Some BC schools are getting the junk food out of the students systems.
The issue is that it was causing behavioral problems and lower marks, weighed against the revenue that the vending machines and canteens brought in, often to cover the school's various expenses.
Of all the work educators throughout history have done to encourage the human brain to learn stuff, to find ways to increase the rate and depth of knowledge one could absorb, only to lose it to junk food. Getting rid of it is a big advancement in education!!
The way that junk food affects learning - by interfering with various chemicals and biological processes - means it is also a health concern.
Someone might ask why it was there in the first place
- did they doubt the science that says junk food is bad for learning?
- did they have no other options for the revenue shortfall, could they have just cut some activity/expense?
No, if I knew the science in 1975, they did.
Govt. budget surpluses weighed against kids brains? - it wasn't a balance of revenue and health, no way could that be justified.
It was likely just an easy answer for some money, which ignored the health problems and learning problems., but it is hard to swallow.
So, if not , that leaves a few pretty dark options....
- personal gain for admin types, from the Pepsi-Coke Wars pushing their products with money to burn for anyone exposing youthfull customers to their products.
- Conspiracy of pharmaceuticals to sell Ritilin[tm] ??[not a joke]
- student association demanded it, Principal powerless to stop it [joke].
Oh ya, MOST schools still have it. Perhaps they will tell us why they got it there?
Karlin
The issue is that it was causing behavioral problems and lower marks, weighed against the revenue that the vending machines and canteens brought in, often to cover the school's various expenses.
Of all the work educators throughout history have done to encourage the human brain to learn stuff, to find ways to increase the rate and depth of knowledge one could absorb, only to lose it to junk food. Getting rid of it is a big advancement in education!!
The way that junk food affects learning - by interfering with various chemicals and biological processes - means it is also a health concern.
Someone might ask why it was there in the first place
- did they doubt the science that says junk food is bad for learning?
- did they have no other options for the revenue shortfall, could they have just cut some activity/expense?
No, if I knew the science in 1975, they did.
Govt. budget surpluses weighed against kids brains? - it wasn't a balance of revenue and health, no way could that be justified.
It was likely just an easy answer for some money, which ignored the health problems and learning problems., but it is hard to swallow.
So, if not , that leaves a few pretty dark options....
- personal gain for admin types, from the Pepsi-Coke Wars pushing their products with money to burn for anyone exposing youthfull customers to their products.
- Conspiracy of pharmaceuticals to sell Ritilin[tm] ??[not a joke]
- student association demanded it, Principal powerless to stop it [joke].
Oh ya, MOST schools still have it. Perhaps they will tell us why they got it there?
Karlin