A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, June 11:
What's
the Advantage of Delaying Kindergarten?
This New York Times Magazine article points out that more states,
including California, are considering bills that would force kids to wait
until they are older to start kindergarten, saying that older children
have higher maturity and a better competitive advantage in standardized
testing. Some public policy analysts are concerned, however, that pushing
back the age for kindergarten will hurt lower-income children, who often
cannot afford preschool. (NY Tim es Magazine, 6/3/07, by Weil)
State
Budget Cuts Threaten Fresh Fruit in Schools
The California Legislature has proposed eliminating funding for
the Fresh Start program, which pays for fresh fruit in school cafeterias,
in an effort to balance the state's education budget. School nutritionists
say that the change would be a significant step backward in the fight
against childhood obesity. (SF Chronicle, 6/6/07, by Ness)
Opinion:
Don't Cut Funding for Kids' Programs
This San Jose Mercury News op-ed from Dana Bunnett, executive
director of the local nonprofit Kids in Common, recommends that the Santa
Clara County Board of Supervisors refuse to cut spending on programs that
benefit kids and families when considering how to trim the budget. While
this would mean digging into the county's 4 percent contingency reserve,
Bunnett argues that prospects for future economic recovery are good, meriting
a one-time withdrawal. (SJ Mercury, 06/05/07, by Bunnett)
Kids
in Hawaii
Get Free Flu Shots
All of Hawaii 's elementary and middle schools students ages 5 to 13 will
get free flu shots when school starts next fall, thanks to a partnership
between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state's
largest insurer. Participation will be voluntary, and parents must give
permission. (AP, 6/8/07 )
One
Mother's Journey Through Facebook
This New York Times column by Michelle Slatalla details the
author's venture onto facebook.com, the social networking site where her
daughter and millions of other students interact online. The website recently
broadened its focus from just students to the general public. Slatalla
recounts her generational computer literacy gap and how adults fare in
the youth-oriented online world. (NY Times, 6/7/07, by Slatalla)
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