After meeting with the OKCPS Superintendent last week, I've had time to reflect on some of the issues discussed.
Our PTA Committee offshoot group, has spent an enormous amount of time and energy in an attempt to rectify the nutrition problems within the OKCPS school lunch program. Politely, intelligently, and with consistent, but quiet efforts.
We were specifically asked to keep it out of the political arena.
Directly, and without abandon, the man in charge of overseeing our children's overall well being in the district...asked the group to keep in on the "Down Low"...
Well...how 'bout that?
Unfortunately I'm not a person capable of keeping anything on the "Down Low" regarding the lack of assertive action involving anything detrimental to children.
Having lived through bureaucratic corruption, I may always be a skeptic first. In other words, show me your words and actions sync and we can do business. If you're not looking me in the eye when you say "Yes", I'm bound to take that as a "No".
This "Let's not rock the boat" way of thinking, is hazardous to our children's immediate health as backed up by mounds of statistical evidence on early childhood nutrition.
With job losses at an all time high, the number of free or reduced meals within the school lunch program will sky-rocket. The summer programs will be utilized in record amounts, or God forbid cut all together.
Our children deserve better than the "Good Old Boy" network, of extended contracts with food service providers who barely cooperate with pro-active parents who politely, intelligently and with consistent, but quiet efforts...
Developed, through research on their own, a way to start implementing adequate nutrition for all children within the district. I DO believe the Superintendent has good intentions regarding, what I consider straving/poisoning of young bodies and minds.
We all know where good intentions will get us though.
Revolution Foods is an example of what the future of the OKCPS lunch program could be if enough parents united to represent a collective voice.
I want someone to tell me why not?
Then 10-15 years from now, they'll be the ones crying "why are Oklahoma kids obese?"
Um, because they thought crap food was "good enough"?
You can then say, "I hate to say I told you so, but... 'I told you so!'"
Posted by: Stef | Monday, March 30, 2009 at 10:30 PM