Omg!!!!!!!!! - Big Big Forums

~Roxy~ · 02-20-2003, 01:35 PM

It's a shame but,so true.

Iluvbears · 02-20-2003, 03:07 PM

Quote:

"would you rather be fat or dead"?

That's one hell of a thing to ask young children. What the hell are these school teachers thinking or should I say teaching?!?

ckerr4 · 02-20-2003, 03:15 PM

Well, I'm not sure why the question was asked, but I would not say that the students answered the ways that they did as a direct result of what teachers alone taught them - body image and self image in genreal are things that are taught through many avenues, including family, peers, society, and media, and I would be wary of placing the blame for that on the backs of the schools.

02-20-2003, 03:19 PM

iluvbears.......

Maybe they are teaching acceptance and self-esteem issues???
I guess I am more concerned about the results of their survey than the initial question. Geez, aren’t you?
The answers towards death are startling.

The better question might be what are WE teaching our kids? Sorry to seem obstinate about this, but this is an issue and feeling I know well.

PrncsNYC · 02-20-2003, 03:38 PM

bf's sister told him that she is cutting back on sweets bc she needs to lose a few pounds. (she's 8)

MrsSpeed · 02-20-2003, 03:45 PM

I have a feeling that more kids know what being fat is that they know what being dead means. IMO I don't think that's an appropriate question to ask an elementary school child. I feel they could have used a different scenerio to get the point across and the results they wanted.

02-20-2003, 03:54 PM

I guess it depends if we are discussing kindergarteners or fifth graders. I certainly think fifth graders understand and have the maturity to deal with such a question.
It would be shocking to hear from a 5-6 yr old, but 9 or 10 seems about the age when these kind of image issues really start coming to the forefront.

PrncsNYC · 02-20-2003, 03:57 PM

I worked for the School of American Ballet in NYC (top prep school for going into NYC Ballet)for 5 years and the eating disporders were frightening but then again the teachers would grab the fat on you in front of classmates.

Dolly<3 · 02-20-2003, 04:04 PM

That breaks my heart.

twinkiesmom · 02-20-2003, 08:26 PM

ok. I have kindergartners. I did ask them this question but used it in conjunction w/the class I'm teaching the school tomorrow. Tomorrow me and a group of parents are teaching the elementary kids a program called "Everyone Counts" Basically what it is is if a classmate is blind, deaf, in a wheelchair, etc., these kids are ppl too and they have feelings and like to have friends also . . . My kids know I'm doing this class tomorrow so I asked them tonight if they had a choice . . . what would they pick . . . to be fat or to be dead. My dd told me she wants to be skinny. Told her it wasn't a choice and she said dead. Then I said, "Then you won't have any friends if you're dead, right?" lol She changed her mind. Asked my boy and he said he'd rather be fat.

chrissypoo · 02-21-2003, 01:51 AM

Oh for crying out loud! Why can't kids just be kids? Kids are under so much pressure already and to have to think about being fat or dead is totally ridiculous!