what I woke up to

my alarm clock is set to CBC radio and this morning I heard one of those comentaries that wakes you straight up out of a peaceful slumber.

the man on the radio was telling the interviewer how much of a travesty he finds public school lunchtime to be.  he believes that it is of the utmost importance that parents take the time to eat lunch with their children, picking them up from school to do so.  He remarked that although cafeterias are available in some schools (or at least a place to eat), this is merely a service that is offered and has nothing whatsoever to do with education.  education is the primary focus of the school, not eating, and parents should be available to eat with their children to help break up the day and maybe even hear a good "pirate story" (I did not hear the first part of the interview which I assume was a happy parent/child lunchtime example).

what an eccentric man to propose such an inconvenience.

at least it's something.

here, in the county where we live, this would be an impossibility.  the public school board decided it would be a brilliant idea to take traditional recess and lunch time away from the kids and, in it's stead, give two lunch/recess breaks per day.  the children begin classes at 9am and break around 10:40 until 11, then again at 1pm until 1:20.  I suppose if a parent had no other appointments and could really quickly speed over to the school, they could enjoy some time ... oh, wait, I forgot.  sorry.  children are not permitted to leave the school grounds until the end bell rings at approximately 3:20pm. 

scratch quality time.   add to the grocery bill and the problem of obesity since no one can really expect their child to eat just a "snack" at first break, saving their lunch until the late hour of 1pm.  instead, parents have to give little johnny TWO full lunches and hope he can wolf it down in the 5 minutes he is given to eat (because exercise is important and the teachers need some down time and no food is allowed outside, nor is extra eating time allowed).

oh, and did I mention that you are only given a couple of bathroom passes each day?  guess they figure kids can plan to be efficiency experts in that area, too.

 p.s. just caught sarah's what's grosser than gross tag ... and mine is borrowed from a kiwi friend of long ago ...

a cat who refuses to clean his nether regions and is, thusly, and aptly named "Sammie Stamper"