Ok, here's one from a friend who is a stay-at-home dad: how to deal with taking a potty-training or preschool girl to the bathroom? When boys go in a public bathroom with mom, no problem because everyone is in a stall. In the men's room, there are often men using urinals. Ignore it and take the girl to the men's room? Ask a stranger to take the girl into the women's room and help her? Keep her in diapers forever...?

I am wondering how best to address the issue of branding and marketing to children, particularly within the public school system. I am fairly certain the public school system teachers have a tight curriculum from which they form classroom activities, but I was more than slightly taken aback when the children were taught a song called "The Fast Food Song", which uses the actual logos of six different fast food chains as well as their names to form a catchy song, and the children even had a booklet given to them where they colored in the logos. Even more amazing to me is that at the bottom of the photocopied pages, are the words "Department of Elementary Programs, Office of Early Childhood, July 2004."

Are you kidding me? I am wondering if this is the new equivalent of having Coke or Pepsi machines in the schools, which seems to have been phased out (or at least in the process throughout the country). Does the BCPS get that much money from fast food chains that the teachers are required to teach the KINDERGARTEN children logo recognition? Especially for fast food chains. And particularly in light of this recent article in the Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bal-bz.kidsmeals05aug05,0,1684716.story

One friend who is a former Kindergarten teacher suggested it might have been a way for the kids to relate to each other, since each one was asked "what is YOUR favorite fast food restaurant?"

I can definitely say I would not have this reaction of the song was just about "junk food". Like have them color pictures of french fries and pizza and chips and fizzy soda cups. But teaching them logos?

So perhaps my question, if it cannot be answered whether or not there is a financial incentive for the schools to teach brand recognition, then how do I address my concern with the teacher without being "that" parent as well as not approaching the matter in a way that would put the (seemingly very dear and good natured and loves the kids) teacher on the defensive or keep her from feeling like I am attacking - even though I am a bit disturbed by that particular item the children were taught because it seems so insidious to their impressionable little minds.