Kids, Veggies, and Communication
Now there's an odd trio. But, I think, an appropriate one.
It seems that some kids at a school in Las Vegas decided that the frozen green beans they were being served with school lunches were really awful. So they decided to do something about it.
Instead of organizing a boycott, they worked with their teacher to write what are described as very polite letters to the school lunch lady, asking if she would consider making a change.
And she did. In fact, she set up a series of taste tests, letting the children come in and try a variety of vegetables. The school district says that as a result of those tests, it will make some changes in the vegetables offered to the kids.
So, I would argue, there are a number of valuable lessons here.
First, the kids have good taste. Reheated frozen green beans are...well, let's keep this polite and just say virtually inedible.
Second, the kids were shown that being polite can pay off. I suspect that letters that talked about awful food and threatened boycotts and the like would probably not have been very effective.
And third (and, from this blog's point of view, most important), the kids have learned the value of communication - and how to make their point effectively. And maybe someday, when they are all public relations gurus, they'll remember that they pitched the story to the media - and it worked.
All in all, not a bad day for education!
