An article my son came home from school with

[Michael Fisher]

Okay here it is: up in the corner of the page they have a picture of a "healthy meal", sandwich, carrots, peas, milk and an apple and the caption says, "This is one example of a healthy lunch. Does your lunch look like this?"  Deepra, on the other corner they have soda machines with a big "no" circle on them and the caption says, "A can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, but no vitamins or minerals.  Some experts say these drinks help cause weight problems in kids."  
Law for the Lunchroom
You may have heard the saying, "You are what you eat."  It means your health depends on the kinds of food you put into your body.  A new law says schools must make sure kids eat foods that are good for them.
New Rules for Schools
This law affects public (and some private) schools across the country.  The schools will now have to serve healthier, more nutritious food to students.  The law also says schools must have rules about what kinds of food can be brought from home, such as candy and other snacks.
"During a holiday or special event, a few pieces of candy may be all right," says Mark J. Innocenzi.  He helps create school health programs in Pennsylvania.  "But giving out 35 pieces of candy on Halloween? No."
Farewell to Fatty Foods
School lunchrooms will now serve more salads, fruits, and vegetables - and a lot less greasy hamvurgers, fried chicken, and french fries.  The law also means "so long" to sodas.  These sugary drinks will no longer be sold to kids in schools.  Water, sugar-free juices, and low-fat milk will be sold instead.  
Why are these changes being made?  One reason is to try to keep every child healthy and at the best weight for his or her height.  Eating right - and getting plenty of exercise - helps kids do just that.
The above article was written by Glenn Greenberg and the paper is Scholastic News, September 11, 2006, Edition 3.

Ouch my hands hurt now, anyway, ironically on the next page they are telling kids about Constitution Day!  Sure they will replace sugar with nutrasweet and the vegetables and fruits will not be organic of course, but remember "they" are saying it's healthy so it must be.  Deepra I did catch where they specifically mention sodas will not be sold to children, so your probraly right the teachers will keep chugging them.

Amazing.

Contact Consumer Freedom. Tell them of your situation. They should be able to help.

I don't want to tell you what to do, but you know that the true cause of this is your children attending public school.

[Raineyrocks]

Michael,
It seems you are trying to be helpful, but how did I cause this because my kids go to public school?  I disagree with you making a statement that I know the true cause of this, how do you know what I know?
In my opinion, the cause of the governments shoving their laws into people's personal business is because the majority of americans have let them get away with so much for so long!  It goes much deeper than 1 article in Scholastic News, Michael.

[error]

People have long been seduced by pleasant sounding words. Only long afterward did they find out the only pleasant thing was the sound of the words.

I'm afraid I can't be of any "help" per se; except that I urge everyone not to send your children to public school.

[Michael Fisher]

Michael,
It seems you are trying to be helpful, but how did I cause this because my kids go to public school?  I disagree with you making a statement that I know the true cause of this, how do you know what I know?
In my opinion, the cause of the governments shoving their laws into people's personal business is because the majority of americans have let them get away with so much for so long!  It goes much deeper than 1 article in Scholastic News, Michael.

I meant to say that you "should" know.

You can fight these restrictions for years, and you may win occasionally; but the entire system is increasingly crushing children beneath its bureaucratic boot. You may disagree, but the fact is that your children are subject to these rules because you gave them to the state.

Responsibility must be accepted where it is due. Do you really trust the government with your children?

People have long been seduced by pleasant sounding words. Only long afterward did they find out the only pleasant thing was the sound of the words.

I'm afraid I can't be of any "help" per se; except that I urge everyone not to send your children to public school.

Exactly.

[Raineyrocks]

Michael,  your words cut deep but I have to admit that you are 100% correct.  When I was going to write, of course I don't trust the government with my kids, I got a slap across the face with my own words, if I don't trust the government with my kids then why the hell am I sending them to a government institution? 
The hardest part of all of this is that the kids really are enjoying school, this move was hard on them, losing friends and family and I somewhat feel responsible to "make" them happy. Lord, I am in for a fight with my family (husband and kids) on this one, but I haven't felt right about leaving them in someone elses hands since we moved here.  Any advice?  I posted questions about homeschooling on another topic, I guess I will contact some people and see if I can make sure they can have more social events with other kids before I fight with my husband on this one.

[Michael Fisher]

Michael,  your words cut deep but I have to admit that you are 100% correct.  When I was going to write, of course I don't trust the government with my kids, I got a slap across the face with my own words, if I don't trust the government with my kids then why the hell am I sending them to a government institution? 
The hardest part of all of this is that the kids really are enjoying school, this move was hard on them, losing friends and family and I somewhat feel responsible to "make" them happy. Lord, I am in for a fight with my family (husband and kids) on this one, but I haven't felt right about leaving them in someone elses hands since we moved here.  Any advice?  I posted questions about homeschooling on another topic, I guess I will contact some people and see if I can make sure they can have more social events with other kids before I fight with my husband on this one.

There are many resources available. There are many styles, for socialites and introverts, of schooling or unschooling children outside of public school. Each child has his own personality. You're the parent, so you will ultimately know what's best for them before anyone else does. (Contrary to popular belief.)

Strategies range from complete unschooling to strict formal private schooling and everything inbetween, including:
-Absolute unschooling;
-Unschooling with guidance;
-Unschooling with guidance and integration of children into the real-world as much as possible;
--(You can include internships, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, activism, and other real-world integration into any strategy.)
-Unschooling with significant goal-setting assistance;
-Homeschooling with a flexible schedule;
-Strict homeschooling;
-Half-homeschool, half-private school (or even take a specific class in public school);
-Private school;
-Half-private, half-public school;
-Half-private or public school, and half-college;
-Full early college;

There are countless strategies. You do not need to rely on other homeschooling families to succeed.

[David]

Because the schools are run on a political level, someone has to decide what has to be taught.  The conservatives are happy only when they control the school, and the liberals are happy only when they control it.  School is, and has been a political football.  This is not new, it is just more politically competitive. 

btw, I was homeschooled for about 4 years.  It took a while for me to come to this conclusion, but I know believe in and suppert total separation of school and state.  In other words, I completely oppose public schools.   
The schools are prisons, and are completly incompatible with a free society.  From the get go they are funded by theft and extortion, and end with the petty nannyism such as is being discussed.  Children learn by example, telling a child to do as I say, and not as I do, does no good. 
They are licenced, controled, politicized, and some of the purest forms of socialism in the USA. 
I don't mean to try to make you feel guily, (you're doing a find job of that yourself.  And I'm a little off topic. 
Theres my 2/100 cents.

[Kat Kanning]

Do we have a holier-than-thou emoticon for Michael?

[error]

btw, I was homeschooled for about 4 years.  It took a while for me to come to this conclusion, but I know believe in and suppert total separation of school and state.  In other words, I completely oppose public schools.   
The schools are prisons, and are completly incompatible with a free society.  From the get go they are funded by theft and extortion, and end with the petty nannyism such as is being discussed.  Children learn by example, telling a child to do as I say, and not as I do, does no good. 
They are licenced, controled, politicized, and some of the purest forms of socialism in the USA. 
I don't mean to try to make you feel guily, (you're doing a find job of that yourself.  And I'm a little off topic. 
Theres my 2/100 cents.

I spent all of my school years in public school, and while I sometimes noticed the problems from the inside, I had no idea until much later what it all meant. I didn't understand, for instance, why "gifted" children were pulled from school in the afternoons to go play Trivial Pursuit with each other and do other equally pointless things. Now I understand it was a concerted effort to slow us down.

Now I am very much in favor of the abolition of public schools and the reintroduction of real education.

[Rochelle]

Was this the same survey that asked if there were any firearms in the home?

Lol, yea it was. I forgot about that question. Now why would they want to know that?

I have older children that went to public schools and when they would come home, I would ask them what they did and what the teachers taught and if it was crap I would tell them and explain why.  Also I don't think we have the right to question a parent's love for their children just because they send their kids to public schools, some people are divorced and have to work 1 or 2 jobs to keep a roof over their children's heads and food on the table.

I don't think we can say that parents don't love their children simply because they don't homeschool simply because homeschooling hasn't reached mainstream enough for the average joe to consider it. I went to public school because when I was growing up, homeschooling was waay out of the mainstream. Additionally, homeschooling may not be the right choice for every child. There are a lot of homeschooling parents who send one child to school and homeschool another one simply because one child does better in that environment (I'm going to ignore the private or public part of the debate...it can be either one).
However, I think some parents, homeschooling or not, always go the extra mile to be there for their kids and make sure their kids aren't getting stuck with bad teachers or in bad situations while other parents just don't care and basically have the attitude that their kids should sit down, shut up, and do what whoever is in authority tells them to.

I would consider the second type of parent to be a  Bad Parent.

[Raineyrocks]

Rochelle,  Thank you for putting it into the right words! What I've been trying to say is don't just dump your kids in school and never talk to them about what they are being told, read the things they come home with such as this Scholastic Newsletter, if you don't like what it says talk to the principal, ask if the particular school your child is going to are going to start harrassing kids over candy, if they start treating having candy the same as having a gun, then do what you have to do, pull your kid out, protest, I don't have all the answers just know what's going on with your kids in school, neighborhood, ect.  I know through experience (having 5 kids go to school) that alot of times the school staff will blow these laws off and side with the parents and other schools will nail you to the wall, that's why it's important to get to know school staff on a more personal basis (as much as you can).
When I was homeschooling 4 of my kids in Maryland for 3 years, I ran into alot judgemental parents that hated public schools and their kids would stick their tongues out at "public school idiots", that's exactly what the parents would call them, (therefore so did their children)  and I spoke out against it and they ended up not liking me.  What kind of a thing is that to teach your kids, that they are better than another kid because they are homeschooled, yeah lots of values that kid is being raised with!
Kat, I am not being sarcastic at all but your post confused me, what does holier-than-thou emoticon for Michael mean?
fsp-ohio,  I'm getting a little tired of people telling me how I feel when they don't even know me so how do you know I'm feeling guilty, maybe I am just confused and trying to do the right thing for MY children.  If I all of the sudden said to myself, "almost everyone that has responded to my original post opposes public school so gee maybe I should do what they feel is right" would I be thinking for myself or would I just be a follower?  I am concerned about alot of things going on in the world, and nobody knows my children, my daughter  comes home everyday telling me how happy she is now that she is back in school, so it is not an easy decision to make.  I can tell you if they start frisking my kids for candy , they are out of there no matter what, that's why I am going to talk to the principal and talk to my kids when they come home from school everyday.
I never intended this post to become nasty and I am not a troublemaker, however, I also will defend myself from ignorant posts from people that just make blanket statements when they don't know me or my situation.
I thought this forum was about discussing any issues anyone wants to and getting to know each other, but it is pretty difficult to get to know someone if some people are going to stay in a narrow-minded frame of mind making blanket statements.
I told Michael I realized he was correct about somethings he wrote and I have no problem with his questions or statements except when he wrote, "I don't want to tell you what to do, but you know that the true cause of this is your children attending public school". I also responed to him on this matter and I must say he was very mature and ended up getting his point across when it wasn't a "You Know", statement.
Anyway, if anyone is interested in how my discussion with the principal goes on Monday or Tuesday, I would be more than happy to share.

[CNHT]

Lorraine you will find a lot of 'absolutism' here but don't let that bother you.

You are thinking things out clearly and will find the answer in due time and will do what is best for you and your family.

Liberty is about being able to make choices, not absolutism as to what is right or wrong.

[Raineyrocks]

Thanks Jane, I think you are very cool! 

[CNHT]

Thanks Jane, I think you are very cool! 

Thanks Lorraine. Right now I am a very sick puppy and think I'm going to take up religion because nothing else has worked. :-(

[Michael Fisher]

Do we have a holier-than-thou emoticon for Michael?

A friend who cares about you should not sugar-coat something that he truly believes is extremely important for you to consider, regardless of his own possible hypocrisy on the issue, because it's not about him, it's about you.

Things of lesser importance may be coated with sugar, or at least some chocolate sprinkles. 

With an F personality, I generally do not respond well to such blanket statements either. However, none of my friends have helped me more than those who tell me the truth, especially when I do not want to hear it. Some things force you to put emotion aside in favor of the truth.

Yes, I am a hypocrite in many ways; but how other people react to me on this subject is irrelevant. The message was not meant for them.