Tuesday Open Thread
A new study on obesity finds that one-third of the world's population is obese, with the U.S. leading the way. The saddest number?
From SPS Communications:
The City Council is having a special session tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm to vote on funding two-tier busing for SPS for the next school year. As you may recall, President Harrell and CM Burgess were huffy about the idea of using Families and Education levy funds for this effort (but they were not opposed to funding it in theory). Seven members have to vote yes and I expect that will happen (but it is not certain). I will keep you updated.
In the meantime, if you don't like the actual times for the buses, by all means, tell the Board and the Superintendent. It is unclear to me if there is any wiggle-room in the times but it never hurts to advocate.
On the Families and Education levy. There were dollars in the F&E levy that could have been used. The fine dollars from the speed zones around schools were already dedicated to other traffic safety issues. So it does not seem surprising that the district suggested the F&E levy. What's surprising is the tone of the pushback - almost like it's an insult to have been asked. One thing I will be glad for is a new mayor that may revamp the F&E levy and its committee. Some members said they had been on it for 8 and 10 years, respectively. That's probably too long without some new circulation in any committee.
What's on your mind?
The United States has the greatest percentage of obese children and young adults, at 13%.The district released a statement today about the investigation into players "imported" to play on Garfield's football team. The district itself did not release a statement or the report but the Times says:
An independent investigation into allegations of football-recruitment violations at one of Seattle's flagship high schools found no evidence to back up those claims, according to Seattle Public Schools.It will be interesting to read the report when it becomes available because the facts haven't really changed; the investigation was to see if any rules had been broken.
Reached on the phone Tuesday, Garfield principal, Ted Howard, declined to answer questions about the investigation's results. He cited concerns with how the newspaper portrayed him and other black employees of the school.
From SPS Communications:
Please join us for the African American Male Advisory Committee community forum on June 15, 2017 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Nova High School (821 Cherry Street).
At the forum, the African American Male Advisory Committee (AAMAC) will present their recommendations to improve district policies and practices that affect African American males. The community’s participation in this forum is extremely important, as the Committee is seeking feedback before making their final recommendations to the superintendent in September 2017.This is good news as it seems to be a long time coming to find out what the Superintendent's Advisory group believes would be the best way forward.
The City Council is having a special session tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm to vote on funding two-tier busing for SPS for the next school year. As you may recall, President Harrell and CM Burgess were huffy about the idea of using Families and Education levy funds for this effort (but they were not opposed to funding it in theory). Seven members have to vote yes and I expect that will happen (but it is not certain). I will keep you updated.
In the meantime, if you don't like the actual times for the buses, by all means, tell the Board and the Superintendent. It is unclear to me if there is any wiggle-room in the times but it never hurts to advocate.
On the Families and Education levy. There were dollars in the F&E levy that could have been used. The fine dollars from the speed zones around schools were already dedicated to other traffic safety issues. So it does not seem surprising that the district suggested the F&E levy. What's surprising is the tone of the pushback - almost like it's an insult to have been asked. One thing I will be glad for is a new mayor that may revamp the F&E levy and its committee. Some members said they had been on it for 8 and 10 years, respectively. That's probably too long without some new circulation in any committee.
What's on your mind?
Comments
Thanks,
-StepJ
Seems like a good reason to not dismiss the importance of PE and school based sports!
full circle
-Individual
It's aim is to take away equal rights; the gatherers should be ignored or avoided.
http://www.washingtonwontdiscriminate.org/
The country, the world, is at a tipping point and we all need to go out on the limb of more acceptance and fairness as far as we can.
golden gardens
Fair trade
So, best-practice bell times might actually help with the obesity problems. Fingers crossed.
huh?
HP
However, it doesn't seem right to leave several posts on one side of the issue and delete all the posts on the other side.
My passion to protect women and girls from a law that contains a dangerous loophole for sex predators is related to my commitment to stand up for and serve kids in the Seattle Public Schools.
I've been a board member of a PTA/PTO for a total of 3 years and am about to start my 4th, on top of other involvement.
Momof2
But if we're going to start comparing years of service in Seattle Schools, then it would get quite messy. You're not right because of your service.
Momof2
From the WALEG website
http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1046&Year=2017
It appears it finally got past some obstructionist legislators and will get a vote soon, I hope. But not in time to help those kids who'll miss out on walking with their class.
There would be less students if Ingraham's wait list moved...
LM
I'm not arguing for flipping back to high school first and elementaries later at all.
Medical sleep specialists have studied kids. Most 4 through 9 year olds are asleep by 8:30 p.m. Based on sleep studies only 10% of 4 through 9 year olds are awake after 9 p.m. at night. Somewhere around age 9 their natural bedtime starts slowly creeping later until average 14-16 are going to bed at 10 or later.
Statistically, based on sleep studies performed by doctors, most children (from age 1 to age 16) wake up naturally somewhere around 7 a.m. About 10% wake up around 5 a.m. And about 10% wake up around 8 a.m.
Children who are sleeping way outside these hours routinely are far more likely to go on to suffer from sleep disorders. And children who need to be awakened for school every day are not getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation harms children and it can be prevented and treated.
The new two tier times are much more in alignment with children's natural, biological rhythms. And even if it's not the sleep patterns families have their children in and requires some adjustment, it is adjustment toward what is healthier. Sleep problems can impact mental health and obesity and, well, learning. It's important, and thank goodness SPS has done something right for the health and wellbeing of children for once. This switch back to 2 tiers will have long lasting health impacts on the lives of many of the district's 53,000 children. For the better. Thank you, City of Seattle! And thank you to all who worked so hard and so long to achieve this!
I think kids should learn about real nutrition at school, with input from groups other than the dairy and meat industry.
The pro-dairy posters plastering every lunchroom in the district are disgraceful and probably illegal.
If kids stopped consuming baby cow food, which is like rocket fuel to make a calf gain 200 lbs. in a year, acne and stomach problems of kids would likely decrease dramatically.
The high fat food served at school is also a big, big problem. Oil is a killer, it inflames arteries and makes people fat and can lead to diabetes.
The district is poisoning children, in my opinion, plain and simple.
Plant Head
The entrees aren't great but I don't see them as particularly high-fat and they sometimes have a non-meat offering.
It could be better but "poisoning"? No.
"It could be better but "poisoning"? No."
I think current research says otherwise. I bet you didn't know that rice is considered a red food now, i.e. don't eat.
Arsenic levels are too high.
Science marches on, and not all of the research is payed for by food producers and processors.
The heath crisis in America, particularly obesity, you'd have to admit is entirely caused by the type of food we eat.
High fat, high sugar, low fiber, low nutrient food is more common than ever and our collective health is worse than ever.
Science already has found how to eat healthy but that message is advertised into oblivion.
I look at SPS employees, especially kitchen staff and I don't see paragons of healthy eating.
The kids deserve better food and a better education about food.
respectfully,
Plant Head
SBA Follow-up
-thinking ahead