"Sticking it to the man"? Or getting screwed?

Ken, it was the same over here in Scotland not so long ago...some famers got together some a bunch of eco scientists and went to the governent saying hey look, we can grow rapeseed as viable source of renewable fuel for cars etc....evironmentally friendly etc...

The Government told them no, and then put nasty taxes on using rapeseed as a fuel..and in fact made it almost impossible for any farmer to grow it without losing lots of money.

Same poo, different day.

My opinion.. bush is and idiot and the only thing he cares about is him self.. its to raise gas prices so he can make more money

Yeah, in schools they are banning the sugary stuff from the vending machines (or maybe it's just my school...), while they just sell the same junk in the hot lunch line! I can understand banning junk for younger kids who haven't had ten years of health classes, but not for high school students. I don't remember where I found the quote, but someone said "If we can trust high school students with a 4000 pound car, they should be able to choose what they eat."

If high school is supposed to prepare students for the real world, students should be able to make their own food choices.

But, hey, that's just me.

"Yes, actually they are trying to banned all vending machines in school across the country."

^^^ I just did a paper on that for school....here it is if you'd like to read...

~Junk Food in Schools~

There is much controversy existing over the idea of funding schools through licensing agreements with Coca-Cola and fast food companies. Some argue that there are many benefits, while others are strongly against the idea. Some of the advocates for school funding through such agencies say that students are encouraged do well through programs such as Pizza Hut’s “Book It”, where rewards are given to the students for various reasons, such as reading or doing well on a test. Those against it argue that these agreements help pave the road for childhood obesity.

Supporters for licensing agreements feel that the programs that these companies offer because of the licensing agreement increase student’s desire to do better. For example, if there happens to be a high absentee rate in a school, programs through these companies will help to encourage students to attend school through positive reinforcement. “Companies like Coca-Cola and Pizza Hut offer their products as an incentive for work well done, or excellent attendance (Brown, M. Eder, P., Sundberg, M., Valcik, M.)“. I feel that “Book It” is a great program, despite it being funded by Pizza-Hut. It is giving the children and parents a reason to open books. It is sad that they should need such an incentive to read, but regardless of the reason, it is apparent that it works. Another program that provides an incentive for student’s to do certain things is McDonalds “Passport to Play”. This program persuades students to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle “in unique and fun ways during grade school physical education classes (DIET & NUTRITION)”.

In addition to the idea that these licensing agreements promote good behavior and a tendency to do better in school, some argue that they help to lighten the burden of the tax load on taxpayers. “Districts are weighing a proposal to offer corporate and philanthropic sponsorship of the district’s six elementary and middle schools to lessen the blow of statewide budget cuts (Mayfield, 2003)”.

Opponents of licensing agreements with companies such as Pizza Hut and Coca-Cola argue that the only outcome is a negative outcome. “Most of the criticism is directed at marketing activities that are thought to have negative impact on children’s health (Garcia, Monar 2005)”. Many feel that these licensing agreements lead to childhood obesity because of the advertising. Children are constantly bombarded with ads for soft drinks and fast food, and this leads them to want to eat it. “It is clear that there is growing concern over childhood obesity and the role that schoolhouse commercialism may play in its increase (Garcia, Monar 2005)” Not only this, but more often than not, agreements with such corporations means that these types of foods and drinks are sold in the school‘s vending machines.

Another factor that opponents argue is that such incentive programs as the Pizza-Hut “Book It” and Krispy Kreme’s deal to give students who receive an “A” on their report card a free doughnut, go against what they are trying to teach the students: to eat healthy. “It undermines everything we teach them about eating right” said one registered dietician (Garcia, Monar 2005)”.

It is easy to see both sides of the debate, in some ways these licensing agreements are indeed beneficial to both the school and children, but in other ways there are negative results. The extra money schools receive through them obviously lessens the amount of money taxpayers must pay out, and the children do not have to worry about going without needed supplies if a budget it cut, for instance. The idea that soft drinks and junk food are sold in schools because of these agreements, however, is not good for the children’s health.

~Works cited~

Brown, M. Eder, P., Sundberg, M., Valcik, M.
(n.d.). Commercialization and technology partnerships with business in us schools: some guidelines for district policy makers. Retrieved Mar. 10, 2006, from http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/valcik/eps313/commercialization.html.

Diet & nutrition; diet & nutrition: fast food company kicks off school physical activity program. (2005). Health & Medicine Week, . Retrieved Mar 10, 2006, from http://proxy.hvcc.edu:2055/universe/document?_m=461df8ee20fc7b30bc00ac1ca2b6cdc7&_docnum=22&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkVA&_md5=1b63c99e9cf9786926e41a022e166d0f.

Garcia, D, Molnar, A. (2005). Empty calories: commercializing activities in america's schools. Retrieved Mar. 10, 2006, from http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/CERU/Annual%20reports/EPSL-0511-103-CERU.pdf.

Mayfield, K. (2003). Savvy school or capitalist tool?. Retrieved Mar. 10, 2006, from Wired News Web site: http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,57304,00.html.

Morrison, G. (2006). Teaching in america. 4th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

"Willie Nelson has started up a chain of these gastations that sell trans fat acids for diseal engines in the south."

Gee, I hope Willie has also remembered to hire an accountant!