Oh, that would be fantastic! The lunches at my school currently look disgusting. I really hope these ideas pan out.

Yes! I do agree with your article. Breakfast should never be ignored to maintain a healthy diet. If its a time factor at least it is suggestible to fruits as alternative.

This is exciting on so many levels. I don't think people outside of the system understand how terrible and unhealthy our cafeteria food has been. Children with a full nutritious meal in their belly will perform better in school than children using 7-11 chili cheese dogs (for breakfast often) and assorted junk food as learning fuel.

Mr. Geraci was also generous enough to allow one of our 11th grade students to intern at food and nutritional services for the upcoming year. He really is all about the kids and having them take a primary role in this transformation.

My only concern may be the breakfast in the classroom idea. I can already see the other students asking for a bite, being distracted by the smell, and potentially making a mess. I'd almost rather them down their breakfast in the cafeteria and come to class another 15 minutes later.

I admit I haven't been in school for a number of years but do students still have homeroom?

Why not allow kids a few extra minutes during homeroom to eat and place the large cafeteria-style trash bins at the door for when they are done? I think this is a wonderful way to start the day for any student.

I like the idea, but think it needs to be re-thought in two capacities.

The first is what Corey mentioned above. Food cannot become part of the classroom. Those of us in the system are always fighting this battle. Kids bring in food and then others get distracted-it can sometimes turn ugly as well. I like the idea of an extended homeroom, but that creates a later dismissal and possible cutting into of planning time. We need to balance the instructional needs of the teacher with the kids nutritional well-being here. A classroom full of yummy aromas is not going to help the instructional component at all. Tied to that is the idea of sending a mixed message to kids about food in the classroom. It should be all or nothing-not exceptions for healthy breakfast snacks. Keep it in the cafeteria or have teachers volunteer time to open their classes early for kids who want to eat in those rooms.

My second concern relates to how we can create a climate that makes kids want to come in early to eat these healthy meals. Our students do not eat healthy nor do they come to school on time very well. Baltimore City is not an "If you build it, they will come" type place. We need to figure out ways to get them in the door to eat as well as readjusting their nutritional paradigms.

Utz Chips and Top Pop soda breakfasts does not immediately become milk, fresh fruit and yogurt breakfasts with a well-intentioned idea that feels so good and common-sensical.

(1) "Build it and they will come" is precisely the model that successful schools are adopting across the City. There are plenty of schools where it is clearly unacceptable to arrive late, and students meet those expectations. New Era comes to mind initially.

(2) We need to change the paradigm of what public schooling means in this City. Teachers need to question why they do not allow food for the first 15 minutes. Is it because that's not how you were taught? Is it because you're philosophically against food in classrooms? Is it because you're worried about the management issues associated with it? If yes to any, then there's an individual way to solve to potential issues. Schools aren't just a place for academics anymore. They're needed for a whole lot more. Additionally, couldn't there be a classroom rule for first period that accommodates the initiative? A breakfast club? A snack and chat? There are plenty of teachers out there that are way smarter than me that I'm sure can come up with a way to encourage healthy nutritional choices as a part of their instruction.

(3) If we expect kids to eat Utz chips and Top Pop, and we set that as the expectation for all students, they'll meet that expectation. If we set the expectation & collectively buy into the idea that good nutrition yields positive outcomes, then students very likely will meet that expectation as well.

(4) We need to stop waiting on the district to implement a new plan or idea. Teachers can start TOMORROW with a new idea. If it doesn't work, change it. It that doesn't work, change it. Make the breakfast period an incentive for students. Add a component to the grade. In the most cliche way I can think of saying it, don't ask what the the central office is going to do to encourage good nutrition, ask how you can most effectively implement the new beneficial policy. That's the whole point of Fair Student Funding that individuals (on all levels) in the system are not fully embracing (probably to the fault of the central office). The whole idea is that individual schools should be tailoring their program offerings to their own communities. Teachers and administrators should be deciding what will be most effective, not the central office mandating a step-by-step process. Same goes with the dropout students issue. If schools get those students back, they get an additional $6,600 (for the most part) to spend per child. Develop & own support systems. 10 kids come back? That's $66,000 (roughly, I know that's not exact) to create a program. Hire someone from the community. Incentivize teachers to help. Collaborate among schools to share resources. Fair Student Funding is founded on the premise that good schools make good decisions about how to teach their students to be successful. The old model needs to change before these reforms are meaningful.

Ok, back to class.

Bill-

Since you seem to address a lot of what I pointed out, I want to rebut in kind. Let me preface by saying again that I think the healthy food/breakfast initiative is a great idea-I just think that it needs to be scrutinized from many angles.

Let me also preface by telling you that I work in a school with well over 1000 students-a zoned comprehensive school that is neither charter nor city-wide. We deal with the most challenging students at the most challenging age. While that does not absolve us of any responsibility, it does change the lens upon which I view your comments.

1. It is absolutely unacceptable to come to school late. I know that, you know that, my fellow teachers know that. BUT...when you are dealing with (well) over 1000 students-the majority of whom ride the notoriously late MTA buses-it is nearly impossible to create a set of expectations that our students will come to school on time. Teachers create incentives, principals create incentives, and we work diligently to make sure kids come on time, but it is a herculean task. I resent the rather condescending implication that our school has tardiness issues because we are not creating high enough expectations.

2. No it was not how I was taught, and no, I am not philosophically opposed to it. That said, food in my classroom is an impediment to the learning. I challenge you to come into my classroom to implement a 15 minute policy of eating and see how that time goes from both a management perspective as well as an instructional perspective. If my students want a healthy meal prior to school starting, it is absolutely incumbent upon them to get to school earlier. I will not allow the other students in my room who are fed or are easily distracted to become caught up in this policy. The students need need to take some ownership in this process.

3. I do NOT expect kids to eat Utz Chips and Top Pop soda. They do. Bottom line. I would love to be able to re-direct their eating habits in a more positive manner, and I believe the policy that Geraci has set forth is a positive step, but to rather flippantly suggest that all the kids need to subvert 14-18 years of bad eating habits is expectation, you are really coated in a thick layer of ivory tower detachment. I try and model good breakfast habits every morning (since I eat at school) and if I have extra healthy snacks I always offer, but I am not the carry-out. I even give samples!!

4. Too tangential for now. I agree and disagree with alot said there.

All for now...

David-

I couldn't agree with your comments more. I am also a high school teacher and notice the same things. I teach a 1st/2nd period class and am shocked, every morning, to find only 5% of my class is there when the bell rings. I have incentives for getting to school on time, and I also have penalties for being late. Our principal tells them, daily, how important it is for them to get to class on time. When the students DO come in, there are usually carrying a carry out bag filled with candy or chips.

I often ask them why they eat that for breakfast, why they don't go to the cafeteria for free breakfast (which includes yogurt, milk, and fruit if they choose to get it). Their answers vary, but usually include "I don't want to" to "I don't get here on time".

As a science teacher, I actually get to talk about how eating candy/soda/chips in the morning will affect them all day/all their life, but I am still not getting through. As for eating in the classroom-well, my school (like any city schools) comes with its fair share of "pets". I don't like my students eating in the room not only because of the distraction factor, but also because of these nightly visitors and the presents that they leave.

I hope, more than anything that my students will begin to get to school earlier and decide that the healthy breakfast is the right choice for them-but in order for the program to be more successful than the already free breakfast program, parts of the system need to change.

I agree with Brandon and David. The idea of having students eat in the classroom is extremely problematic. Having spent most of my career in neighborhood high schools, I have seen dozens and dozens of incentives to try to get students to come to school on time for class. I don't know what we could possibly do to get them there early enough to take advantage of the nutritious breakfasts that could, and should, be provided in the cafeteria. I'd certainly support any new efforts to make that happen, but having students eat in the classroom is not a viable solution in our high schools.

What seems to be forgotten here is that this is a great plan only if properly executed. Breakfast is the classrooms for 15 minutes per day decreases the instructional day by 15 minutes. It also dramatically increases the responsibility factors for custodians. Students should get healthy meals at least twice a day while in school and they can be served in the school cafeteria prior to school and during lunch. Also, when and how do we teach personal responsibility if EVERYTHING is delivered without any required effort from students and parents.