Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

[Peytonn]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

bottom line is she should be able to do some alternate assignment... like plan 3 typical ATkins meals........

or... if it's a pretend thing...(he doesn't actually have to MAKE the meals..)... he could still plan them on paper... for the grade....

I don't believe in everything taught.. or required to do along the way.......... some things you just did to get it over with... and get the grade...

[Peytonn]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

I'm not saying kiss her butt... but I'm saying taking a zero etc. isn't going to change things either....

just ask if he can prepare 3 atkins meals..... and document the nutrition info etc..

that's all...

[not2late]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

You can pm me Brook.

I have a ton of stuff.

[Brook]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

Here we go:

Dear Ms. W,
I appreciate you e-mailing me with the information that you have about the Atkins diet. It is not my intent to change your mind or compromise the family meals and eating that you are committed to in your home. My main concern is that Aaron complete the assignment where he plans and prepares 3 meals for his family. I will take your eating patterns into consideration and will not penalize him for following an Atkins approach to nutrition. I do invite you, however, to look at the MyPyramid.gov website to see that the USDA have made some changes to their recommendations. If you have any concerns about the mean planning and preparation portion of his assignment, let me know. Although it is my job to teach nutrition, the focus of this assignment is meal planning and preparation. Also, please do not assume that I am against your approach to eating in any way. There is research that supports that a large red meat intake can increase the rates of cancer and heart disease. But I do agree that most people eat too many carbs (the bad kind especially) and that many Americans ignore the pyramid.

Mrs. L

Mrs. L,



Thank you for your quick reply.



I am well aware of the changes to the food pyramid. Again, I am very proactive in the nutritional arena and pride myself on staying up to date with what's going on. While I believe the changes to be a big improvement; especially now that it takes age/sex/activity level into account, it still does not represent what I believe to be healthy.



I agree that it's important that Aaron complete the assignment, and you can be assured that he will do exactly that.



I can only draw conclusions as to your stand on my eating approach by what you said to my son. Telling my son that the way I eat has "long term health consequences" or saying things like "I'm sorry to hear that" when talking about choices I make for my family is not now, nor will it ever be, acceptable.



I'm curious as to where you're pulling "large red meat intake" from. Did you not read the menu example I sent you? Where does the assumption that low-carbers eat large amounts of red meat come from? It's certainly not from any of the low-carb books or approaches. I do not eat large amounts of red meat (or anything else for that matter- large amounts of ANYTHING are bad), and neither do the vast majority of educated low-carbers that I converse with on a daily basis. Low-carb approaches all assert that people need to be aware of and watch their saturated fat intake (as well as avoidance of transfats), and this is another point of misconception and assumption that those of us who follow this way of eating fight constantly.



The studies you refer to are again, high in red meat, but *not* low in carbohydrate intake. This is an important distinction. There are plenty of studies available that were done with high fat intake, but also low carb intake that improve the risk factors for heart disease - and my own blood work is a testament to that. As for cancer? That really remains to be seen and I have yet to see any conclusive study - but then that's true of a lot of things from environment to food to medications.



I appreciate your perspective and your cooperation in getting the assignment done in a manner which we can all be happy with. We will absolutely do our part.



Thank you again for your time.
Brook W.

Looks like we both get to win. Hurray!

[Bugaboo]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

Contradicted herself quite a bit didn't she?

You kick a$$ Brook!!!! Awesome response!

[iyamamaschke]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

WOOOOHOOO BROOK, way to go standing your ground on the subject and exellent letters I must say.

I am happy for you this is a win.

Sarah

[ttdriver]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

That's another thing. As a teacher, I would NEVER EVER EVER tell a student of mine that his or her parents are WRONG. A teacher is a parent's PARTNER, not adversary. If I have a question I contact the PARENT; I wouldn't dream of dissing the parent to the child. How disrespectful! How anti-education! And what a way to make the child feel divided loyalties.

SHE BETTER RUN WHEN PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE TIME ROLLS AROUND!!!

Betty

[Lisa M]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

Yea, Brook!

I'd say you caught her with her pants down and she had no where to go put give her "opinion" of information without proper documentation of CURRENT and updated information to back up her premise that eating a lot of red meat is BAD and cancer being associated.

Where's my steak?

[Lisa M]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

SHE BETTER RUN WHEN PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE TIME ROLLS AROUND!!!

Betty

No kidding. I can see the woman cringing and making excuses to run and hide. She'd be smart to put on a big fat smile and show up for some edumacation.

[I lost it]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

Brook, you really schooled that teacher. Hopefully he will recieve the letter as it was meant and think more carefully in addressing his students. The school systems today are big on diversity, I hope that extends to alternate eating styles as well. Great job.....

[not2late]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

Ya know...I'm not a violent person but this comment:

There is research that supports that a large red meat intake can increase the rates of cancer and heart disease. But I do agree that most people eat too many carbs (the bad kind especially) and that many Americans ignore the pyramid.

Makes me want to go over there and smack Mrs. L with a completely Atkins friendly 100 pound tuna!

[Peytonn]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

awww... that's good news... looks like we BOTH got some good news today.....

and I dont' mean to sound wishy washy here.. but I teach.. and I know sometimes it's hard to make assignments without offending somebody.... once I got called on the carpet about a ROCK collection project....

the kids had been looking forward to dissecting a frog... right about the time people were suing for killing frogs.... I had more headaches than you can imagine....

this teacher probably does too.... and I kinda figured she'd be willing to compromise in some way...

glad it worked out!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

Awesome letter, Brooke! Loved the "Oh help!" teacher's response, pulling her horns in! And Finelly... you are so right that teachers should be parents allies, not adversaries!

This whole thread was like a mini drama serial on tv!!!

Brilliant!
Sal

[cleochatra]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

That's super! I'm proud of you!

[Isabeau]

Re: Going to war with my kids' family consumer science teacher....

Well done!