McDonald's clown gets boot from New Brunswick elementary classrooms

[sanctus]

McDonald's clown gets boot from New Brunswick elementary classrooms
Mon Nov 20, 12:25 PM


FREDERICTON (CP) - New Brunswick's Education Department has given the boot to the corporate clown in the big red shoes.

Education officials say Ronald McDonald, the clown mascot for fast-food giant McDonald's, sends contradictory and confusing messages during his appearances in elementary schools to promote fitness and healthy eating.

The department has sent a memo to all school districts advising them that the McDonald's clown is inconsistent with the fitness goals and objectives of the province's school system.

Premier Shawn Graham, a former gym teacher, is promising to beef up physical education programs in schools in an effort to curb the growing problem of childhood obesity.

Although the schools will drop classroom appearances by Ronald McDonald, a spokesman for the Fredericton district says schools will continue to participate in a McDonald's-sponsored fitness program.

The program rewards schools with credits towards the purchase of gym equipment.






Copyright © 2006 Canadian Press

 

[Curiosity]

Ah but they'll still take the donations eh?

McDonalds needs to remember adults eat too and they can make their own choices - stop with the kiddie stuff and get some attractive meals for people who don't have time to wait for a waitress/waiter or be expected to tip for service.

 

[Kreskin]

Glad they banned that evil clown.

 

[Calberty]

We live within walking distance of two Mcdonald's but have never entered either in 12 years.

It's sad that parents who wouldn't dream of not buckling up their tots in a car seat would inculcate their kids in the garbage food culture. Mothers stuffing trans-fat laden fries into their little darling's mouths. The kid has a hundred times or more odds of someday dying from the effects of consumption of crap than being killed in a car accident. One almost expects those same negligent mothers to offer their 5 year olds a cigarrete after the meal.

 

[gearheaded1]

All things in moderation.

McDonald's should pull their funding from the hypocritical school. Generally Ronald McDonald charities portray a pretty positive message. Heard of the Ronald McDonald house?

All things in moderation are OK. It's the everyday visits that are excessive. If we completely shelter our children from these influences (alcohol, fatty foods, TV), they may very well end up a junk-o-holic once they leave the nest.

On the other hand - if you haven't seen it yet - rent "Supersize me"! Yikes. :snorting:

 

[#juan]

McDonald's should pull their funding from the hypocritical school. Generally Ronald McDonald charities portray a pretty positive message. Heard of the Ronald McDonald house?

When I think about Ronald McDonald house, or all the "good", Bill Gates is doing, I want to throw up. Anything "charitable", that either of these corporate giants do, is purely for the tax write off, meanwhile Bill Gate's personal fortune is passing either a hundred, or two hundred billion dollars, depending who we believe..

 

[Tonington]

Supersize me, I have a friend that I keep telling to see this documentary. He eats McDonalds mostly, but other fast foods as well, probably two times a day. He has gained some weight over the last year, but not too much, as he is till young and his familly has good genes. But I keep telling him, you're playing a dangerous game. I don't think he realizes fully the concept. Seems like he only notices the weight, and that is only one of the factors he should be worried about.

I think it's rather cynical to say that Gates is doing it purely for tax reasons. Since 2000 he has donated over $29 Billion, and that was from an Article in Forbes from 2004. Now the ultra Billionaires all seem to be doing this, Buffet and Bransen are the othe rmost notables. What do you think an ultra Billionaire thinks about when they reach that level of unseeming wealth? I'm sure they want to leave a mark on the World for the better, and why shouldn't they. They have made many marks in other areas, humanitarian causes are the logical next step, unless they want to rule the world or something. Gates was worth over 100 Billion dollars at the time of the Dot-Com boom, after that his value dropped. Recently it's been floating in the area of 40 Billion. WHatever he is worth, doesn't really matter, he has enough to go around, quite a few times I imagine.

 

[Curiosity]

What exactly is the complaint here???

If people would stop purchasing fat food at McDonalds, they would close.

Is that too simple or what?

This started out as McDonalds "whoring" to children which I loathe - if they want to donate to local schools do it financially or with free equipment, with no strings attached to their crap food....

...and it went all over the map with nothing really constructive thereafter.

If you want them gone - make it happen. Don't buy anything there. Start a protest....

 

[Jay]

http://www.rmhc.ca/en/aboutRMHouse_mission.asp

Puke away....

Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada are committed to providing a home-away-from-home for families of children with serious illnesses being treated at a nearby children’s hospital.
Otherwise known as “The House that Love Built®”, these facilities provide a needed place for the families.

The original idea to create a haven for families with sick children was born in the early 1970’s.
In 1969, Philadelphia Eagles football player Fred Hill spent many days and nights camped out with his family at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia while his three-year-old daughter was treated for leukemia. All around he saw other parents doing the same thing.
Through sharing stories with other families, Hill learned that many of the families had travelled long distances to bring their children for special care but the high costs of hotel rooms forced them to sleep on hospital benches and chairs.
Hill took the stories from the hospital home to his football teammates and McDonald’s® franchisees in the Philadelphia area. They rallied together to purchase and renovate an old home near the hospital. In 1974, it became the first Ronald McDonald House® to open.
The Ronald McDonald House concept was introduced to Canada in 1981 when the first Ronald McDonald House opened in Toronto. During the following 12 years more Ronald McDonald Houses opened across the country - Montreal (1982), Halifax (1982), Vancouver (1983), Winnipeg (1984), Ottawa (1984), Calgary (1985), London (1985) , Edmonton (1985), Saskatoon (1985), Quebec City (1988) and Hamilton (1993).
Around the world there are now more than 250 Ronald McDonald Houses in 24 countries – every one of them built by love!

 

[CDNBear]

As much as I agree with the schools decission. I have to say that RM House, as much as it may be a tax right off, has served parents and children alike, with compassion and love during the most horrendous times in their little lives. Bashing this particular institution is rather cold.

 

[wolfking99]

What exactly is the complaint here???

If people would stop purchasing fat food at McDonalds, they would close.

Is that too simple or what?

This started out as McDonalds "whoring" to children which I loathe - if they want to donate to local schools do it financially or with free equipment, with no strings attached to their crap food....

...and it went all over the map with nothing really constructive thereafter.

If you want them gone - make it happen. Don't buy anything there. Start a protest....

Agreed.

 

[sanctus]

When I think about Ronald McDonald house, or all the "good", Bill Gates is doing, I want to throw up. Anything "charitable", that either of these corporate giants do, is purely for the tax write off, meanwhile Bill Gate's personal fortune is passing either a hundred, or two hundred billion dollars, depending who we believe..

I agree. Though the work of the charities are fine, the corporate interest is null. their function is to use these charities to advertise their products.

 

[Kreskin]

Just say no to infidel clowns.

 

[temperance]

Isee Mickey D's trying to change and if they fund stuff to promote activity ,Md's did invevt the playroom structure ---and they do some good service work , they allow many teenagers and disabel jobs , What happens when parents bring thier kids there on the weekend (to Mcdonald)s----I remember Mickey D's promoting ,safety in my School when ,way back --I' m torn ,


mabye Ronny Mc can introduce a sister, younger friend who is a active kid -like and offer Mc carrots sticks --lol