Editorial: Let schools be a refuge from snacks

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004 | 8:59 a.m.

No other source than personal observation is needed to conclude that more schoolchildren than in past generations are overweight, even obese. And no other source than that is necessary to understand one of the main reasons why this is happening. Junk food has become pervasive, even in schools. Going back a few decades, we can remember when schools had no vending machines and teachers and principals did their best to enforce rules against any eating other than at lunch. There was time and money then, as well, for health and home-economics classes, active recesses, gym classes and intramural sports for those who wouldn't be making the varsity teams. Today, budget crises have eliminated a lot of that type of instruction and physical activity. Compounding the problem, once-forbidden candy, soda and other nutritionally worthless items are plentiful at schools' ubiquitous snack stores and vending machines.

All over the country, and world for that matter, schools and societies are reaping the consequences. Students loaded up on sugary drinks and sweet and fatty foods are jittery and unable to stay attentive in their classes. This affects their academic achievements. They are becoming way overweight at early ages, setting themselves up for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension and other physical problems that will cost them their quality of life as adults and cost society billions in heath care.

And why are we allowing this? The most common reason we've heard is that contracts with junk-food and beverage companies provide schools with a lot of extra money. School contracts to sell certain brands of soda or candy, then, have become more important than the schoolchildren. Once upon a time, schools were in charge. Today we sigh and say: Kids are going to eat this stuff anyway, and we need the money, so why not sell it?

Fortunately, there is growing legislative awareness of this problem. School districts throughout the country, often because of pressure from their state legislatures, are making changes. Some are banning junk food, others are graduating to healthier offerings. A health-care subcommittee of the Nevada Legislature will decide in March whether to recommend legislation about the content of school vending machines. The Clark County School District, meanwhile, is studying the problem and leaning toward "a healthier balance," in the words of Superintendent Carlos Garcia. "We're not talking about getting rid of the (vending) machines because, frankly, our schools need the money they bring in," he told Sun reporter Emily Richmond. "But we are looking at ways of giving students better choices."

It's terrible when schools continue to engage in something known to be unhealthy for their students because they need the money. Taxpayers should be providing for all of a public school's needs, which certainly don't include junk foods that lessen achievement.