Editor’s note

Balancing acts

Thankfully, after a couple of decades of social bingeing on self indulgence that has led to high rates of obesity in the United States, the public in general—and the media in particular—seem to be realizing the importance of taking better care of ourselves.

Almost no one lives healthfully 100 percent of the time. No offense, but that means you probably don’t—and neither do I. I eat bad things now and then, and I skip workouts sometimes. All in all, though, I generally make good food choices and am relatively fit. That doesn’t make me a better person than anyone else, just someone who, at least for now, is able to strike a balance between food and exercise and abide by the simple, brutal truth that too much of one and not enough of the other is a bad combination.

My balancing act began at an early age, fostered in part by an aunt and uncle who were (and still are) very outdoor oriented. They introduced my cousins, my sister and me to hiking and backpacking. Venturing into the Trinity Alps for days on end, we learned that hours of trekking brought both an immediate payoff—the gorgeous scenery that surrounded us—and a deferred gratification: the right to eat gooey S’mores by the campfire after dinner. We’d earned those calories and fat grams!

These days I’m an avid cyclist. There’s nothing quite like the euphoria that comes from spinning for miles and miles, first grinding uphill and then gliding down with the wind in your (helmeted) hair. The natural high that comes from pushing your body in wholesome exertion is addictive; once you’ve had it, you’ll crave more. Introduce yourself to an endorphin (a biochemical byproduct of sustained exertion) and, chances are, you’ll have a friend for life.

It may not be easy, at least at first. Our consumer culture constantly appeals to the inner couch potato in all of us. For years we’ve been bombarded with clever ads extolling the virtues (and value) of super-sizing our mega-calorie meals. It’s only lately that some food and beverage companies have begun crafting their marketing messages to be more health conscious and exercise oriented. We can only hope that, over time, seeing more images of people engaged in physical activities will help inspire kids and adults alike to strike the right balance and make better food choices.

So as you read “Cafeteria plans,” this issue’s feature story on how food services crews are working to give our kids an extra helping of nutrition in their school meal programs, keep in mind that, as hard as it is to make good choices as adults, it’s even harder for our children. Remember, it’s our responsibility to teach good habits by example. We can’t talk the talk if our kids don’t see us walk the walk.

It’s also our responsibility to put our money where our mouths are, whether the topic is nutrition or fully funded, fully functioning schools that are capable of educating all of our children.

Two articles in this issue address different facets of those topics. In “Advocating adequacy,” we review the longstanding quest and ongoing struggle to match the needs of our educational system with the goals we set for it. The history of California’s investment in its public schools is a long and not always happy one, but recent studies have given the issue greater visibility—and, as you’ll read, CSBA and other research partners continue to work to forge a grassroots consensus that will, we hope, give us the public school system our children deserve.

The system that they deserve will prepare them for work and life beyond high school, whether their paths lead to college or a technical career that doesn’t require a four-year advanced degree. In “Retooling voc ed,” we take a look at the resurgence of career technical education. Reengineered for the 21st century, CTE courses are now held to the same rigorous standards as California’s core curricula, and our schools are responding with innovative programs designed to hold their students’ interest in class and prepare them for satisfying, good-paying jobs once they enter the working world.

It takes work—on the students’ part, to be sure, and also on our part as parents, members of the education community and active, engaged citizens. Whether we’re crafting an effective education program, reckoning the cost of a quality education or giving our kids the nutritious meals and food for thought that they deserve, it isn’t easy.

Neither is conquering the Trinity Alps. But the payoff? It’s even better than endorphins.

Enjoy the ride!