sco
enthusiast
Posts: 2667
Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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02-15-11 11:24 PM - Post#126150
From James Ragland column at dallasnews.com
...
And where the heck is Gov. Rick Perry when you need him to show some genuine Texas-size leadership?
He’s still talking about how good we’ve got it compared with everyone else.
Hey, Governor, does it really matter how deep your neighbor’s pool is if you’re drowning at home?
Maybe, just maybe, while he was prancing around the nation bragging about how well off Texas is — and promoting his new book — he should’ve been working more steadily on the state’s budget woes instead.
...
In a worst-case scenario, Hinojosa will be forced to cut $253 million and fire nearly 4,000 employees.
Fair to say that, at least from where Hinojosa sits, it’s impossible to overstate the gravity of the situation — or the need for the governor and lawmakers to act with a sense of urgency.
The governor may not have a hair out of place over this, but superintendents are pulling theirs out. Teachers and administrators are on edge, too.
And students, bless their hearts, probably have no idea what’s about to hit them come fall, especially if worst-case scenarios become reality.
“It’s going to be very painful,” Hinojosa declared.
Don’t scream too loud. God forbid we wake up the governor.
I heard yet another story about school districts and the drastic cuts they are considering to deal with the state budget cuts. It seems that our illustrious governor is the only one who thinks this isn't a problem. Why we keep reelecting him is completely beyond me. The only thing he cares about is making Texas business friendly. I've got news for our governor. Businesses are dependent on an educated workforce and their employees don't want to live in a state that doesn't care about education.
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vm7mm
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Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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02-15-11 11:44 PM - Post#126152
In response to sco
He makes me sick every time I see him on the news. I agree, how could anyone even think about voting for that dweeb?
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carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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02-16-11 09:20 AM - Post#126160
In response to vm7mm
I think he should be impeached for lying.
He said we had a balanced budget and a surplus of $8 Billion for a rainy day.
Texas: Open For Business
4 months later, We have $23 billion dollar debt? Now, Dallas ISD, Ft Worth ISD, and two local university's are laying off staff and teachers.
I think Rick Perry should be impeached for lying to the State.
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
Edited by carygold on 02-16-11 09:20 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Al C
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Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-16-11 09:23 AM - Post#126162
In response to vm7mm
Yes, Gov. Goodhair needs to wake up to this situation. But at the same time, so does Hinojosa and other admins. Take one for the kids and accept salary reductions. Does he really need to make $328,000?
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Al C
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Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-16-11 09:24 AM - Post#126163
In response to carygold
I think he should be impeached for lying.
He said we had a balanced budget and a surplus of $8 Billion for a rainy day.
Texas: Open For Business
4 months later, We have $23 billion dollar debt? Now, Dallas ISD, Ft Worth ISD, and two local university's are laying off staff and teachers.
I think Rick Perry should be impeached for lying to the State.
I wish more folks would have voted against him.
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pup
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Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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02-16-11 09:33 AM - Post#126165
In response to Al C
The quality of the opponent is the reason Perry is still here. He's run against a succession of clowns and fools.
| Pup has left the building. |
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Al C
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Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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02-16-11 09:56 AM - Post#126169
In response to pup
True. My vote, as usual, went to the lesser of the evils (and mostly just to make a statement) ... Medina. Didn't agree with everything she said or did, but I could NOT vote for Goodhair or White.
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vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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02-16-11 07:42 PM - Post#126240
In response to pup
The quality of the opponent is the reason Perry is still here. He's run against a succession of clowns and fools.
Yeah, but Perry is both, a clown and a fool!
Edited by vm7mm on 02-16-11 07:44 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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sco
enthusiast
Posts: 2667
Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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02-16-11 08:09 PM - Post#126243
In response to vm7mm
I'm with you there! I swear I would vote for the devil incarnate before I would vote for Rick Perry (and I'm only being slightly facetious here.)
Edited by sco on 02-16-11 08:09 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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mgrayar
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Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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02-16-11 08:42 PM - Post#126244
In response to sco
I'm with you there! I swear I would vote for the devil incarnate before I would vote for Rick Perry (and I'm only being slightly facetious here.)
Yes, but why would Obama run for Gov of Texas?
Just kidding, couldn't resist!
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
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Jimi Ray Clapton
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Posts: 1970
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02-16-11 08:45 PM - Post#126246
In response to sco
He is the poster-child for cliche everything-wrong-with-U.S.-politics. A living breathing reminder of how not to proceed with our affairs. And that our system only accepts and processes this type of leadership sickens me. To make it all that much worse he is a GWB43 clone. It's almost hard to believe.
| I reserve the right to change who I am, my opinions, my views and my actions based on new and more accurate information that I receive. |
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gringogigante
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Posts: 106
Loc: Allen
Reg: 02-06-11
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05-12-11 09:24 PM - Post#131305
In response to Jimi Ray Clapton
Amen to that....
This is all to promote his book and help solidify his desire to be a storn vice-presidential candidate in the next election.
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sco
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Posts: 2667
Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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05-13-11 08:37 AM - Post#131328
In response to gringogigante
The news coming out of Austin is more and more depressing every day. House members are now saying that even if the comptroller revises her revenue estimates they will not use it to alleviate their proposed cuts. I never thought I would see the day that leaders would decimate education and social services not because they have to but simply because they have the power and they can.
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MissingChico
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Posts: 2228
Reg: 02-13-06
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05-13-11 12:16 PM - Post#131357
In response to sco
The news coming out of Austin is more and more depressing every day. House members are now saying that even if the comptroller revises her revenue estimates they will not use it to alleviate their proposed cuts. I never thought I would see the day that leaders would decimate education and social services not because they have to but simply because they have the power and they can.
But really, hasn't that been the plan for decades? Republicans hate everything "public". I would not be surprised to see a religious backed private voucher system pushed to replace the failing public education system after they all but demolish it. It's essentially the exact same thing they do to our Federal Government so they can say it's broken to justify privatizing and capitalizing everything.
| I get my news from the Comedy Central and my comedy from Fox News. |
Edited by MissingChico on 05-13-11 12:59 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Maringa
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Posts: 329
Reg: 11-06-08
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05-13-11 02:12 PM - Post#131374
In response to MissingChico
Growing up in a country where private schools were affordable, and more the norm, I would say I wish I could direct my tax dollars to private schools - religious or non-religious. But unfortunately that is not a choice. The schools many of us went to did not focus on sports and glamorous buildings with expensive upkeep/maintenance, but strictly on academics and good teachers...Seemed to work much better than the public system.
Not perfect by any means, but at least you had a choice...Not sure it would work here in the US, which is near the top $ per student (only behind Switzerland???) but not anywhere near the top of the academic performance...
All things "public" get a bad rap because politics seems to get in the way of common sense solutions (I don't care which party), and as a result, rarely does anything "public" work well, cost effectively and efficiently. I'll admit that I really can't point out a solution to improving our school system. Throwing money at it doesn't seem to work, but what Texas is doing to solve the issue is also very shamefull. Even as a conservative, I agree that we should consider some form of temporary tax increase or source of tax revenues until the economy picks back up. A voucher system shouldn't be discounted, but I understand the fear of the public system defenders that this would rob much needed money out of the school districts. I just wish there was a happy medium.
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carygold
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Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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05-14-11 12:52 AM - Post#131412
In response to Maringa
When you talk about which country spends the most if you look at it per GDP, which is a little more accurate, we rank the 21st country in spending per student.
When you comment on buildings, if your talking about Allen High School, Allen has consistently ranked top in the state for SAT scores. I want my kids to have access to the best programs, labs, facilities, in best buildings we can afford.
I don't really understand why people want their children taught by teachers that can only make $40k or $50K a year... I want the teachers teaching my kid to qualify for $100k a year jobs.
Its like those people that feed their children junk food, just because its cheap...I don't get it.
I will never understand people that are interested in saving money when it comes to the future of our country's young minds. Do they not realize our kids today are competing against the whole world, for jobs, ideas, and business?
OH but we can buy bombs the can kill a gnat from 400 miles away... who is going to design the next generation of weapons if the rest of the world is beating our children today in academics?
Are our children not worth the investment to be the best they can be in their own lives? Have we not proven the country with the best technology, the greatest innovation is the strongest?
Rick Perry should be impeach for the way he is treating education.
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
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pup
enthusiast
Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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05-14-11 06:26 AM - Post#131418
In response to carygold
Rick Perry should be impeach for the way he is treating education.
Your education is showing...LOL
| Pup has left the building. |
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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05-14-11 08:45 AM - Post#131422
In response to carygold
When you talk about which country spends the most if you look at it per GDP, which is a little more accurate, we rank the 21st country in spending per student.
Spending on what? How about hi-tech camera systems to monitor what and how much the kids are eating?
No, this doesn't come out of school budgets, but it's a good example of the wasteful spending by our government.
Throwing money at something doesn't make it better. Spending money wisely on ways to better our kids' education is what's needed.
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sco
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Posts: 2667
Loc: allen,TX USA
Reg: 10-26-02
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05-14-11 04:42 PM - Post#131439
In response to Al C
Throwing money at something doesn't make it better. Spending money wisely on ways to better our kids' education is what's needed.
You are correct. However I haven't heard anybody in Austin making the case that the school districts have been wasting money or not spending wisely. They are just making the case that we can't afford to properly fund education. If that were really true I would be supportive of making cuts. I simply do not believe that argument has any validity. Texas ranks near the bottom of the pack in both spending and tax burden. We can afford what we make a priority. It is very clear that the legislature and the governor are simply not willing to make education a priority. Did you know that the house has proposed a tax break for people purchasing high dollar yachts at the same time that they are cutting education? They also give tax breaks for "high priced gas extraction" even though the technology for extracting gas from shale has become standard industry practice.
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mgrayar
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Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-14-11 05:55 PM - Post#131441
In response to sco
Maybe that $200,000 that UT just gave Rick Barnes isn't the best use of a state facing budget cuts funds!
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
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Everyone can make a difference! |
Edited by mgrayar on 05-14-11 05:56 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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rtinallentx
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Posts: 371
Loc: Allen, TX, USA
Reg: 04-08-03
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05-14-11 07:43 PM - Post#131443
In response to mgrayar
Maybe that $200,000 that UT just gave Rick Barnes isn't the best use of a state facing budget cuts funds!
From what I read of that situation, state funds are not being used. TU's athletic dept. is supposedly 100% self sufficient and doesn't use any state funds or student fees.
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-14-11 08:03 PM - Post#131444
In response to rtinallentx
Maybe that $200,000 that UT just gave Rick Barnes isn't the best use of a state facing budget cuts funds!
From what I read of that situation, state funds are not being used. TU's athletic dept. is supposedly 100% self sufficient and doesn't use any state funds or student fees.
I'm sure that is true, but tell that to the legislature. Plenty of talk about this going around.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
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Al C
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Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
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05-15-11 10:54 AM - Post#131463
In response to sco
Throwing money at something doesn't make it better. Spending money wisely on ways to better our kids' education is what's needed.
You are correct. However I haven't heard anybody in Austin making the case that the school districts have been wasting money or not spending wisely. They are just making the case that we can't afford to properly fund education.
Agreed. I wasn't arguing one way or the other, just making a statement.
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carygold
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Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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05-17-11 11:17 AM - Post#131608
In response to Al C
When you talk about which country spends the most if you look at it per GDP, which is a little more accurate, we rank the 21st country in spending per student.
Spending on what? How about hi-tech camera systems to monitor what and how much the kids are eating?
No, this doesn't come out of school budgets, but it's a good example of the wasteful spending by our government.
Throwing money at something doesn't make it better. Spending money wisely on ways to better our kids' education is what's needed.
I'm not defending this particular project I don't know enough about it, but one of the ways improvements are made is to first do assessments of the current situation. Sometimes what appears on the surface to look silly is actually a first step to making improvements.
Kids today are fatter than ever, type 2 Diabetes is at epidemic levels in school kids. To see what they put on their lunch trays and what they discard could be telling and give hints as to what to do.
Kids today eat pizza, chicken nuggets(made from pureed chicken leftover), hamburgers, nachos, and chocolate milk that has as much sugar as a cola every week.
I think we should commend schools that want to make improvements in the health of our children.
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
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pup
enthusiast
Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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05-17-11 11:28 AM - Post#131609
In response to carygold
They can study the menu cheaper.
If all they are serving is fat laden processed crap, it's going to be pretty easy to already KNOW what the kids are eating.
| Pup has left the building. |
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MissingChico
enthusiast
Posts: 2228
Reg: 02-13-06
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05-17-11 11:32 AM - Post#131610
In response to pup
They can study the menu cheaper.
If all they are serving is fat laden processed crap, it's going to be pretty easy to already KNOW what the kids are eating.
Declare May 17, 2011 a holiday. We actually agree.
| I get my news from the Comedy Central and my comedy from Fox News. |
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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05-17-11 12:33 PM - Post#131613
In response to pup
They can study the menu cheaper.
If all they are serving is fat laden processed crap, it's going to be pretty easy to already KNOW what the kids are eating.
Exactly. No need for a study involving high tech spying.
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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05-17-11 12:34 PM - Post#131614
In response to MissingChico
They can study the menu cheaper.
If all they are serving is fat laden processed crap, it's going to be pretty easy to already KNOW what the kids are eating.
Declare May 17, 2011 a holiday. We actually agree.
So can we all take the rest of the day off? 
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carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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05-17-11 01:16 PM - Post#131622
In response to pup
They can study the menu cheaper.
If all they are serving is fat laden processed crap, it's going to be pretty easy to already KNOW what the kids are eating.
Okay, the menu is changed... how do you know what the kids are eating? Just weight the trash bins?
Like the article said, if they can show the parents what the kids are eating, those parent that care might change the kids habits.
I know email from the school that a grade was too low or very good, or homework is incomplete has made a big difference to my wife, monitoring our son's school work.
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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05-17-11 01:23 PM - Post#131625
In response to carygold
They can study the menu cheaper.
If all they are serving is fat laden processed crap, it's going to be pretty easy to already KNOW what the kids are eating.
Okay, the menu is changed... how do you know what the kids are eating? Just weight the trash bins?
Like the article said, if they can show the parents what the kids are eating, those parent that care might change the kids habits.
I know email from the school that a grade was too low or very good, or homework is incomplete has made a big difference to my wife, monitoring our son's school work.
And they didn't have to use expensive high tech equipment to do that either.
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pup
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Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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05-17-11 02:14 PM - Post#131628
In response to carygold
They can study the menu cheaper.
If all they are serving is fat laden processed crap, it's going to be pretty easy to already KNOW what the kids are eating.
Okay, the menu is changed... how do you know what the kids are eating?
Read the new menu. If it's full of processed fat laden crap like the old one, that's what they are eating.
Simple.
| Pup has left the building. |
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mgrayar
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Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-17-11 02:41 PM - Post#131640
In response to pup
If the school doesn't supply the poor food choices, and the parents don't either, where are we concerned it is coming from?
Change the menu? That is it. Parents buy the groceries so they must know what food is in their house.
The problem is that the parents don't make good choices either, you don't need surveillance to figure that out.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
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Everyone can make a difference! |
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MissingChico
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Posts: 2228
Reg: 02-13-06
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05-17-11 04:54 PM - Post#131669
In response to mgrayar
If the school doesn't supply the poor food choices, and the parents don't either, where are we concerned it is coming from?
Change the menu? That is it. Parents buy the groceries so they must know what food is in their house.
The problem is that the parents don't make good choices either, you don't need surveillance to figure that out.
The poor are specifically targeted for the cheap processed junk and they seem to take the bait. Walking through the grocery store, looking into some of the carts makes me want to shake some of these people.
| I get my news from the Comedy Central and my comedy from Fox News. |
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mgrayar
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Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-17-11 05:14 PM - Post#131671
In response to MissingChico
But again, what does the video do? The parents know what they are sending kids to school with. I agree that it is poor decision making, but I just don't get the video.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
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carygold
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Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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05-18-11 09:01 AM - Post#131698
In response to mgrayar
But again, what does the video do? The parents know what they are sending kids to school with. I agree that it is poor decision making, but I just don't get the video.
The video is not for kids with sack lunches, its for kids that eat school lunches. The monitoring system takes a picture of what the kids are served and what they eat, and electronically measures their intake of calories and nutrients. That information is sent to the parents.
I know sometimes kids have choices of fast food or a nutritious meal, but many always choose fast food. From what I have seen the schools argue that they cannot afford to always have quality food on the budget they are given.
While I think the science is impressive I would be curious to know if this makes any difference. I like the iPhone app that does the same thing.
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
Edited by carygold on 05-18-11 09:04 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-18-11 09:11 AM - Post#131702
In response to carygold
I use MyFitnessPal. Is that the app? It's great.
It is a tangled web. Good choices are too expensive to always have so they supply bad food. They then instruct kids not to eat the bad food, although better options are not always available, so the kid either eats the bad food or goes hungry. If every kid took the schools advice and ate good food, there would not be enough and the school could not afford it so either kids go hungry and fatty food is waisted (money down the drain) or kids who want to eat healthy are forced to eat bad.
That's a mess!
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
http://www.cff.org
Everyone can make a difference! |
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carygold
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Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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05-18-11 09:46 AM - Post#131705
In response to mgrayar
Yes it is a mess. We have gone down the road of prepackaged food, which works we are all alive. However, the nutrition in the food is not what it needs to be, especially for growing bodies.
Also prepackaged food means schools can hire anyone to put the food in an oven, a fryer, or a bowl of hot water. The chocolate and strawberry milk has as much sugar as Cola and is more often selected than regular milk. Some high schools now have fast food restaurants in the school and make money from them and the coke machines, which sounds good for the tax payer, but we all share medical costs so its pay now or pay later.
I don't think camera's are the answer, but they could provide for a good study.
I forgot the name of the app, but it sure looks like a good way to count calories.
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
Edited by carygold on 05-18-11 09:48 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-18-11 10:03 AM - Post#131706
In response to carygold
At least they should only offer regular milk, cost is the same or less. That seems like a good start.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
http://www.cff.org
Everyone can make a difference! |
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pup
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Reg: 03-29-06
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05-18-11 10:26 AM - Post#131709
In response to mgrayar
Or they could use the 2 million and buy REAL food instead of using it to study what they already know, they serve crap.
| Pup has left the building. |
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
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05-18-11 10:33 AM - Post#131710
In response to pup
True!
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
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Everyone can make a difference! |
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carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 4934
Reg: 05-30-08
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05-18-11 11:20 AM - Post#131716
In response to pup
True! True!
If CEO's increased their pay at the same rate as Average Americans
their pay would average $1,384,890 not $10,621,000 |
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