Action Ministries Athens
Here is our Google calendar so you can stay up to date on the days we will need breakfast donated and served. We will need enough breakfast to serve 70 guests on the lawn of our program office (white house on the corner of Popular St. and Oconee St.). We will need ready-to-eat breakfast items since we have no access to a kitchen for preparation. We will need those donating breakfast to bring plates, cups, napkins and flatware. Please contact Miranda Brookshire at 706-201-5118 if you would like to serve breakfast. Thank you for your support!

https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=YjcxNzFmdnQ2aW9jYmI5bWFsMmxkaT...

@MortalCoil: Here is the most recent update from the director of Action Ministries:

Thank you for your support! We have no kitchen, only the program office, so we are serving breakfast (ready to eat items only) on the front lawn of the office (the white house on the corner of Poplar, up the hill from Mama's Boy). Chik-fil A has graciously donated breakfast this morning, and we could use breakfast donations for Wednesday and Friday. Athens First Baptist has graciously agreed to host our noon meals this week. Donations of ready to eat items: please bring to 717 Oconee Street, the white house on the corner. Financial support can be mailed to or dropped off at: 717 Oconee Street; Athens, GA 30605. THANK YOU!
Or you can contact action ministries directly:
https://www.facebook.com/ActionMinistriesAthens/info

Thanks, I will call him!

Friends,

A community institution, Oconee Street UMC, and home of Our Daily Bread Community Kitchen, experience a fire last night. Thank you for your words of support. What we need right now are breakfasts donated that are ready to eat, as we establish an interim kitchen space. If anyone has connections with local restaurant owners/managers, or wants to give in a concrete way, every day this week we will need a donation of 70 breakfast items and beverages Tuesday-Friday. Thank you for your prayers and your kindness. If a tragedy has to occur, Athens is the place.....the people are for real.

@Millionexus: If the parents want to send their children to school with sugary drinks, by all means they should be able to, but in terms of selling them at school?
-I misunderstood, I thought you referring to banning sugary drinks period, not just in schools. They should not be part of schools, I agree. Especially if the school is teaching children in health class that sugar is unhealthy, it sends mixed signals to the children.

No. There's another side of the issue where the government is -already- involved in those drink machines being there in the first place. Most local school boards and/or state school boards have the ability to make a decision when it comes to corporate sponsorship, and a number of them in Georgia make deals with Pepsi, Coke, or other business to -have- those vending machines.
-Local decisions, as it should be. This is where parents have the most ability to vote for changes.

As for the unconstitutionality of designing the curriculum, and funding universal Pre-K, the Supreme Court has already ruled on designing the curriculum, and ruled in favor of programs similar to Pre-K. (They had this fight about Kindergarten awhile ago, which isn't required in a number of states, but taxpayer money can be used to fund it.)
- My point exactly, first kindergarten (which continues to grow in being mandatory), now pre-k. What’s next, mandatory child care from birth? The whole premise for “early childhood education” is this: parents (especially low income families) are unable to care for, teach, and socialize their children properly before school age so the government needs to step in and do it for us. It’s called learned helplessness and it’s the mindset that keeps people in the cycle of poverty. Just look up the history of kindergarten on Wikipedia. I’m not saying it shouldn’t be an option but it should never mandatory, should not be federally funded (especially with the shape of our economy and with the proven track record of failure when it comes to federally designed educational programs), or universally designed in my opinion. As for Supreme Court rulings on the government having the authority to design a universal curriculum, I can’t find them. Could you share those sources with me?

As for how much your kid weighs, you're not wrong, but you're not right either. There's no single constitutional decision that says the government cannot get involved with the nutrition and well-being of public school kids.
-The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

That being said too, parents still have rights about it. Parents can send kids to school with whatever lunch they want to (assuming it isn't illegal anyway, etc etc.).
-Unless of course they cannot afford it then they don’t have a choice do they?

Parents can have their children opt-out of P.E. in a number of states, including weighing kids in -every- state thus far. So, where, exactly, is your problem? You still have the right to have your kid opt out of a number of things.
- I did not know there was an opt out for the physical agility test or BMI testing at school. Usually if that is an available choice the school will send home a parental consent form. I will have to look into it to be sure on this. But tell me this, if we are trying to help kids who are unhealthy (and not just kids who are considered over weight are unhealthy by the way), how exactly does opting out of PE help the child? Pretty illogical “choice” isn’t it? So do we punish the kid for not being the appropriate size by telling them to sit out? How does opting out of the testing make the child less of an object of ridicule? I think it would probably make them stand out just as much if not worse. Like I said, stop making it into a weight issue all together and make it into being healthy. Just playing and being active, focusing on the fun of exercise itself instead of how many one can do and who is faster, stronger, thinner and the like. Stop measuring BMI in class and leave that to the family’s doctor. School is supposed to be for learning so go ahead and teach them about healthy choices and being active but leave the judgments and shaming out of it. Period.

@Millionexus: Yes they take PE, I also have a child in elementary school, but it is on a ridiculous rotating schedule so they don't have it every day. Banning sugar will not make people eat less or lose weight, Do you really want the government telling what you can and can't eat? It would be better to correct the way farm subsidies work so that healthy food would become more affordable nationally and then we wouldn't have to resort to finding funding to buy local produce, we could do it with the money already budgeted. I love your ideas on all students getting more activity in school, and they require no federal funding or intervention just common sense...amazing! As to your second comments... Actually my premise is not whether or not pre-k is necessary for success (although it is not and your article does not prove that it is). And My premise is not anti-government. I deeply value government and education and when they do what they are supposed to do they are two of our country's biggest assets. My premise is this, it is not the federal government's job, in fact it is unconstitutional, to control public education whether it is about how much my kid weighs, designing the curriculum, or funding universal pre-k. Plain and simple and it has nothing to do with any conspiracy theories.

It doesn't really matter what they want to do with the total control they are seeking in public education, the problem is they want it and they have a proven track record for failure when given said control. Period. Like I said there is no conspiracy, it's all out in the open. As to what their real intentions are, let's just let everyone have their own opinions on that and stick to what we know for a fact. The problem is, instead of reading the facts that I wrote you want to focus on me and what I think the government's motives are. To me that says you do not understand the real problem and just want to discredit me by painting me as some right wing conspiracy theorist. Not a valid argument for pre-k.

Here is a great explanation of the federal government's constitutional role in public education. Notice it does not say anywhere that they have the right to create and institute a national curriculum, for example...Common Core Standards and Universal Pre-k. Of course, you could always just read the US Constitution itself as well.
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/edu/ed370/federal.html
Accusations of conspiracy theory is a usual comeback I get from people who do not understand what the constitutional role of the federal government is.
Here is a great video that may be an easier place for you to start to gain some understanding on the Constitution of the United States.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OyU4O80i4&feature=youtu.be

@curiouscat: yes, that is exactly what I said. They want to control the education of American children from the earliest age we will let them and they make no secret about about it. So what is your misunderstanding?

@curiouscat: There it is, an accusation of being conspiracy theorist. There is no conspiracy, the president and the presidents before him have been quite open about their intentions when it comes to public education, among other things, and that they believe they can train a child better than parents can. Period. Did you know that when this country began, before the institution of public education, that the literacy rate among children was 100%? You don't have to wait 15 years to have proof that pre-k isn't necessary to the success of a child. My son didn't go to pre-k and is is currently one of the top five in his High School class. I didn't go to pre-k (and I was raised in the foster care system in the projects by a low income family) and I graduated high school, didn't get pregnant until I was married in in my mid twenties, and I currently run my own small business. Millions of children all over the nation didn't go to pre-k up until this point and I bet if you did a real study between the two going to school at 4 instead of 5 would make no difference in graduation rates. You don't have to wait another 15 years to see that universal or nationalized anything when it comes to education just doesn't work. It's all about control and money whether it is private control or government control.That is not a conspiracy theory that is fact. If you want the government to support education why not force them to spend the money already allocated for education more efficiently? New legislation and programs just takes the heat off what is being done wrong and adds to the problem. Education belongs in the control of LOCAL schools, the teachers, principles, and the parents. Letting parents decide when to send their kids to school, and giving power back to the states is not doing nothing. It is doing the best thing by getting the federal government out of our schools (which constitutionally they habve no right to be there in the first place btw). If states want a pre-k program let them come up with their own way to fund it and keep the federal government out of it.

@curiouscat: Yes I am aware of what he was referring to. He then continued by claiming that studies prove that pre-k attendance makes for higher graduation rates and reduced instances of crime and teenage pregnancy, which by deductive reasoning would mean that we would have better graduation rates and lower crime and teen pregnancy than other states, would it not? His administration also says that pre-k programs would need to follow certain requirements to receive federal funding under the proposal, including a government approved curriculum. We are not ahead of any curves. There is NO proof that going to pre-k makes a child smarter, more motivated, safer, or gives them a bigger advantage over kids who do not, it is just a way for the government to get their hands on our children even younger.

@Pfunk: according to the President, we are the education model for the rest of the country to follow. Another good laugh for the day!

Those of you with the "my parents made me play outside so they were smarter parents than today's parents" gave me a good laugh for today. Sure my parents made me play outside, but it wasn't to keep me thin, it was to keep me busy and OUT of their way because there were no electronics. You know what they also did, the beat my ass (which is now considered abuse), they smoked 2 packs a day IN the house and IN the car, they let me play all over the neighborhood unsupervised where I often got bullied and beat up, they let me ride my bike without a helmet...IN the street...shall I go on? There are always going to be smart parents and dumb parents in all economic classes. That does NOT give public school or the government the right to regulate every aspect of the private lives of American citizens.

@grove600: Yes, let's make fun of the children and put them on display shall we? Because shaming always works when it comes to children doesn't it? I really try not to call people names because it lowers my standards but you sir/ma'am are biggest of bullies....an adult who would pick on and make fun of a child is a disgusting human being!!

oh, and another thing...STOP collecting data (of any kind) on my child! He/she is not a government specimen!!

First of all, they are not the state's children, they are our children! Why is this even the business of federal/local government or public school? A person's weight is the business of themselves, their family, and their doctor. Secondly, if we are even going to discuss a role of public school in managing weight issues, which we shouldn't, how about we focus on what the schools are doing wrong and not the child (who by the way has little control over their environment, good or bad)? Why TEST children to make them feel inadequate in front of their peers? I was the scrawniest kid in elementary school and still couldn't run a mile or do push ups. Why not focus on the exercises themselves and have fun with it, EVERY day, AT school? If we are going to measure BMI in school how about we take into account factors like muscle and genetics to make it more accurate and how about we put teachers and administrators under the microscope of BMI in front of the class also? The focus at school should be on offering the children an adequate amount of time for physical activity (lets stop using "sitting on the curb during recess" for not doing homework or being able to sit still in class as a punishment for one thing) and healthy meals in school (made all from scratch like they expect parents to be able to do), NOT the child's weight or how many push ups they can do, and NOT on the child's home. Shaming children only leads to bullying and unfair stereotypes. Leave parenting to parents (yes in spite of the opinion of government even us lower income, non-college graduated parents are not too dumb to parent our own children), and leave schooling to school. And don't get me started on the government's role, with all it's accomplices in the food lobby, in making healthy food unaffordable and hard to obtain for people (particularly lower income people) through their farm subsidies and USDA nonsense. When did it become ok for "legislation" take over every part of our personal lives? Can I just send my kid to public school to learn about math, reading, writing, science, social studies, and the like and be allowed to be the parent please?

Fabulous, way to go STAR students!! Ms. Blackburn is awesome, well deserved honor for her as well!

Fabulous stuff right there!! Thank you Dr. Hooker for your dedication, well deserved award!

Yes, I agree mountainman1, our AD is awesome at CCHS and so are all of our coaches. It is unfortunate that they are not valued by the board and most the community as they should be. It's funny to me how high school sports are being undervalued because of the bad apples we see plastered all over the news in college and pro sports but the bad apples in the entertainment industry have no effect on peoples idea of the importance of music and arts in schools. There are bad apples in every high fame industry, doesn't change the importance or positive impact they have on the majority of students. It's like saying all politicians are bad (which many of them are) so no child should focus on a passion for government or politics.

Oh, and all 3 of my children are honor students btw.

Reminds me of Obama's speech last night in which he touted GA as one of 2 states in the country with an educational model for the rest of the country to follow...*face palm*

So how many children do you have in CCSD E.J.? You think they have it right do you? We have kids in HS who can't read and do basic math. We are under staffed and way under supplied in all areas, not just athletics. Yet the board keeps wasting money on things like IB, a foreign entity telling our teachers how to create well-rounded students. Do we really need to pay a foreign country 8,000 dollars per school per year to know how to do that? Like advertising...why in the world does public education need radio commercials and billboards? They just purchased all new netbooks when the laptops still worked just fine and were actually better than crappy netbooks anyway. They wasted all that money on the fancy investigations math curriculum that ended up being a total disaster. I could go on and on. But sure, you keep on thinking CCSD has got it right in academics. The graduation rate in Gwinnett is 68% (where they are also trying to put in IB by the way) and it is around 66% in Clarke County. Clarke County is also way under the state averages for achievement in all areas including Math, English, Science, and Social Studies. I know kids in our high school who have taken SIX math classes when you count math support and still can't score enough on the math portion of the SAT to get into college. But sure, you go on believing CCSD has it right when it comes to math. Sports are just as important to the success of some students as science and music. Look up any study on the positive role of athletics or ask and child psychologist what it can do for a child's confidence if it is done properly. Just look at these athlete stats under coach Ryals: Team GPA at end of 1st term of 2012 was 85%. Of the seniors in this year’s class ALL are expected to graduate, that's 100%...and 98% of all football players that started and finished the program graduated from high school. That’s a total of 152 players from 2006-07 to 2011-12-Since Coach Ryals took over. That is significant! Yes, in a time when academics are critical, our athletic department is doing it right for our athletes in spite of a lack of funding from the school board and community. This is big and needs to be valued! I have one child whose passion is music, one whose passion is athletics (not football), and one whose passion is science and I can tell you that they all play an equal role in the academic and personal success for each of them and NONE of them are being funded properly by CCSD. Why should we tell kids that their passion is not as important as another just because it is a sport. Sports play a HUGE role in developing character in discipline. I have seen these kids work together both on and of the filed to improve themselves, each other, and their community. Unlike college and pro sports, these kids don't play for the fame and glory, they play for the love of the sport and for the reward of perseverance. They play as a distraction from all the negative things that may be going on their lives. And yes sometimes they play in hopes of a way to finance college. But sure, CCSD has right...keep telling yourself that.

First our baseball coach and now our football coach in less than a year...when will the board understand how valuable athletics are in the success of some of our kids and give it the priority it deserves. All the wasteful spending and waste of good sponsorship going to to crap like IB candidacy and advertising is just disgusting and heartbreaking!! And the community is not much better, why is it so hard to get large local businesses to sponsor our athletics programs?

WONDERFUL!! So tell me again why we need Swiss intervention??

@ObserverNY: Thankyou for the website link. A lot of good information there.