Chatbug Karen

I have an issue with our school system that bugs me. They are pulling programs that are beneficial to our kids and at the same time are spending more money to enhance sports programs. Why is so much attention placed on sports programs in our schools? Do they think our schools will produce a star athlete?

I am not against school sports. I know that so many of our kids are obese and need activity. Sports teach our kids how to follow rules and to work as a team. They learn a lot from sports. It is when other programs are cut, too easily in my opinion, to afford bigger and better stadiums and weight rooms, that I take issue.

The programs that are being cut are what our school calls consumer classes. These are the classes that teach our kids how to balance a check book and why credit cards should be handled with care. Our kids learn the basic homemaking skills like how to cook and how to plan a grocery budget. After reading our local paper, I was surprised to learn all the things that are taught in the consumer classes. It is sad to see them cut from our schools.

Thank goodness we have the Internet. We can get information from websites to inform our youth, if we take the initiative. There is an excellent website that deals with women’s health. It is called Women’s Health Base. It is full of information that covers things like smoking and lung cancer. Other articles include new discoveries concerning breast cancer and heart disease.

The website also has interesting articles concerning beauty, diet & fitness and relationships. Although the website is geared towards women’s health, this website is very informative for those of you looking for information to share with your children not matter their gender. Young adults may find answers to questions dealing with skin problems and healthy dating practices.

We need to pick up the pace on educating our kids, especially if they aren’t being taught these things in school. It all boils down to our responsibility as parents.