Posted on 05/10/2007 3:00:54 PM PDT by Baladas
Four times during the school year in Campbell County, Wyo., the school sends report cards home. Anxious parents and worried students are provided with the typical grading categories -- academic performance, attendance and a work ethic score.
But here in Gillette, there's an additional grade that has some families up in arms.
It's called the body mass index, or BMI, a calculation based on height and weight that indicates whether your kid is too fat. The school chooses the word "overweight." If your child scores too high, it's the fitness equivalent of a bad grade. When Taylor Barbour came home with a BMI score of 32, seven points over the "normal range," his mother, Rosie Barbour, was none too pleased. Her anger was directed not at her 12-year-old son but at the school.
"It just doesn't have any place in the school," said Barbour. "It's fine if you want to teach them how to eat healthy, and make better choices during health class, but I don't think giving them BMI on their report card" is the answer.
'The Strong Kids Club' On top of that, the school district sent a letter in the mail inviting Taylor -- and 172 other kids with high BMI scores -- to join an exercise program three times of week. It's called the Strong Kids Club and came free to his family, with a promise that "it will be fun."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I haven’t read all the posts yet, but rather than do the BMI thing, how about bringing back mandatory gym for all kids in all grades. Encourage sports, and get the junk out of the schools. AND—— keep the ice cream truck away from the school when kids get out for the day.
Knock it off.
Nanny staters are nanny staters. Your goal is different, but still devalues individual liberty.
You are right the wording is inconsistent, and I haven't decided how to handle the differences between choosing to send, or being forced by the government to send a child to government institutional confinement in their so-called "schools".
Private schooling differs from government schooling in that the parents are not threatened by police action if their child enrolls, so children are in private school because the parents feel that it is a better environment for the child, and have paid a ransom ( private tuition). That ransom insures that their family will not face the horror of prison, bankrupting legal fees, or foster care.
But,,,you are completely right. Private schooling is a form of institutionalization but more likely conforms to the values of the parents.
Believe me, you have none, in anyway about homeschooling either.
Pure speculation on your part. It is impossible for you to know what other people ( other than yourself) are thinking, unless they tell you. Even then you still can't know.
Your “scribblings” could actually be detrimental to the homeschooling movement. Someone with less knowlege of true homeschoolers would run in the opposite direction you allegedly are supporting, and thus my contention that is your goal.
I have been using the word "institutionalized" for some months now. Recently, this phrase has turned up in the editorials of writers who have wide readership. Not so long ago the phrase "educational-industrial-complex" was used by a Wall Street Journal editorialist. Also, the idea that government schools are not religiously neutral, and can **not** avoid trampling First Amendment Rights is being seen in the media.
As far as I know I was the first to use these terms and concepts, but **of course** it is impossible for me to know that. Whether or not these writers invented these terms independently, or if they have been picked up by others from me, I have no idea. But,,,,FR is a powerful message board and ideas generated here do find there way into the culture. Just ask Dan Rather.
That claim of yours has already been debunked by myself and others.
It has not been "debunked" by anyone on this board. Do you know of any reputable studies comparing the weight of homeschoolers and institutionalized children.
I have been very plain in these many posts that I **personally** have never met a fat homeschooler who has been exclusively homeschooled. I fully admit that this is an anecdotal observation. It is also anecdotal of mine that there are plenty of fat institutionalized children riding school buses.
Oh...and so I won't be punched in the nose by a strawman, not **every** post has stated that it is my **person** opinion that homeschoolers are not likely to be fat, BUT, any thoughtful reader will plainly know that it is my **personal** and anecdotal observation. Any thoughtful reader will understand that I am **not** presenting this anecdotal observation as if it were scientific fact.
Perhaps all of this warm discussion, will encourage someone with skill and curiosity to look into it.
In the meantime, parents must make decisions about education and their child's healthy weight based on imperfect and anecdotal information. Perhaps they do will notice, as I have, that homeschoolers tend to be fit and institutionalized children seem more likely to be fat.
BTW, the majority of private schools in this region (not my community, as there are none, but a multi-county, multi-state region) all use the same “prison busses” as are used by public schools the only difference is the name of the school painted on the side for identification. I personally know school bus drivers that refuse to drive for some of the private schools because of the discipline issues with those kids, mostly kids expelled from the evil public schools.
I agree. Point addressed previously.
Pure conjecture and opinion on your part.
I have been plain in previous posts that this is a personal observation and entirely anecdotal.
Your horror stories of school buses have nothing to do with the decision many of us have made about not using the school transportation system. Time was the primary issue. By the time the bus they would have been riding passes my house, my daughter and her friends that come here most afternoons are already outside playing after having already finished homework (with me supervising.) They are here not because of parents’ working, but because I have the largest property for them to play, which includes not only standard backyard play equipment, but a creek, room for batting or soccer play/practice, a putting green, and a 10,000+ square foot vegetable garden where they have their own section and are responsible for tending it.
I am glad your child is not riding the bus. Regardless of your reasons, she is will not get her clothing caught in the school bus doors and be dragged to death. Her bus driver will not run her over if she stoops to pick up something she has dropped. She will not have missing teeth and other facial injuries if the driver stops the bus suddenly. She will not be bullies, injured, or raped by the other students.
Now what was you were saying about”institutionalized” kids and the parents that send them to those schools?
I’ll check back in after I finish putting in 1,000 row feet of beans and corn, just to see if you are finally willing to directly address any of the factual comments that have been addressed to you, or if you will just, in typical fashion, remain on your high-horse of superiority.
Well,,,It is my personal opinion that homeschooling is superior. It is a shame that many children are not in ideal homes and must be institutionalized.
That you have planted vegetables is irrelevant, and will not influence others in their decision to homeschool or institutionalize their children.
“Well,,,It is my personal opinion that homeschooling is superior. It is a shame that many children are not in ideal homes and must be institutionalized.”
Here is my anecdotal opinion of you.
You have failed to answer the questions I addressed SPECIFICALLY to you.
I attempted to ask them in a neutral way.
Rather, you continue to ATTACK parents who dare to educate their children in a way other than you.
Additionally, you have gone out of your way to ATTACK me regarding my attempt to change the way my neighborhood works.
You are abrasive and give homeschooling a bad name.
I have never had a “conversation” with anyone on FR who is so ignorant of the damage they are doing to their cause.
Just like you have never met a fat homeschooler (who was homeschooled from the beginning), I have never met a homeschooler who was a jerk.
Until now.
I’d just give him a bad grade for the overwhelming amounts of illegal drugs he’s taking.
actually...no it isn’t. You’ve made it quite clear, over and over.
” I thought the whole thing was supposed to be about what’s best for our own children.”
And you thought right.
“What a bummer for homeschoolers who do such an EXCELLENT job representing their cause!”
There are lovely parents from all walks of life who handle their decisions differently and make it work.
Bashing others doesn’t accomplish a thing.
“I love it. Most schools now have no “recess” for their students to run about and get exercise, and then they put on their report card if they are overweight. What hypocrites.
Gotta gotta have recess!
And go back to actually breaking a sweat in gym class!
They’ll find that the boys might not need ritalin afterall.
I’ve noticed the same thing with my kiddos. It’s like watching a worm crawl. One minute it’s short and chubby, the next minute it’s long and skinny as a string.
encourage sports?
The kids might start to COMPETE against each other!
Do you know how many educators think sports and competition are a bad thing?
It’s silly, I know - but true.
with our first child we fretted and considered putting her on a diet - and then BAM! She’s tall and thin.
Luckily she prepared us for the pattern her little brother would show - he was even more extreme and grew extremely fast after the pudge faze.
there’s 4 more that will go through these phases, and I won’t consider it a problem unless they are still pudgy by the 10th grade.
““What a bummer for homeschoolers who do such an EXCELLENT job representing their cause!”
There are lovely parents from all walks of life who handle their decisions differently and make it work.
Bashing others doesn’t accomplish a thing.”
Just checking Scot, if you thought I was bashing anyone about their choices?
I am responding to another poster who has been repeatedly bashing others.
I am not a homeschooler, but know many, many parents who are.
The poster I was responding to, in my opinion, was making these fine people look bad.
If my post IN ANY WAY made it appear that I was bashing homeschoolers, then sadly, I conveyed the wrong message.
Sorry to have said Scot...I of course meant, Scotswife :-)
no - I know where you are coming from - I was agreeing with you.
I’ve seen many threads degenerate because of this same ‘ol argument that bring up the same ‘ol hurt feelings.
Scot is my hubby....the first night I joined up he was getting info from some Freepers and got interrupted...I joined up and took that name so they knew they could continue the conversation with me.
I know you’re not bashing homeschoolers.
“I know you’re not bashing homeschoolers.”
Whew...thanks..
I am glad that it didn’t come across that way..sometimes when posting quickly I don’t reread as well as I should.
:-)
Sherry
I suggest that parents who now at the point of deciding between government institutionalization for their kids, or the natural environment of their home, that they take a good long look at the fat kids waiting for the government school bus. Is this really, what you want for your child?
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You are implying that all government school kids are fat. Perhaps you should actually attend a government school so you can observe the error of your ways. While some students may be grossly or slightly overweight NOT ALL OF THEM ARE. When a parent makes a decision to send their child to a public school, that does not automatically mean that the child will become fat. Your comments are not only wrong, but insulting to parents and public school students (including myself).
at the same time they should have some options when it comes to sports in gym class. maybe even make it a play, but keep moving kind of thing. if the child really doesn’t want to play a sport then they can walk or play some other game. i remember how i was told so much in gym such gems as, “what if your husband wants to play football? if you can’t play, then what will you do?” or being talked down to like a two year old, “Here is the ball. Now I’m pitching it to you.” by freshman year of high school I would start the fifty yard dash, see the other person take off, and just slow all the way down knowing I was a loser anyway. But, the class called systematics (it was free weight and circuit lifting). That class I loved and was good at it. although I hated the running.
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