The topic of Planned Parenthood and the debates surrounding it is not something that we would bring to the attention of elementary school students. Many teachers and parents would find that to be inappropriate and, as a group, we agreed. However, a similar topic that may be more age appropriate for the children would be the issues of health education in elementary schools. Along with band, choir, and home economics, one of the first classes to disappear with budget cuts is health class. Following close behind may even be physical education classes! Its sad to think that in the age of childhood obesity we are close to loosing one of the few chances children have to exercise during the school day or even the whole day! Schools are doing great in promoting health in terms of having the food group signs up in the cafeteria or serving healthy lunches, but it backfires when you take away opportunities to follow the healthy eating with exercise! Sure the kids have recess, but shouldn't they have more than just fifteen minutes or so a day? Some schools in the U.S. want to do away with recess all together. Here we are promoting the importance of exercise, but we're taking away their opportunity to do just that. Health class is just another way to build upon your basis of healthy eating. In many health classes children have the chance to learn other ways to be healthy and what is going on in their bodies that requires them to eat healthy.
Students could actively protest the loss of their recess, physical education class, and health class by doing research on the benefits of those classes and spreading the word that they may be lost for good. They could start a campaign and write letters to their principal and other school administrators. Students could also help their school promote the healthy habits by hanging up posters to remind their classmates the healthy habits they should follow.
Related Websites:
Too Much Sugar in Kids Diets, Healthy Recipes for Kids, Problem with Cutting Gym and Recess
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