii State Teachers Association President Roger Takabayashi said.
The union defended its members as low users of the health fund system.
"I think it's quite offensive. I don't think it will lead us anywhere. It's not going to benefit the children necessarily," Takabayashi said.
A similar resolution is being considered by the state senate.
Next they'll ban Poi from the lunchrooms.
When will they be weighing the lawmakers?
I really hate health Nazis. I will drink what I want, smoke my cigars, and eat what I want. Deal with it.
or better yet- assessing their blood-alchohol level.
This is a great idea. If the are over the limit we suspend them with pay and to fulfill our obligations under ADA we send them to a spa.
So much for Samoan teachers.
Yep, it doesn't matter if they can read or write, as long as they look good!
Who is the judge that says what is normal for humans anyway?
Really I mean how stupid. I had plenty of fat teachers, as a matter of fact watching the teachers arm fat swing wildly as she was writing on the board was half the fun of school. It never prompted me to go out and eat 20 candy bars! :-)
No kalua pig for you!
I think some amount of that is genetic somehow.
In junior-high/high school we had a Hawaiian family. The mother was probably 300 pounds or more. Cute face, but very much on the chunky, solid side.
She had a daughter that was the cutest/sexiest thing you've ever seen. Well, she was built-to-the-hilt from about 13 until 17 or so. From 17 to 19 she probably packed on 75 pounds per year. By the time she was 20/21 she was a dead-ringer for her mom.
The funny thing about that was that she had two brothers that were very muscular and ripped all through high school. They were like little Schwarzeneggers just smaller. Maybe 58 and 170/180 or so.
By the time they were in their early 20s they had to be in the 350 pound range.
They werent sloppy fat but were more big solid fat like a lot of Samoans are. Of course, they were in their early 20s so that could explain that.
You don't know how close to the truth you are when it comes to liberal Hawaii lawmakers.
How about weighing lawmakers and other "do gooders"?
Oh please. Weighed? Just give 'em a look - you can tell if they're fat or not.
"OK, old geezer, I need to see your ID before I can sell you a pack of smokes. Although you look like you're about 80 years old, I can't really know it unless I check, now can I?"
That was my first thought too. Not to stereotype, but Pacific Islanders were always the largest folks when I lived in Oahu. I guess a steady diet of Loco Moco, Chicken Katsu and Kalua Pig doesn't help the waistline. I'm sur ethey're ticked about this idea.
I thought Hillary Clinton said it took a village. Our children are not our own, didn't you know that? Speaking of fat, I'd say Cabanilla has plenty between the ears.
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