According to Michael Amsel of the Asbury Park Press, "Over the past three decades childhood obesity in America has increased by over fifty percent"(A6). That is about one third, roughly twenty-five million of the nation's children (Amsel,A6). If parents are unable to adequately teach their children about proper health then they have to learn about it somewhere else. Childhood obesity is on the rise and school systems are trying new methods to deter the epidemic. Schools, especially elementary schools, are in place to teach children not only the fundamentals of education but the fundamentals of living a happy and healthy life. If the government did not think that schools were responsible for teaching life lessons then why is there a debate about teaching sex education in schools? It is the responsibility of school systems to teach good dieting and provide healthy meals for the youth of our nation.
In recent years many schools have been urged to steer clear of unhealthy lunches and to limit the amount of junk food that is available in the schools.
Curly Fries at Hooters
Shores Pediatrics
English: McDonald's french fries on a white stonew...According to Steve Karnowsk, writer for the Grand Rapid Press, "On average, it costs about two hundred thousand dollars more for a school system to provide a more nutritious lunch each year" (A1). Although providing healthy foods to students comes at a price, the nation's school systems should be more than willing to fund good health because if they are willing to fund the health of minds, why not fund the health of bodies. This increased expenditure requires many schools to find alternate funding for this upgrade in quality; however, the health of our countries future leaders is an important investment.
One way many schools try and educate students on good eating habits is by offering breakfast. Although it is usually offered too early...