School Budget Cuts

Will Affect Children’s Health

To the Editor:

I’m always disheartened this time of year when the proposed school budget cuts are announced. It’s bad enough that the proposed budget is never sufficient for a forward-directed school system anyway, and the proposed cuts just feel like we’re going backwards every year.

However, this year I feel the proposed cuts to Reed School and the middle school are irresponsible and bad for the health of our children! This country is in the middle of a childhood obesity epidemic where one-third of all children are overweight. That is one out of three children in the US! The numbers are worse for Hispanic and black children; one out of two! If we take away after school programs, what do you propose our children do after school? Eat and play computer games? Become bored and get in trouble? Organized after school programs enrich our children’s bodies and minds. Experts agree that these programs are a benefit to children in combating obesity. Experts also suggest that home economics classes can teach children basic cooking skills, portion sizes, and healthy eating habits. Yet we are proposing to cut this valuable program, too! Pay to play is not an option since those children most vulnerable to the above statistics on obesity would not be able to afford to play!

I urge the board to not even consider these options to cut out of the budget. Why should we put Newtown children at a disadvantage that they will carry with them through their whole lives? Our town adopted the “Cupcake Law” several years back in a feeble and superficial attempt to deal with childhood obesity by keeping sweets out of the classroom for children’s school parties. There is no research that shows that not having a cupcake for school birthday parties helps counteract the very serious threat of obesity to our children! Yet we’ll keep that “law” and then do away with after school programs and sports programs that research shows contributes to healthy bodies and minds.

Let’s be responsible and keep healthy, engaging programs in the budget!

Linda Watson

51 High Rock Road, Sandy Hook                            February 10, 2010