| Author | Content |
twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
September 07, 2009
04:19 PM Post #7037192
| So far, 10 large food manufacturers, like Kellogg's and Kraft, are part of the Smart Choices program. With approximately 500 products, including Fruit Loops, Kid Cuisine cheeseburgers, Teddy Grahams and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, carrying the Smart Choices label.
The green mark does not mean government approval, but critics say there's a danger some consumers won't know that.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/06/eveningnews/main52...
It wasn't enough to bombard consumers through the media, now the big processors have stooped to a new low. I think there's a big need to bring back Home Economics to our education systems.
There are still lots of people that believe labels must be true or they wouldn't be allowed.
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garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 10, 2009
12:30 AM Post #7046532
| We definitely need to bring back Home Economics. Rather than do away with it, it would have been helpful to make it a gender neutral program. Both the boys and the girls (or men and women if you prefer) need to know how to cook and manage a home budget etc.
Whether or not a label has a green checkmark, or any other logo, one still needs to read the list of ingredients. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
September 24, 2009
06:20 PM Post #7100838
| And the girls need to take shop as well as home economics. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 24, 2009
08:01 PM Post #7101174
| Definitely. |
lizards_keep
Colmesneil, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 24, 2009
10:41 PM Post #7101755
| My Mom has always said that I didn't learn to eat until I took Foods in 7th grade. Said it was the best class they ever offered in school. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
September 25, 2009
06:00 PM Post #7104186
| I remember in high school, home economics was a dud. We made brownies. If you actually learned something about nutrition and food selection it would be a great 7th grade class.
One of the most worthwhile courses I ever took was cabinet making at the local junior college. I don't think they teach home ec. at the jr. college level. And of course the value of any course depends on the teacher. |
garden_mermaid
San Francisco Bay Ar, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 26, 2009
04:56 PM Post #7107133
| gloria, when I was in high school, girls were not allowed to take any of the shop classes. I took some junior college classes concurrently with high school, but again, women were not allowed to register for classes like workworking or autoshop.
I have since learned to use most woodworking tools by working with experienced craftsmen.
I would like to see some practical "life skills" classes added to the curriculum for both boys and girls at the high school level. Both need to know rudimentary skills for taking care of themselves. I remember reading about an experimental class at a charter "alternate" school that reminded me to the film "To Sir With Love".
The curriculum involved having each student having to manage to a household budget, manage a bank account, find an affordable apartment, etc. After they passed the first phase of "lifeskills", they were given once of those dolls that look and feel like a real life infant. They had to work their schedules around caring for and arranging care for their "child" for two weeks.
Apparently the course created a lot of controversy and was dropped from the program. Still, I think there are parts that could be kept. |
twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
September 27, 2009
01:02 AM Post #7108468
| GM that curriculum sounds so common sense and useful that it's hard to imagine what could possibly have been controversial. It seems to me that no matter what subject or what action is proposed, somebody is just waiting to pounce with an objection that stirs a controversy and the "official" response is to do nothing rather than offend anyone. My sense of the situation is that practically all the young people have to go to adult classes to get anywhere with a career and the first thing they have to do is learn such things as English Composition and Remedial Math. The kinds of things my generation had to master in the 8th grade. I hated it but I got through it.
I'm left with wondering if they aren't teaching them the basics or life skills, what are they doing? Life skills surely are gender neutral and should be required at some point in school. We probably all know people that are totally stressed about careers and finance while they waste enough money to live on.
With all the predatory tactics going on with marketing practically everything now days it's no wonder so many people are suckered. I still get ripped off sometimes and I'm old enough to know better.
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phicks
Lakeland, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 29, 2009
07:25 PM Post #7117795
| they should bring that class back after watching many young parents out there ==== Paul |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
September 30, 2009
09:41 PM Post #7121907
| i guess we have come a long way, ba-aby. It is now respectable for a girl to have a hammer. Ive even seen pink tool kits on Amazon. Girl-sized pliers. I haven't seen Black & Decker make a pink drill yet though. |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
October 18, 2009
12:29 AM Post #7181482
| Our middle schools require shop and home ec for all students as part of a rotation that includes an intro to art, music, languages and something else I can't remember (sorry.) In the HS, they must take a "family" class that covers finances, child care, etc. They also offer a house building course where they do everything with supervision from tradesmen, then sell the house at the end of the year. My son took that and he can fix anything in the house now. |
twiggybuds
Moss Point, MS
(Zone 8b)
October 18, 2009
02:26 AM Post #7181655
| Cathy that sounds great. Is there a pill or something your school board is taking? Maybe something in the water? Somebody needs to find out and distribute it nationwide. I just hate that I'm so often finding things to complain of but our education system is right up there at the top of the heap begging for reform. They have to do better.
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cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
October 18, 2009
03:13 AM Post #7181691
| twiggy, they are just very responsive to the community's input, and in turn, the community is very supportive. I think we are lucky because we have a very diverse population, from very poor to well off, a mix of ethnicities, and educational levels. |
GardenSox
Sacramento, CA
(Zone 9a)
October 19, 2009
07:40 PM Post #7187939
| As far as Home Ec goes, I'd like to see our schools emphasize the Economics aspect of it. Too many students graduate high school with little to no understanding of the dangers that await them when they turn 18 and become eligible for credit cards. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
October 21, 2009
03:40 PM Post #7194339
| They will really be surprised today! The 0% credit card is a thing of the past. You can sometimes get a limited time card if you transfer balance. Otherwise, the cost of a credit card is in the 7%+ range. |
greenhouse_gal
Port Elizabeth, NJ
(Zone 7a)
October 24, 2009
07:35 AM Post #7202963
| Interesting article in Huffington Post about the Smart Choice label. Producers are voluntarily suspending the promotion of this program because of FDA concerns that it may be misleading. Here's the url:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/24/smart-choices-food-... |
