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Created: January 13, 2003
Latest Update: January 13, 2003
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

Food as a Commodity in Our Schools

Site Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors, January 2003..
"Fair use" encouraged.

This teaching essay is based on an article on school lunches, foods available in K - 12, and the problems with that diet. Also reports that Congress is going to address this question of school lunches and nutrition again soon. New York Times. Monday, January 13, 2003. At p. A 12: Eat Your Vegetables? Only at a Few SchoolsBy Elizabeth Becker and Marian Burros. Backup. The new book, Fat Land, points out that we are becoming "fat" as a nation in part because our eating patterns have turned so to fast food. . . .

Consider commodity in the sense Marx would use it: something of value to be exchanged in the capitalist market. Compare the use of food and soda machines in the school to the serving of nutritious lunches.

Consider that we eat what is available and that eating encompasses a number of "social facts," like who we associate with, what's cool, how what we eat contributes to status, etc.

How much do you know about food as a commodity in your own school, in those of your children, siblings, parents, etc.

Conceptually link food as a commodity to hierarchical power in institutions. How much choice does the student/worker have? Who governs the issue? Who profits from the issue? Follow the money. Who controls the money? Do you encounter barriers when you ask these questions? Do you encounter well-informed administration when you ask these questions?