I dropped Isaiah off at his school this morning. It is a pretty good public school compared to the options in New Haven given that ours is a "failing" district under the No Child Left Behind laws (don't get me started on that, by the way, as I think it is terrible legislation). I have lots of good things to say about the school, the teachers, and the students.
Yet they have to work against stupid obstacles, in addition to the really difficult ones (like poverty, small budgets, etc.) For example, the thing that has me angry right now is the breakfast today. The school has a high percentage of families that qualify for the free meal program so actually any kid can have breakfast and lunch free. I went into Isaiah's class and chatted with students this morning. 27 kids, one teacher. And to give them good energy for learning, the government-provided breakfast was a Kellogg's Pop Tart and a bowl of Kellogg's Froot Loops (it ought to be a clue that they don't spell it "fruit"). Why not just give them a bowl of sugar and say, okay, boys and girls, sit still and do your work. CRAZY. Government and corporate interests combining to undermine the most vulnerable population in our nation--inner-city minority children in a failing school district.
with hope for justice and the strength to fight for it,
Chris
There is such a relationship between food and spirituality. The fact that people with such a public statement of faith are the ones promoting cuts that lead to serving our children "froot" makes it that much more damnable.
Posted by: Will | February 16, 2007 at 02:01 PM