Growing Government In The School Garden, Serving It Up In The Cafeteria
If you think it’s just one school in Chicago that has gone completely nanny-state certifiable, think again – and say hello to House Bill 840, co-sponsored in part by Mecklenburg’s very own Becky Carney and Tricia Cotham.
The bill’s shorthand title is the “Healthier and Greener Schools Act,” which should give a hint where it’s headed. This from the Civitas Institute’s Taylor Holgate:
There are probably enough bad ideas in HB 840 to feature it as a Bad Bill of the Week for at least a month.
– A requirement that each local school administrative unit establish a facility to prepare, process, grow and store healthy and nutritious foods for schools and nonprofit organizations. Does this mean that N.C. schools will be in the farming business?
– A requirement that public schools offer free breakfasts to all students, not just the ones that qualify for free and reduced lunches.
– Taste tests and surveys to determine student preferences for the contents of their free breakfasts.
– A requirement that schools promote healthy eating to students, faculty, staff and parents. The bill, however, exempts food provided to staff from nutritional requirements.
– A fine of $500 dollars a day for schools that offer snack food that fails to meet nutritional requirements.
– Strict adherence to prescribed physical activity requirements.
– Establishment of an environmental programs office within the Department of Public Instruction to develop plans for recycling, composting, and using “green” cleaning supplies.
– Establishment of a School Gardens Program within the Department of Public Instruction to study school gardens.
– A requirement that public and charter schools establish and operate school health centers, the bill does not define the role of the proposed centers.
– Creation of the Healthy Youth and Schools Commission to advise the General Assembly on schools.
We are fast approaching the point where if you send a kid to school with a lunch sack of PB&J sammies and potato chips, you can well expect to find the district’s food police knocking on your door.
We need your help! If you like PunditHouse, please consider donating to us. Even $5 a month can make a difference!
Short URL: https://pundithouse.com/?p=5909
