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McDonalds Giving Students Happy Meals for A's...Appropriate?
nytimes.com — The commercialization of educational culture, particularly in elementary schools, has long been a contentious issue. It has become more clamorous in the last decade as hard-pressed school districts seek to raise money for academic programs, sports and extracurricular activities without raising taxes.
MrBelding- 387 diggs
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- WordsnCollision, on 12/12/2007, -3/+37Hey, Ronald, leave them kids alone!
- EatingPie, on 12/12/2007, -0/+6Well, there's two issues. First is commercialization. That's problematic.
Second, giving kids something they WANT for an A -- a reward. Lots of kids like Happy Meals. It IS a reward. Sure it's bad for them. Just like a Hershey's Bar or a Barney DVD. :-) But kids enjoy it, and it IS nice to be recognized. This I do not have a problem with.
-Pie - MOJIRA, on 05/17/2008, -1/+6I remember when Pizza Hut gave you a personal pan pizza for each book you read that your elementary school teacher vouched for.
And I think McDonalds would be better off donating ~$3.00 to an educational charity in the US for every F a student gets... or rather, we would be better off.- bgraves20, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4Yes, this is nothing new. Pizza Hut and other fast food places have had similar programs for years. McDonalds is just making news and getting a bad rap because it's McDonalds.
- acdcfanbill, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2I liked to read as a kid, which meant I got a lot of personal pan pizza's :P
- EatingPie, on 12/12/2007, -0/+6Well, there's two issues. First is commercialization. That's problematic.
- wealer, on 12/12/2007, -2/+14Simple. Get an:
A, get an Apple Pie;
B, get a Burger;
C, get Chicken Nuggets;
D, get a Drink;
F, get some Fries.
Brilliant marketing campaign, I say.- sofimi, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1Haha, I prefer Chicken Nuggets over McBurgers anyday! (I'd say over Apple Pie too but I'll let that one slip.)
- L0g1X, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1That system is flawed. No one will try to get A or B because C is better deal. If they can't get C they'll go for F because fries are better than drinks.
- suxmonkey, on 12/12/2007, -8/+12Only appropriate once Happy Meals start being a salad with a side of asparagus and a green veggie shake
- hokeywebb22, on 12/12/2007, -1/+7Is the asparagus deep fried?
- LordVance, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Is there any other way?
- EatingPie, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1Asparagus and salad?
Kids of the world rejoice! "I'm shooting for that A now!!" :p
-Pie - MOJIRA, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Those McDonald salads have more calories than the fries do.
- hokeywebb22, on 12/12/2007, -1/+7Is the asparagus deep fried?
- Viend, on 12/12/2007, -1/+8Giving kids who get A grades Happy Meals will make them get F for the next test.
IT'S A CONSPIRACY!!!11!11!1one!1!11- sotopheavy, on 12/12/2007, -2/+1!!!!!!!1111one!11shift1
- okthxbai, on 12/12/2007, -6/+1mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm McFluryyyyyyyy
- noseeme, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2MMMmmmmm... Man *****...
- cheesejaguar, on 12/12/2007, -0/+6I hope people realize that this is nothing new... Chuckee Cheese used to do this when I was in middle school, and last I checked their pizza was just about as unhealthy as McDonalds.
- UtopiaInTheSky, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Pizza Hut has a similar promotion in my town. You get a free personal pan pizza if you meet certain grade requirements.
- Felix57, on 12/12/2007, -5/+33the irony if your smart you don't eat McDonalds anyway
- L0g1X, on 12/12/2007, -2/+7the irony if you're smart you know McDonalds isn't the cause for stupidity or obesity. Defective people who don't know how to eat in moderation need to have their brains refurbished.
- MOJIRA, on 05/17/2008, -0/+5You mean >70% of the US population?
- UtopiaInTheSky, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2I graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA and am currently at a state university for Computer Engineering. What do I think of McDonald's? Well, I ***** love the stuff. So I guess you could call me "smart" and I still like the food. For the record, I'm 5'10" and I weigh 120 lbs. I also bicycle for 1 hour every day.
- kawahee, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Cool story, Hansel.
- darkNiGHTS, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Congratulations!
- Homerr, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5The irony is that if you're smart you would use "your" and you're" correctly. Enjoy your happy meal.
- spookyuk, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1hahahahahaha
- L0g1X, on 12/12/2007, -2/+7the irony if you're smart you know McDonalds isn't the cause for stupidity or obesity. Defective people who don't know how to eat in moderation need to have their brains refurbished.
- PinkoComrade, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1This picture being on digg earlier just proves how much faster digg is than the people who are paid to retrieve the news
- Gir53457, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5I think it's a good situation financially for the schools, They get some money for advertising that they've lost to due budget constraints, but with the new emphasis we're trying to place on fitness in young children I don't think that fast food is a good idea to egg them into getting good grades.
- deadsenator, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2The money should be coming from our existing taxes that are, in *very* large amounts, being funneled into war and imperialism instead. We are rotting from the inside.
McDonalds has 'stolen' how much from people over the years by selling them food that leaches one's life-force? I do believe that $1500 is a pittance in comparison. Even this should be done without any logos.
Fast food is poison.- Gir53457, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Then quit acting like a rat and stop chewing on cyanide.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0property taxes are not funding the iraq war...
- deadsenator, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2The money should be coming from our existing taxes that are, in *very* large amounts, being funneled into war and imperialism instead. We are rotting from the inside.
- Papajohn56, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4does nobody read the article, it says pizza hut has done it for 10 years there.
- hokeywebb22, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4Pizza Hut had the book club thing when i was in elementary school where you would read more and you could get pizza.
- NecroSexy, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4Book It! The great part: you didn't have to actually read a book.
- MrWhite7, on 12/12/2007, -1/+8Pizza Hut was sponsoring a reading program through public libraries 15 years ago. Why is this news? Kids like unhealthy food, McDonalds is providing a tiny reward and in exchange the parents will probably buy a burger for themselves. It's smart marketing.
- benitojuarez, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Pizza hut still does book it
http://www.bookitprogram.com/- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0I have some good memories of that program. It was a treat for putting in some effort. It is hard to get kids to learn the value of reading that young, a few external rewards isnt going to hurt.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0I have some good memories of that program. It was a treat for putting in some effort. It is hard to get kids to learn the value of reading that young, a few external rewards isnt going to hurt.
- benitojuarez, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Pizza hut still does book it
- mediaploy, on 12/12/2007, -1/+12didn't get a burger kid? its ok, heres a job application.
- mrbbad, on 12/12/2007, -0/+9Rewards for doing well with school work is absolutely fine and in fact, important in education. I remember the Book-It program personally, I worked hard to read books and earn those free little pizzas. I don't think kids should get something for doing poorly though ... but for kids that can land at least all C averages -- at least -- yeah give them a happy meal or something for their accomplishment.
... It's HOW you use these things that matters ... - 100Slinky, on 12/12/2007, -6/+2Not once you've read Fast Food Nation it ain't.
http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Food-Nation-Eric-Schlos ...- malloyoy, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5That book is the most overrated piece of crap I have ever read. There is no real objectivity in his writing. The only thought I had while reading it was that I wanted more fast food.
Oh, and don't jump on the fast food is unhealthy bandwagon. And don't mention that it tastes bad, because it doesn't. People just say that because they think it makes them look cool. Moderation is the key.- gotamd, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Yeah, I'm sick and tired of all these people trying to tell ME what not to eat. I enjoy fast food upon occasion. Am I overweight? Nope. I'm perfectly healthy. That I enjoy eating fast food does not mean I eat it all the time. I only eat it a handful of times per year, and I shouldn't be made to feel guilty for doing so.
- Gir53457, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I am overweight, and I know why. I eat too much junk food and don't exercise enough. I ***** love taco bell and in n out, but they're not the cause of my obesity. I was too ***** lazy to cook my own meals and get off my lazy ass and now I have to suffer the consequences of losing 50 lbs.
Fast food exists because it's:
1. Fast
2. Cheap
3. Good
- Gir53457, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I am overweight, and I know why. I eat too much junk food and don't exercise enough. I ***** love taco bell and in n out, but they're not the cause of my obesity. I was too ***** lazy to cook my own meals and get off my lazy ass and now I have to suffer the consequences of losing 50 lbs.
- gotamd, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Yeah, I'm sick and tired of all these people trying to tell ME what not to eat. I enjoy fast food upon occasion. Am I overweight? Nope. I'm perfectly healthy. That I enjoy eating fast food does not mean I eat it all the time. I only eat it a handful of times per year, and I shouldn't be made to feel guilty for doing so.
- malloyoy, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5That book is the most overrated piece of crap I have ever read. There is no real objectivity in his writing. The only thought I had while reading it was that I wanted more fast food.
- tweedius, on 12/12/2007, -1/+8Can't we just reward kids for doing good things without the pc police poo pooing all over it? What is wrong with giving some kids a happy meal once every quarter?
- TVarmy, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3It's wrong because it encourages children to consider unhealthy food the reward for good work. Further, children don't know how to objectively analyze advertising. That's why companies shouldn't advertise in schools.
- docbob84, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Shut up. You're probably a person who tries to give your kids carrot sticks for "rewards" instead of a candy bar. Almost by definition, the things kids want for rewards are unhealthy for them, but guess what? THEY'RE KIDS! If you can't get your kids to realize that they should eat healthy over eighteen years of taking care of them, if you really think giving them four Happy Meals a year is going to make them weigh 400 lbs, then you might want to reconsider having kids.
As far as advertising, though, I agree, but just because I don't think they should have that much control over our school districts. Removing all soda, chips, candy, etc. from a high school is also extremely naive and stupid.- JohnFlux, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1> Removing all soda, chips, candy, etc. from a high school is also extremely naive and stupid.
And yet all the studies show that by reducing the sugar and caffeine intake of kids calms them down at school, making them less hyper active and easier to teach.
What's wrong with having healthy foods? It's idiots like you who can't think of anything but 'carrot sticks' that are the problem.
At google, for an example, there was nothing unhealthy to eat. All the drink machines had fruit smoothies etc. The cafeteria had wonderful meals with fruit puddings etc.
The point is that you shouldn't teach kids that eating junk food is a reward. A lot of fat kids eat junk food in order to feel better - that's why it's called a comfort food.
- JohnFlux, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1> Removing all soda, chips, candy, etc. from a high school is also extremely naive and stupid.
- Gir53457, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I think what they're getting upset about is that we're trying to teach children that junk food shouldn't be reward for doing what is expected of them. But they're children and they don't comprehend why they have to do all this redundant work for what seems to them to be no reason, so we reward them to encourage them. But what do we reward them with? Kids these days are probably not going to be exited of a new basketball for an A on their report card, and giving out toys gets expensive and confusing. But almost all children love to eat, and almost all children love happy meals. Hell I love happy meals, but we're also trying to teach kids to forgo unhealthy foods in favor of healthy snacks to the point where we even changed the Cookie Monster's diet to fruits and vegetables. McDonald's is a sometimes food now for them, but if they expect it every time they do a good deed that's going to send them mixed messages.
- docbob84, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Shut up. You're probably a person who tries to give your kids carrot sticks for "rewards" instead of a candy bar. Almost by definition, the things kids want for rewards are unhealthy for them, but guess what? THEY'RE KIDS! If you can't get your kids to realize that they should eat healthy over eighteen years of taking care of them, if you really think giving them four Happy Meals a year is going to make them weigh 400 lbs, then you might want to reconsider having kids.
- TVarmy, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3It's wrong because it encourages children to consider unhealthy food the reward for good work. Further, children don't know how to objectively analyze advertising. That's why companies shouldn't advertise in schools.
- soffi33, on 12/12/2007, -2/+0cool ................ you are right, digg is good way to find news and indeed is free.
- Louis11, on 12/12/2007, -0/+12This is just ridiculous. You think that one happy meal is going to cause health problems? Granted, an excess obviously will cause problems . . . however, how many happy meals do you think a kid is going to get for good grades? When I was in elementary I remember getting Pizza Hut and Dominoes . . . where was the uproar over that?
The problem isn't McDonalds giving rewards to good students, its those said students' parents for feeding their kids so much crappy food.
And I know someone is going to say "Well they shouldn't promote their greasy food to kids . . . ". To that I have to say, how do you think those kids are going to get to McDonalds without the aide of their parents?- mediaploy, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3sounds like someone needs a happy meal ;)
- styler5, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Around here, kids get a free game rental for good grades.
- hangman16, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I don't think it's that bad..really..I remember the Pizza Hut reading program when I was a kid! Having actual McDonalds ads on the jacket of the report card is tacky though.
- Jensaarai, on 12/12/2007, -0/+9What the heck is wrong with people? They used to do this back when I was in grade school, almost 15 years ago. This is not some new nefarious scheme.
- Cydonia21, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3This really isn't any different than Pizza Huts "Book it!" program. Cept, Mcdonalds < Personal Pan Pizza
- glitchbit, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5ahh how cute! more gutless parents that need to grow some balls. So what if the school is doing something stupid. All you need to do as a parent is learn how to say NO to your kids once in awhile when they ask for a happy meal.
- cam0man, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2they've been doing this for like 10 years around here...all the big fast food chains we'll hook you up if you have a good report card, even chucky cheese used to give you tokens for A's. I'd rather have the future be smart and fat, than dumb and fit. These kids are my only hope to find all the cures we'll need.
- 1timeuser, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I dont really see the issue here... Remember the chucky cheese thing with the grades a few years ago? no one bitched about that. AND THOSE ROBOTS ARE TERRIFYING TO SMALL CHILDREN!
- theradical, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1So, if I've got this straight:
Someone Diggs the story -> Front page of Digg -> NY times picks it up -> NY times online -> someone Diggs the story -> Front page of.........- bingobongony, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1PLEASE tell me you don't think that the Times did this story because of anything Digg did. If you think that any of the editors at the Times give a flying ***** about anything that has EVER appeared on Digg, or ever will, you are too delusional to lead a normal produtive life.
- theradical, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2this is not the new york times, it is the times online. VERY different. the times online is basically a blog and i highly doubt they wrote this report as the result of some research they conducted. anyway do you honestly believe they are magical robots who are completely disconnected from the rest of the internet? if they aren't influenced by digg, then why the hell does each new york times online article have a digg button right on the page?
- bingobongony, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1PLEASE tell me you don't think that the Times did this story because of anything Digg did. If you think that any of the editors at the Times give a flying ***** about anything that has EVER appeared on Digg, or ever will, you are too delusional to lead a normal produtive life.
- roguepuppy, on 12/12/2007, -4/+1You earthlings crack me up.
- noseeme, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2↑↑↑
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome
- noseeme, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2↑↑↑
- mal1964, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Burger King has countered with a free kids meal for a,, B
- charm803, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5I highly doubt that a Happy Meal for an "A" on a report card leads to obesity.
If the parents don't educate their children on healthy eating habits from the beginning, the child is going to make poor choices.
How often do they pass out report cards? At the end of the quarter or semester? It's twice, three times, or high balling it, four times a year. That is not enough to lead to obesity.
Parents are always trying to blame someone or other for the failure they have done as parents.
I think the Book It Program from Pizza Hut was better, because you had to read five books to get a little pizza, not a pizza for one book or one grade.
Hey, parents, how about spending some quality time with your children instead of feeding them junk? Think about how many times YOU, as a parent, take them to McDonald's for no apparent reason!!!!!
Who's making who fat:
McDOnald's, or the parents taking them there? - bingobongony, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Why are people acting like this is the first time this has been done? It was done before when McDonald's had far less healthy menu options.
- mal1964, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1 Thank You
No Thank You - ajimmykid, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3this has been going on forever. and mcdonalds isn't the only place. I remember getting coupons for TCBY, Dairy Queen, etc. And that was more than a decade ago.
- Easyoffbam, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4While rewarding kids with fast food isn't exactly the best idea, at least it gets kids motivated to do well in school. Getting As for some kids is no cakewalk for them so it's not like all the kids are going to get happy meals all the time. I think the main problem is exercise, kids these days get picked up from the school and play on computers/consoles rather than going outside and getting fresh air. As long as kids run around outside for about half an hour to an hour each day an occasional Happy Meal should be fine.
- xerigen, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5Kindergarten through fifth grade?! What the hell? I was ready to print out my college transcript and chow down.
- bingobongony, on 12/12/2007, -0/+7This is my favorite part..."Ms. Pagan is the only parent to complain so far about the McDonald’s sponsorship,"
- noseeme, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Damn Wiccans ruin everything, I say!
- mal1964, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4McDonalds, an A gets you a happy meal, an F gets you a job.
- rationalicthus, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5The world's gone stark raving mad. It's a kid eating a hamburger, that's it! Get off your high horse and go eat some ice cream. You'll feel better.
- mal1964, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1LOL, its crazy I'm still laughing the funny thing is marketing probably has them sold on something that worst than the hamburger,
- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1To everyone above, you've all missed the worrying thing in this: schools are signing deals to makeup with funding shortcomings.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Pizza hut, reading program, decades old. This stuff isnt new
- daxsymbiont, on 12/12/2007, -2/+1YOU WON! HERE, HAVE SOME CANCEROUS FOOD.
- noseeme, on 12/12/2007, -2/+1The fat in McDonald's food goes straight to your *****.
... But only if you are a male. - donkayoteSA, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2They have done this for atleast the better part of 20 years... why has it just now suddenly became an issue? It is the parents', not McDonalds, to make sure the kids are eating right.
- Tophillious, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1So not only will the kids worry about being a nerd, but also being fat!
- sonician, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Anyone over 25 will probably remember, but McDonald's used to do this years ago.. I remember in elementary school that they would do something similar, and no one complained about it then either.
It's just eay to complain about things more these days I guess. - solid12345, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1What about Campbells soup labels for cash. Seems to me people are just pissed about the kind of food product giving money to the school because this has been done by corporate America for decades.
Also has anyone ever thought that maybe if the student got all A's he/she most likely has intelligent parents too who knows moderation and that mcdonalds is a just reward but not an everyday eating routine for their child? - JasonCox, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Hey, Pizza Hut used to give me free pizza for reading books, why not give out a Happy Meal for an A?
- gotamd, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Obviously you are now completely addicted to Pizza Hut and live a pitiful and depressing existence.
- tomis, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Giving kids external motivations instead of providing them with the life experience necessary for life-long healthy internal motivation. It will only make kids dependent on external motivation. Which will make them easier to control. Easier to keep in check. Which is just how the government wants us. Domesticated and subservient. And just like dogs, the ones who refuse to be subservient will be put down.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Why cant you have both external and internal? Everything else in life is a combo of both.
- TheMightyBorys, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0You know, I recall going to the dentist as a child, and getting coupons for free McFries for being "brave", and I don't recall there ever being a huge stink made about that.
- shauncorleone, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5Curse you, McDonald's. You reward a kid with good grades once per quarter with a free Happy Meal, and you force the parents to redeem the voucher and feed that meal to their child. Why can't you allow people to have a choice in what the youth of America are eating every day? Wait, what? You say they DO have a choice? The parents are actually in control? Oh, nevermind then, nothing to see here.
- charm803, on 12/13/2007, -0/+0This is the funniest comment on here..........you get two brownie points for dry sarcasm....unless Ms. Pagan wants to complain about the brownie points being a path to obesity...
- charm803, on 12/13/2007, -0/+0This is the funniest comment on here..........you get two brownie points for dry sarcasm....unless Ms. Pagan wants to complain about the brownie points being a path to obesity...
- gotamd, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I don't see the problem. Do people now think that eating McDonald's a few times *per year* is going to ruin their children's health? Is there no way that they could reward their children in other ways to substitute for the McDonald's if they choose? I've seen a lot of similar programs at restaurants in my area. If you bring in a good report card, you'll get a free ice cream cone or something. What's wrong with that!? I guess these places aren't worrisome to the "Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood" (hmmmm, ulterior motives? naaaaaaaah!) because they're more locally owned and operated.
- chrismgtis, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I don't think anyone wants a heart attack as reward for getting good grades.
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