When we were kids, our elders were always telling us to "eat fish, carrots, green vegetables" and the like. Naturally, we resisted --but thankfully, those foods steadily made their way into our diets.

Now that is often not the case. The poor quality of the diets of American children is playing a major role in the epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes that is sweeping our nation. Fortunately, more and more families and schools are becoming aware of the problem and taking action. The Appleton Wisconsin High School offers a dramatic example of what has been happening and how systems can be changed for the better.

For some time, while the school's cafeteria concentrated on processed foods, the school was described as out-of-control. There were weapons violations, student disruptions, and a cop on duty full-time. Then the meals were changed to be far more nutritious.

After the change in school meals, the students were reported to be calm, focused, and orderly. There were no more weapons violations, and no suicides, expulsions, dropouts, or drug violations. The new diet and improved behavior has lasted for seven years, and now other schools are changing their meal programs with similar results."

if you would like to learn more about what was done and the amazing things that can be achieved when citizens unite to improve children's health,.go to http://www.wanttoknow.info/health/healthy_diet_changes

Posted by Marion Blank at 07:48 PM
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Some years ago, there was an appealing film titled Hope and Glory. It told one boy's memories of growing up in London during the blitz of World War II. In one scene depicting the warning sirens of an air raid, the children respond with glee--it means that they are getting out of class because they have to get into the bomb shelters.

Fortunately, our situation is not as bad as the devastation of a war. But many children in the United States are about to have some of their wishes fulfilled about getting out of class. The reason?

Many school boards such as those in Florida are planning to reduce classes to four days a week as a cost-saving measure. It would save schools a bundle on utility bills, diesel fuel for buses and certain other expenses. But this is possible only if state laws permit it. For example, states often require schools to be open a certain number of days a year. That automatically precludes a four-day week. So some legislators are pushing for new legislation.

The many debates around this issue generally focus on the possible detrimental effects on learning. History tells us that they are not likely to be that profound. For example, after World War II shortages of classroom space and teachers led many schools to have half-days so that each school could handle double the number of students (i.e., one group in the morning and another in the afternoon). No significant deterioration of achievement appears to have resulted.

However, this time round, there is a major effect that is going to be a nightmare for parents. Unlike the situation 60 years ago, in most families today both parents work. For many, schools--albeit unofficially--serve as the baby sitting service. What are these families to do when that service regularly is unavailable? It is one more major problem that society will have to deal with in the many problems that seem to be cropping up daily in our new turbulent world.

Posted by Marion Blank at 05:35 PM
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In the midst of all the problems that are swirling around us, it's nice to take a moment off and think about some of the more intriguing aspects of the human body. For example, did you know that

Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream.

The largest cell in the human body is the female egg.

The smallest cell is the male sperm.

You use 200 muscles to take one step.

The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.

A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.

A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.

The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor
blades.

The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.

It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.

Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.

At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.

There is about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.

The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.

Your teeth start developing (in your gums) 6 months before you are born.

When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.

Blondes have more hair than dark-haired people.

Your thumb is the same length as your nose.

At this very moment I know full well you are putting this last fact to the test.

Now remove your thumb from your nose and pass this on for some light-hearted discussion with those friends and family who might be interested in comparing their thumbs to their noses as well.

Posted by Marion Blank at 12:54 AM
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As we all know, school budgets are shrinking. In an effort to deal with the shortfall, schools are going down a controversial, but little known, path. They are getting money from cell phone tower installations.

Local schools can make hundreds of thousands of dollars from leases on towers.More than 262 million wireless subscribers in the U.S. depend on 120,000 towers to route their calls to the appropriate destination. In residential areas, schools are seen as prime locations for towers. They offer large tracts of land in otherwise crowded areas. And they avoid the heated NOT IN MY BACK YARD (NIMBY) controversies that would occur if the cell phone towers were placed near people's homes.

But many parents say the money isn't worth it. Cell phone towers give off powerful electro-magnetic fields (EMF). Knowing the possible hazardous effects of these fields, the parents say the practice is irresponsible and gambling with students' health.

The debate over school-based towers is happening throughout the United States. Unfortunately, it receives relatively little press coverage--so that many families and communities have no idea of the problem. Often there is a lack of awareness that a tower has been installed near a local school.

This topic is likely to gain increasing attention over the next several years as the cell phone debate starts to get the recognition it deserves. At this point, one of the best things to do is to learn about what is happening in your community and to get the information out to the residents--so that, at the very least, decisions are made with the public having the information it needs.

Posted by Marion Blank at 03:54 PM
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