Allow me to be liberal for a minute.
I have been working in a predominantly minority, low income public high school for the past several months now. The school has all sorts of problems, tests scores not least among them, but one of the things that has really bothered me is the food that they are serving to these kids. Most of the kids in the school are on free or reduced lunch. These kids are eating absolute shit every day.
Fries covered with cheese and chili with a slice of Papa John's pizza on the side is not an acceptable lunch for a growing teenager. The government should be ashamed of what it is doing to the health of the nation's youth. We are setting these kids up for an unhealthy life of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, and heart problems.
I am currently interviewing for a job at a somewhat elite private high school also and I toured the building the other day. Their cafeteria, of course, had a lovely salad bar and a nice assortment of fresh fruits.
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/20.../ma_207_01.html
We are basing what we feed to our children on fucking LOBBYING.
I found this quote particularly humorous, as many of the kids at my school eat pizza and fries everyday.
Here is what I would do about this. Feel free to challenge my proposals or make your own.
1. Ban soda and snack machines from public schools. Only healthy snacks, juices, or sports drinks.
2. The schools will no longer be a dumping ground for surplus beef and cheese. If we want all of our students to do well and succeed academically (No Child Left Behind, baby!), then they need proper nutrition.
3. Ban trans fats and high fructose corn syrup from the school cafeteria.
4. No more lazy-ass football coach gym teachers. Gym class should be mandatory and vigorous.