Yes, I know that title is all over the place. This post is a little like that, too, but I still think you’ll enjoy reading about what got my friend Megan all fired up recently. Don’t worry, Real Foodie friends, there’s a good story about healthy fats today, too – we loooove our good fat stories, don’t we? Also, be sure to stick around for the local news video clip below.
What are your passions?
Surely you know what it’s like to be given a passion for something, and how it becomes a huge focus of your life. I’m not talking about the obvious passions, like the love you have for your family and friends, I’m talking about the kind that motivates you to do crazy things. A couple life changes are what sparked my biggest passions of that type – this blog and my other blog are good examples of some craziness that came out of those. (Believe me, I never ever thought I’d be writing a blog, especially since I’m so technically challenged…) When you develop an odd passion for something, you never know where it might lead you, but it definitely helps you to “get it” when you see that in others.
What got Megan all fired up?
To say that my friend, Megan, is passionate about certain topics is an understatement. If you know her, you’re nodding your heading wildly right now. She’s a 4th grade teacher at our kids’ elementary school and because she is passionate about kids and making a difference in their lives, she’s a great teacher. She often takes on projects that make others say, “That girl is absolutely nuts.” But once she’s all fired up, she’ll spend as much of her own money, lose as much sleep as necessary, and do whatever it takes to pull it off.
Recently Meg heard a guy speak who got her goin’…
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman spoke about the devastating effects of violence that kids see on TV or experience in video and computer games. He shared some disturbing stories about Columbine and similar tragedies, and how desensitizing our kids to violence is more detrimental than many of us understand. But it’s not just the issue of desensitization. Too much TV and video/computer game violence actually changes the make-up of kids’ brains, as you can see in these brain scan pictures from Lt. Col. Grossman’s “Killology” website. When you add to this the fact that many kids lack good nutrition at home (and at school), it’s no wonder they have trouble focusing or behaving.
Megan heard all this and much more and became a teacher on a mission. Read the press release put out by the school:
MEAP Students “Detox” Prior to Testing
Elementary fourth grade teacher Megan McCall recently developed and implemented a ten-day “detox” program for students leading up to the M.E.A.P. Students and their families were encouraged to follow the program prior to the testing. The “detox” entailed a commitment to no audio-visual exposure, including TV and video games, and instead playing board and athletic games with their families; and eating healthier during the ten-day stretch.
Mrs. McCall’s passion for coordinating this healthy life change for our students has been infectious. Nearly 200 of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders participated in this volunteer program – most of it being done after school, when students were involved in activities until their parents picked them up from school. Megan and an army of parent volunteers led the children in everything from kickball to cooking healthy treats in the kitchen. Students were also supported in their effort by area merchants who provided incentives to those who earned their “detox” tattoo.
In the true spirit of education, we hope students have taken away lifelong lessons on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Megan & the news reporter…
So the news station came to the school to take some footage and ask a few questions. Megan made me laugh as she told about it. “I’ve been interviewed three times for the news and haven’t made it on yet, that shows you how articulate I am. I get all nervous and nothing comes out right. Besides, the news lady and I didn’t click at all. She kept focusing all on the MEAP and asking more questions about that, but it’s not just about the MEAP! It’s about the kids getting healthier overall and teaching them about better habits! You should’ve heard her when I explained that I was talking to the kids about healthy fats and eating better.” (The interviewer is the health reporter at the news station). “Oh, so you’re teaching them things like replacing the oils in recipes with applesauce?” Meg replied, “Oh no! I’m teaching them to eat more butter and coconut oil and to only drink whole milk, their brains need those healthy fats!” The lady’s eyes popped out of her head and she changed the subject back to the MEAP.
See why I love Megan?!
Watch the news clip (and notice that the part about healthy fats didn’t make the cut):
- Be sure to comment below and tell us about your passions and what kind of craziness came out of it in your life!
- This is the website I go to when checking out movies, video games or music to make sure it’s age-appropriate: pluggedinonline.org
- Here's the M-Live article from the GR Press
- Read about when our guys cooked Meg & I an amazing anniversary dinner!
- Try Megs famous chicken enchiladas and read more about her & Joe.
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Raine Saunders says
I always thought our family was a low-limit media exposure family, but looking back at when my son was little I realize now that he was watching a lot of television during the day – even though his programming was strictly limited to PBS kids shows and selected non-violent videos we chose for him. My husband and I have for years watched little to no television at all, and saved any viewing of television or videos for when our son is in bed at night.
The only video game exposure my son has is a hand-held Nintendo DS with non-violent, educational games that he is limited to using two to three times weekly for no more than 45 minutes at a time. My husband keeps begging me to allow him to purchase an X-box because then he can get a game module for my son which allows him to design and create his own games, and then we can stream movies and play music through this device. But I’m holding out as the only family we know without a television-game device of some sort. I just don’t think it’s necessary. All three of us spend enough time in front of the computer whether it’s my son doing his school work/educational games, me on my blog, or my husband working from home. It just seems to me that wasting money on another expensive device will only justify more of its use to get our “money’s worth” out of it when we could be spending that time interacting with each other, playing a board game, doing a craft or cooking, reading, having friends over, or doing some physical activity together outside. Wish me luck! 🙂
KitchenKop says
Kimberly, I’ve been trying really hard to do that (NOT do that) on Sundays, too. It’s so tempting to get ‘one more thing’ done, but after the crazy weeks around here (and at your house, too, I’m sure), I reeeeally need that day of rest!
Kimberly Hartke says
This video is really great. I love the idea of fasting from electronics. I used to do that myself every Sunday (didn’t use my computer) but lately I have fallen back into the habit of using it.
You do need to be more creative to not revert back to old habits, but therein lies the lesson and the challenge.
Amazing to know the test scores can be so impacted by this detox.
Laurie N says
Go Megan! At least the kids are learning about healthy fats, even if the news refuses to cover it.
Teena says
I wish the news story had focused some more on the healthy eating part of the detox but glad that the story aired.
Julie says
JC–thanks for leaking the story of the study conducted 30 years ago!
Amy says
COOL!
Way to go, Meg!
Maybe this will encourage families to continue on this path.
Thanks for sharing, Kelly.
KitchenKop says
Positively heartbreaking…
JC says
*UPDATE*
I emailed this article to my niece, who is an innovative elementary school educator with the Myrtle Beach, S.C. school system. She loved the idea. She also emailed be back with this, today’s example of school violence:
Student fatally shot after stabbing officer
Posted: Oct 16, 2009 9:20 AM Updated: Oct 16, 2009 12:32 PM
Officer Marcus Rhodes Officer Marcus Rhodes
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – An 11th grade Carolina Forest High School student is dead Friday morning after stabbing a resource officer who defended himself with gunfire.
Teal Britton, spokeswoman for Horry County Schools, said a male student asked to speak to the student resource officer in his office and a fight between the two ensued. The student, 16, allegedly stabbed the officer, who returned with gunfire.
Both victims were taken to the Conway Medical Center, where hospital officials confirmed the student died just before 11 a.m. The school resource officer continues to receive treatment in the hospital’s emergency department, but is listed in good condition. Hospital spokeswoman Julie Rajotte says he is expected to be released from care later in the day.
When asked the identity of the school resource officer, Britton says Officer Marcus Rhodes was “the only school resource officer listed on Carolina Forest High School’s website.”
Britton confirmed this was an isolated incident and no one else was injured. The situation is controlled, as officials with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division take over the investigation for local law enforcement. The campus remains on lockdown, but concerned parents will be allowed on campus to pick up their children in an orderly fashion.
“The campus is safe and secure, and the school will continue with regular schedule,” confirmed Britton.
Carolina Forest High School is equipped with nine metal detectors, the most out of any school in Horry County. Currently, more than 2,000 students attend the high school located on Gardner Lacy Road.
School officials add Friday night’s football game vs. South Florence High School has been postponed.
Friday’s incident marks the second time in three years a Carolina Forest High School student has been killed in a violent incident on the school’s campus. In June 2006, 18-year-old Natalia Holmes was stabbed 15 times by her estranged boyfriend in the school’s parking lot.
Edwin Cornelius Brown is currently serving a life sentence for the death of Holmes.
No other information is available at this time. We will update this story as more information becomes available.
JC says
In the late 1970s, I had a brief stint as a temp secretary working for one of the major TV networks in NYC. (Being from Iowa and a newcomer to the big city, I thought this was pretty hot stuff at the time.)
One of the things that crossed my desk was a study commissioned by the network about the effect of violence on TV on childrens’ behavior. While the study did not find that more TV violence INCREASED childrens’ violence, it did show the flip side: that showing less violence on TV had a positive effect on childrens’ behavior (i.e., they were LESS violent). The network was terrified that these results would get out, because they knew the public would — quite naturally — equate “less violence on TV = less violent kids” with “more TV violence = more violent kids”, even though that wasn’t exactly what the study showed. By keeping the study results secret, the networks could continue saying “no evidence that violence on TV causes more violence in children” — a statement that was technically accurate but misleading nonetheless.
As far as I know, this study never got leaked. That was 30 years ago, and the problem has only gotten worse.
Motherhen68 says
This is excellent! I recently read a book about a whole generation of boys growing up unmotivated. The author links it all back to video games and receiving the brain response you’d get accomplishing a real task. Why actually go out and do something when you can get the same sense of accomplishment in a video game.
Noticing the build up of laziness and general overall crappy attitude in my oldest son (6th grade), my dh and I took away all media except for a few tv shows we watch as a family. No computers or video games. The improvement is dramatic. I really wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t see it with my own eyes. We now know to strictly limit the amount of video games in this family.
Good for your friend for talking to these kids & parents.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I can tell you how Megan got the parents to participate – she just asked. She sent a flyer home explaining what she wanted to do, and then had one meeting, and ended up with so much help that I left early one day since everything was covered. We have an incredible school full of parents ready to help and support our amazing teachers – truly, we’re blessed. Also, Meg recognizes that kids (everyone really) like to have the bar raised and take on a challenge. When the parents see this excitement in the kids, they’re willing to help. Megan’s passion is contagious. 🙂
Kathy says
Wow, this is incredible! Please make sure to follow up on the results of this. Maybe you could do a guest interview with Megan on how she was able to persuade the parents to participate in this. I have some schoolteacher friends who would be very interested!
Ashley says
Awesome program!! For more info on how electronic devices change children’s brains, check out “The Plug in Drug” by Marie Winn. Another good one is “The Dumbest Generation” by Mark Bauerlein.
Julie says
Very good. We need to clean up what we feed our brains and our bodies! I hope this detox catches on all over the country.