"Obesity Isn't the School's Problem to Solve!"

From the Leaf Chronicle (TN). Well, if the parents would do their job, the government wouldn't have to step in with the only way into the kids's lives they can: through school, where the teachers are federal employees.

"Just as we shouldn't look to government to solve all of our problems as adults, neither should we expect the schools to solve all of our children's problems as they are growing up — including obesity.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System has faced some criticism for the Board of Education's request that a state mandate of 90-minute of physical activity per week in the schools be eliminated. The board does not, however, want to reduce or end structured physical education classes. It simply doesn't want to play a game of numbers with the state.

The Legislature undoubtedly had the best of intentions when it approved the mandate. According to the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the state's childhood obesity rate of 20.6 percent is sixth in the nation.

But, is that horrendous statistic the schools' fault? Would requiring students to do jumping jacks during their multiplication tables, as suggested for example, bring down the obesity rate? Does walking to class really help increase physical activity — or do schools simply claim it in an effort to reach the 90-minute mark?

Isn't this more of a societal problem? If we are going to hold someone responsible for children downing caloric fast food and sitting around playing video games, shouldn't the finger of blame be pointed at parents? Shouldn't families be working on ways to ensure that the children are more physically active instead of expecting the schools to do their heavy lifting for them?

The primary responsibility of our schools is to educate today's children so that they will be prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow's world. At the grade school level, recess and exercise can help in the education process whenit gives children a break from studies as well as teaches sportsmanship and develops coordination.

But in the upper grades, especially, time must be used for academics, particularly with the increase in credits required for graduation and to help at-risk students.

In an email to The Leaf-Chronicle, CMCSS Director Michael Harris pointed out that if people are serious about combating childhood obesity, then they should support and fund after-school programs for those specific children whose parents aren't involved in taking the lead in physical activity.

Harris also wrote that this would be his message to lawmakers: "Leave us alone so we can teach and meet the high academic standards you have wisely set for us. Stop using public schools as a way to support every valuable cause, regardless of how important."

That's a message we hope the state listens to and takes to heart."

It's true that we need the schools to do a better job with teaching and preparing our kids for college and future job markets/economies, but with the climbing obesity rates (and all the illnesses that come along with it), most of these kids will be dead long before they get their first job. Schools can't do the job alone!

Teaching begins in the home, just like everything else begins in the home. If parents think that getting pregnant and delivering the baby means their job is over, and the government takes over (through daycare, schools, and other programs) until 18, then they shouldn't be parents. It's just like computer language: garbage in, garbage out. There's enough parental abdication garbage out in society already, and the cost is ENORMOUS to say the least. This trash never, ever gets picked up until it's found dead in an alley somewhere with a needle in it's arm, or drunk behind the wheel in a fatal accident, or caught in a gang shooting cross-fire somewhere--maybe even killed in prison.

Unfortunately, schools are federally-employed, and just like the rest of the federal employees, they're expected to take mud and turn it into fine art (despite the quality and properties of the mud they're given), rely on the lowest bidder for their supplies, and remain the lowest bidder for the service they provide. Getting blood from a turnip would be easier than producing slender, genius-level children at no cost. Parents, you get what you pay for, and you get what you produce yourselves!

Childhood obesity wasn't even on the national radar until Michelle Obama went looking for a cause to support. Since her husband is the new boss of schools, guess whose priorities get the most attention?