[Tippiechick]

I was trained to be an evaluator for the Consolidated School Health Index/Program. It is a program that takes an overall approach to helping students stay healthy. It even involves the parents. It also teaches children about choices they can make for themselves in cases where they are left to feed themselves.

Some staples of the program include allowing students to drink water during school, removing unhealthy foods from vending machines, offering counseling to identify problems they might be facing, making parents aware that only healthy foods are options for snacks they bring for the entire class, increasing physical activity in and out of school hours, making cafeteria food healthier, etc.

It really brings the parents into the process. It makes them aware of simple choices they can make to improve the health of their families.

I will admit that I was extremely skeptical of the program. But, after seeing the test results from my hometown's schools increase and truancy decrease, I was impressed. There are only a few schools in the nation that are pilots for the program. My hometown is one of them.

I believe this would be much better than simply putting a percentage on a piece of paper.

Why give someone information that they have a problem and not help them to find a solution? If they are going to give that info out, them they should also give out some info on how to become healthier/reduce their percentage. The CSHI would do that.

/rant

Edited b/c I can't spell.