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The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz., Mark J. Scarp Scottsdale Column: Education, Not Ban, Can Better Diets

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 18:00 CST

By Mark J. Scarp Scottsdale, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Mar. 29--That we expect the Arizona Legislature to keep overregulating rather than deregulating is a notion underlying the Scottsdale Unified School District's anticipating the current ban on junk food in public elementary and middle schools being extended to high schools.

As the Tribune's Andrea Falkenhagen reported Monday, district officials propose pre-empting the Legislature with a plan that would yank such offerings from high school vending machines now, before the lawmakers might ban them later. The Scottsdale school board was to have first heard the idea Tuesday night. Healthier stuff would go into those machines, the profits from some of which would continue to go to fund various booster groups' contributions to school teams and clubs.

It all sounds good, of course. Child obesity is a serious issue with ramifications well into adulthood. Teens should be eating healthier, like their younger brothers and sisters, who by law can't be sold sugary and fatty snacks on campus. Therefore, deny the older kids this stuff, too, right?

If only these deprivations of empty-calories fare would have the profoundly beneficial effects on youngsters' health that the Legislature and education officials think it will. But they won't, because the schools only control what the young people are offered weekdays during school hours. Parents control -- or fail to control -- what their children are buying to eat the rest of the time. Removing snacks from campus in too many cases only would make the stomach grow fonder for the wrong stuff later.

Even during school hours, parents have control over how much money their kids have to use those vending machines. Last time I checked, they don't dispense products for free.

So why, then, are the schools even involved, especially at the high schools, where teens are driving 2-ton automobiles but they're not responsible enough to handle their candy, chips and soda intake? Come on. And would this mean you'll be no longer able to buy a hot dog at a high school football game or other school function? Will the booster groups earn as much?

School officials are commendably trying to improve children's health. But instead of forced deprivation they should do what they do best: Education. Better educate students and parents about the health risks of eating a bad diet and little to no exercise. Emphasize choices, which the schools have been doing well recently.

And instead of giving kids cash that can end up in vending machines, parents should be able to put money on a school-lunch debit card, with which their children can only purchase nutritious eats from the cafeteria.

These are much better solutions than secondguessing the Legislature, of all things.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

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Source: The Tribune

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