Massachusetts Schools Ban Bake Sales: Healthy or Half-Baked?

I understand people are angry and think its 'taking away their rights'. Yes they're your children, but some of the crap that is being sold in American supermarkets and being baked is just disgusting. America is still number one on the country with the highest obesity rate. I honestly don't see how how a ban on junk food 1 hour before school and 1 hour after is such a burden to deal with?

I'm sure there are a million other 'fairs and fetes' where the children and parents can bake food and sell it for charity or other things. I mean the school needs to project a healthy eating image. Its happening in other countries and no one has gotten angry, instead the parents are happier. In Australian public schools, surgery food, fizzy drink, lollies and other bad food has been band from the tuckshop (cafeteria) and everyone is happy. I don't see why all of you have to go over the top and say its effecting 'your freedom and rights'. I'm sorry, but your damaging and effecting your child's freedom to health when you let them consume utter crap.

Considering parents can still stuff their children's lunch boxes with ghastly sugared goods and give them money to eat at the cafeteria, I don't think its the biggest issue. I think its about time. Its for the better of the children, not the parents who always think they know best.

Also taxpayers and republicans get really angry when the government intervenes but then complains when the taxes are higher. Lower obesity rates means lower taxes, mean less spending on self inflicted health related issues. Think bout it? You can't always have it both ways.

First, I agree that the federal government should not be involved in dictating what food is available in public schools, but it isn't. This is a state issue. If the voters in Massachusetts want these kinds of rules, that's their prerogative. It isn't on the federal level.

Secondly, what the hell does this issue have to do with what's told in classrooms? Both are issues that can be dealt with on a state-by-state basis (as we've seen in Kansas).
If you don't like what's taught in your public schools, get involved & change it. If your voice is the loudest, you might just get something done. However, if you are in the minority, then you're just s.o.l. But what is taught in the classroom & what food is available in schools are not exactly related issues other than that they are both controllable on the state or even local level.

As to your comment on homosexuality being taught in schools, most teachers don't comment on whether or not homosexuality is "morally-acceptable," but they simply discuss what it means. There are plenty of students who are either homosexual themselves or have family members who are. If a teacher has a kid in class who's obviously struggling with such issues, rejecting or condemning him/her is not necessarily the best thing for the kid, but only pushes the kid into further dilemma. Teachers generally only allowed to explain what it is (if they discuss such things at all). There have always been health classes in public schools. They have taught about sexuality & puberty for decades. But to deny that there are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual students &/or people in the students' lives, is just silly. They are here, there & everywhere. There is no making them go away. There are questions that kids want answered & sometimes they don't feel comfortable asking at home for a variety of reasons. It seems to me that your attitude only causes the teachers themselves more distress as well as the students. The teacher is in quite the predicament when asked by a student/class what's going on with this or that. It's all around kids. Why shouldn't they be able to discuss it in the classroom? Morality is the parents' job. But far too many parents choose not to discuss it at all, hoping it will just go away or something. Or else they degrade & belittle people they disagree with. Most of the time that just causes the kid more confusion & distress... especially when they have friends/acquaintances at school who identify themselves or are identified by others as something other than "straight." Kids have to turn somewhere.

All the wishing & praying in the world certainly is not going to change what is. You can dislike it & disagree with it, but it is the way it is. Teaching kids hate is not the answer & will certainly not make their lives any better or easier. We do all have to live together. Acceptance does not mean agreement. So, in my opinion, if you want to teach your kids something that will help them, teach them acceptance & tolerance. It will make their lives easier. That does not mean teaching them to approve of it. It means teaching the kids that though you don't approve of those who identify/live other than "straight," you accept them as a part of our society with the same right to exist as anyone else. (Remember, there were no exceptions in Jesus' word to "Love the children.")

If you don't want your state to dictate what food is available in your public school system, then raise your voice to your state government & your local school system. You have the power until you give it away.