"Eat Wendy's"
Is this a sign we should see from a school?
The local Wendy's in the neighborhood runs fundraisers to help out local groups. On occasion, a nearby elementary school — McPherson Elementary — benefits from the Wendy's fundraiser.
This isn't to say that Wendy's or McPherson Elementary is evil. The truth is likely much more complicated.
School funding is a bit bizarre. Especially in Illinois, where strong property tax areas have more money in schools and weaker property tax areas fall short.
But on the heels of school lunch issues, and the donuts/Pop-Tarts breakfast* that is still being served in Chicago Public Schools, what kind of message are we sending to our children by having a fast food restaurant raise money for the schools.
(* Though Chicago Public Schools is changing its policy on universal breakfast — and McPherson also points out on its lighted sign that the school offers universal breakfast — right now, today, there are donuts and Pop-Tarts for breakfast. In September, they are supposed to be gone.)
What kids learn is certainly not limited to the classroom. When fast food restaurants are in our schools, what kind of messages are our children learning? When fast food restaurants are involved in our schools, even if it takes place off-campus, this still sends a message.
But our children are already exposed to a sufficient amount of marketing of fast food restaurants. The school and school-related activities should be a sanctuary away from that world.
The school has a lighted sign on its campus, where I learned about the fundraiser. The lighted sign says "Eat Wendy's."
Can we do better for the children? Can we?
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