SWA #12

I. A Healthy Constitution

• In the school systems of today, the food offered is often very unhealthy and dangerous to the well-being of a student

• Students and faculty would benefit from healthier foods 

A. The effects of healthy food

• Students are shown to perform better in class and be less sick less often when they have more healthy fruits, vegetables, and more natural products in their bodies
• Healthy food builds the character of a person: "it is about preparing the student for the responsibilities of citizenship"

B. Edible Education

• Involves teaching students about where their food comes from, what goes into growing it, and even how to grow the food for themselves
• Students more properly respect the work of others when they can literally eat the fruits of their labors
• An important lesson is cooperation: students learn about our dependency on farmers, the land, and about how unification is the key to success

"School should be the place where we build democracy"

1) According to Waters, food can be used to teach values about democracy because food is symbolic for democracy. To grow food, it is stressed that farmers need to work together to grow food, and rely on their ability to produce their own goods and to work together. When farmers work together, more is able to get done because cooperation nurtures the community we live in. Food, in turn, is the symbol of unified labor, teamwork, and success.
2) I believe that the link between healthy meals and learning is from the physiological effects of food. The body will surely be able to function better when more healthy, nutritious food is placed in it. After all, there is a reason as to why the fast food industry stresses placing vitamins and minerals into their products: so that their food is able to give the same amount of nutrients as freshly grown food.However, I do believe that Waters could support her statements with more statisitical evidence.