Things that DO make sense...

Alice Waters and the Edible Schoolyard program (which I hope will replace all school eating programs in the future)

Basically, instead of having kids memorize biology terms for tests in their science courses and buying school meals...this is meant to let kids have a knowledge of "real" food and how to prepare it as far as nutrition and health is concerned, as well as the scientific process behind it...

Garden classes teach the Principles of Ecology,
the origins of food, and respect for all living systems. Students work together
to shape and plant beds, amend soil, turn compost, and harvest flowers,
fruits, and vegetables.

In the kitchen classroom, students prepare and eat delicious seasonal dishes
from produce they have grown in the garden. Students and teachers gather
at the table to share food and conversation during each class. The cycle
of food production is completed in the kitchen, as students eat fruits,
vegetables, and grains grown in soil rich with the compost of last season's
produce.

Student participation in all aspects of the Seed to Table experience occurs
as they prepare beds, plant seeds and seedlings, tend crops, and harvest
produce. Through these engaging activities, students begin to understand
the cycle of food production. Vegetables, grains, and fruits, grown in soil
rich with the compost of last year's harvest, are elements of seasonal recipes
prepared by students in the kitchen. Students and teachers sit together
to eat at tables set with flowers from the garden, adults facilitate conversation,
and cleanup is a collective responsibility. They complete the Seed to Table
cycle by taking vegetable scraps back to the garden at the end of each kitchen
class. The Seed to Table experience exposes children to food production,
ecology, and nutrition, and fosters an appreciation of meaningful work,
and of fresh and natural food.


I think this is a great idea. I think a lot of our health issues come from our lack of knowledge of growing and eating "real" food. Kids today are not used to natural foods and more often than not, have no idea how to prepare them. We are too used to processed, ready to eat fast food, frozen dinner and canned stuff...
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That would be nice. It's like auto shop... super useful information. I wish I have had an auto shop class.. they stopped right before I got to my high school.

Gardens are relaxing and nice

we have had that for a loooong time, except for the ecologic part, and although we got to grow some stuff we didn't grow the stuff we cooked with, but all milk, veggies and stuff where ecologic anyway....

ash: in sweden we have so called "programs" you choose the program that have classes you find fun, or you need to get into the kind of education you want. i took the "social since - music program"... but i could have chosen "vehicles" instead of music if i wanted to. jealous??

The Us has a similar system actually.. only the options have been dwindling.. at least in my region of the country anyways.

well since all education here is government funded, it has created a market where schools need to meet the demand to survive. if they can't offer the most prestige, they specialize to offer educations based on the students interests. they might be able to fill the chairs if they create the dream education for gamers, wannabe actors, wannabe soldiers etc...
like alot of rednecks and stuff choose mechanics to learn how to fix their truck
but you used to learn that when you had your year of military education at getting 18 here in sweden. now they only call in the fittest since they don't feel they need to spend money on weaklings when we are a member of eu and have not had a war for over 100 years

Still, basic military training can be good on multiple levels, I believe. I woudl just suck to have to cut the hair.

yeah but then i'd rather take a 3 moth survival course then spending a year marching when i could be studying, and get out of my parents house a year earlier.

I hear that.

The military isn't the best thing, but I am actually too lazy to work a regular job right now. elf

Well i get why people in israel do the army thing

ecthelion of the fountain wrote:Well i get why people in israel do the army thing

me too

Ash wrote:Still, basic military training can be good on multiple levels, I believe. I woudl just suck to have to cut the hair.

The only trouble with military training is you have to make it through their idea of breaking you down to rebuild you as the person they want you to be... I tried it @ the age of 16. I lasted about an hour and a half...i'm much more of a goat than a sheep.

Yep. My first year of public high school *I had been in private school and also alternative studies before that*, my parents thought I should be in ROTC to help out with the discipline...yeah, didn't work. I was asked to leave after two weeks.

Apparently, laughing and crying hysterically during the 'break down' part of the training was not appropriate.