Next year, Sofia will be entering Middle School. Due to space issues in our town, the 5th graders have to move in with the big kids. As she is my oldest child, I have no idea what to expect with this move. Up until now, my biggest concerns were her being exposed to the older kids before she's ready. I remember Middle School (vaguely), and I've heard how much it's changed since I was there. I don't think a ten year old is ready to deal with all of it; but the school board didn't ask me, so I have to let her go.
So, the kids went to the Middle School for a tour this week. Sofia brought home a paper that was given to her at the end of the tour. Apparently, she gets to choose what electives she would like to participate in. First of all, I wasn't given any choices until at least the 8th grade. In the fifth grade, it's like asking them if they want chocolate covered cake or carrot sticks. HHMMMMMM... decisions, decisions.
Her two options were this:
1. All year band, with one semester of P.E. and one semester divided between two other electives.
2. All year P.E. with the other four electives being rotated through each nine weeks.
I was flabbergasted. In the fifth grade, physical education is not a requirement. The kids are given an option between sitting in a chair for seven hours a day and playing games for less than an hour a day. I do not understand how, in a country/state/county/town where so many people are obese or overweight, a ten year old can be allowed to be stagnant for the majority of their day. And, I'm not even going to dignify their "lunches" with a post. But let's just say that whatever the hell a Bosco Stick or a Crispito is shall never pass the lips of my children.
Sofia has chosen Option 1. She really wants to join the band. And, against my better judgement, I can't bring myself to tell her "no". I'm not worried about her becoming obese, but I am not at all comfortable with her being inactive for so much of her day. Kids need to run and play and learn how bad they are at sports. They need to wear those awful gym outfits and navigate their way through a locker room. It's a rite of passage in addition to being a good foundation for a healthy lifestyle in adulthood. If they're not made to exercise as kids, what's going to bring them to it as adults?
I place a great deal of importance on health and nutrition in my house. All of their food, while not necessarily arugula and tofu, is handmade and as organic as I can afford. I make them go outside every time the weather allows. I sign them up to at least try every activity that presents itself. But, I send them to school seven hours a day, five days a week, ten months a year. I pack all of their lunches, but the girls are constantly being given candy and those terrible "snack cakes" that come wrapped in plastic. (Sidenote: what the hell is a snack cake? Those are two words that should never be joined!) Every morning I give the school district healthy, active kids. And, every afternoon I'm returned a little less healthy, a little less active kids. Gee, I wonder why Kansas has such a high obesity rate?!
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