On a day when there's not much going on around the blogosphere that pertains to Michigan, I like to check out Wendy Day's blog. The Howell School Board member who doesn't send her kids to public school never disappoints.
Her latest target is dancing.
In a piece Sunday (January 6, 2007), Day is complaining about the purchase of a video game that attempts to get kids up off their behinds and moving around in hopes of reducing the obesity epidemic in this country.
Called "Dance Dance Revolution," the game consists of a mat on which kids dance. If they hit the right spots, they score points, and the highest score wins. The district bought one system to be shared by all elementary schools in the district.
Says Day, "Yes, we do have a problem with overweight kids in America. There are lots of ways to engage children in exercises that cost a lot less than the $5-7 thousand dollars this program will cost for a class set."
Okay, let's look at these "lots of ways to engage children in exercises" that would work really well in a classroom. They could do calisthetics. Kids would love that, wouldn't they? How about running in place? Can't have a treadmill, that would cost money, too. And I'm sure they would go home and run in place in their spare time.
The Howell school district is not alone in using this system. As Tne New York Times reported, other states have bought the system for each school district.
Scientific studies back up the game's effectiveness, even with obese children who generally are reluctant to participate in gym class. One study found that a little over an hour of DDR helps children lose weight.
A second study found that children doing DDR use more energy than walking on a treadmill while watching TV.
Besides that, dancing is something that people can do throughout their lives and that is fun. And it doesn't require a particular skill, the way basketball and soccer do. And it can be done indoors, regardless of the weather.
Day considers the game a "luxury." Is battling obesity a "luxury"? Obesity is a leading cause of diabetes in this country. What's the lifetime cost of caring for diabetics? And since when is the health of our children a "luxury"?
7 comments:
Wendy lives in her own little world, poor thing. I have to give her credit though for finding time to home school her large family, be a loyal Army wife and find energy left over to cause trouble.
The Howell Schools has made a good decision for students. I heartily approve the exercise and fun the kids are having. Sure beats sneaking out for a quick smoke or toke.
I stayed at my nephew's in LA over the holidays. I watched my 11 year old niece spend 3 hours at a time on the DDR she got for Christmas. An overweight somewhat clumsy child, I could almost seeing her losing weight and the coordination she was achieving in the week I was there.
I wonder if they could put out some DDRs for the oldsters? Maybe with cha chas, jitterbugs, etc and appropriate music. Bet the Senior Centers would buy them.
"Is battling obesity a "luxury"? Obesity is a leading cause of diabetes in this country. What's the lifetime cost of caring for diabetics? And since when is the health of our children a "luxury"?"
Judy, you're a riot. Yes, OBVIOUSLY, the only way that children can ever get any exercise is by playing an expensive game. Brilliant.
God forbid the children play soccer or basketball or anything like that. Oh, no. No child would want to do that. Not what we can spend some needless tax dollars instead.
Shame on you, Wendy Day, for trying to save the taxpayers any money. Don't you know that it's your job to find out ways that we can spend even MORE?
Hey, Judy. Check out Wendy's blog again. She responds to your post and smacks you down pretty good.
Good post. I agree 100 percent. When schools cut costs they always cut the arts and physical education, but we need to educate the entire child. Obesity in children is a major problem in the entire country, but it is even worse in a cold weather state like Michigan, and anything you can do to get a child up off the couch is worth the investment. Schools have to keep up with technology. If people like Day had their way schools would never have computers or any other new technology, I notice she attacks this post on her blog, but does not have the courage to try and defend her asinine post here.
That's the problem with Wendy Day. She ran on fiscal responsibility yet she has no clue what a hidden cost is.
Wendy hasn't smacked anyone down except for herself. Her fuzzy math skills and inability to see anything good for our kids other than slapping a Bible in their hands does not show good leadership.
Her run on “Fiscal Responsibility” is laughable. Can you imagine what a $7,000 used bus looks like? It wouldn’t be very safe? Oops my mistake, the only safety Wendy is concerned about has to do with gays standing next to her Christian students.
She has NO problem spending, look at her proposal for new doors at PHS that will cost the tax payers $12,000 or how about the R.O.T.C. course she pushes yearly? Her latest fiscally responsive Poll is on School Vouchers.
Her need for media attention will cost the District plenty if Chuck Breiner is as smart as I think he is. Maybe her mouth has finally done her in.
Wendy Day hasn't a clue whats good for our children, she home schools her kids and she thinks she can run a district of schools, kind or ironic how dumb and close minded Ms. Day is. A better Day will be when Wendy is out of office.
Post a Comment