If you feed them, they will improve:
A pilot program intended to ensure every child has the chance to eat a free and nutritious breakfast is being offered this year to students at Morris Elementary School in Rialto. The program is based on research that shows proper nutrition can positively influence academic achievement, Rialto Unified School District officials said.The free breakfast program paid for by reimbursable state and federal funds is being offered initially at Morris, but if successful, will be expanded to other school sites, said Syeda Jafri, district spokeswoman.
"We offered free breakfast during standardized testing at our schools during last year,' said Sharon Flores, director of nutrition services for the district. "What we found was that the free breakfast reduced tardies and that we had less students in the nurses' offices with stomach aches.'
This part, though, makes me think teachers will be driven nuts:
"The food is served in the classroom right when class starts so it's a family-type environment,' Flores said.
Which means teachers will have to monitor table manners and clean up all that jelly off the desks afterwards.
Posted by kswygert at August 25, 2005 09:17 AM