conuly

You've probably seen this article already, but to sum up, an unspecified number of Chicago schools are banning home-made lunches except for religious or health grounds... which probably adds up to "unless Mommy writes a note". I kinda remember a policy like this being a minor plot point in one of Judy Blume's books, the one that takes place in Florida and that she calls her "most autobiographical book".

Exactly one principal is quoted, from one school. All the students are from that one school, and the district just said "Well, principals can make the rules for their own schools".

And the comments are going crazy. They just about all agree that this is absurd, but they don't all agree on WHY. One comment sums up the general gist of things:

Hmm. So, there seems to be three competing theories about what happened here.

The first is that this principal is a control freak who thinks that, by executing emperor-like powers over 8 year olds, she is now a powerful person.

The second is that she is just another greedy administrator abusing her position for monetary gain.

The third is that she is part of a world-wide conspiracy to bring the end of democracy to all nations by the insidiously evil, yet ingenious plan of forcing 8 year olds to eat crappy enchiladas.

Yeah, I like the third option as well. MUCH more entertaining.

It is, of course, all Obama's fault... despite the fact that this policy came to effect six years ago.

Anyway, that one little article has spawned a whole bunch of OTHER posts on the subject:

Here's one just a little earlier on kindergarten lunchtime in Japan
And that same writer's take on the Chicago story.
(And, by the way, she linked to this adorable picture of first graders serving lunch. Aw! Can't read the Japanese.)

Loosely related is this report of how they make foods in (one) DC school.

And of course, there's the post from the school lunch woman.