Al's Morning Meeting

Last year, The Boston Globe reported that no matter when kids get lunchtime, they are in a hurry. And whether they are rushing or not, kids nationwide are getting less time to make it through the cafeteria line and eat. Look at this graphic from the Globe story:

The Boston Globe/Source: School Nutrition Association

Abbreviated lunch periods have been a growing concern to parents and nutrition groups. Schools have either reduced lunch time or kept it at a minimum and have boosted class time to respond to pressure to succeed on state tests. Neither the state nor the federal government dictates how much time children should have to eat lunch; it's up to local school systems to design daily schedules.

In just two years, the average lunch period in elementary schools across the nation has decreased from about 30 minutes to 23.7 minutes, according to the School Nutrition Association in Alexandria, Va. The association recommends 26 minutes for lunch and another four minutes to get to the cafeteria.

Columns That Create Conversation

Al's Morning Meeting reader and Post-Tribune (of Merrillville, Ind.), metro columnist Jerry Davich said he recently wrote a couple columns that created a stir among his readers.

Here is a story about a gated community that claims to be private but apparently isn't. It is an interesting idea to test gated community entrance policies. Do professional-looking people gain easier access than working-class or teen visitors? Is there any difference in access for people of different races or ethnicities? What do the guard houses do with license plate numbers and drivers license information?

There is a gated community near where I live that I have to enter from time to time when I drive my kids' carpool. Despite having gone in there hundreds of times over the years, the guards have never recognized me as a repeat visitor.

In another story, Jerry did a sort of restaurant review for the soup kitchens that feed the homeless. There is something about a journalist eating food meant for the homeless that makes me queasy, but it is an interesting look inside a world most of us do not experience.

I wish there had been a strong journalistic reason that would have warranted the undercover work. For example, had there been allegations of racism, improper food handling or the like?

5 Minutes to Get Out

San Diego TV station KFMB tried an interesting project. The station wanted to know what people would take with them if they were forced to leave their homes in five minutes. Compared to some other parts of the country, evacuations are frequent in wildfire-prone Southern California.

The station pointed out:

During an evacuation, you'll definitely need copies of your [homeowners insurance] policy, car insurance, flood and earthquake policies and healthcare information, especially if your home is damaged or destroyed. [...]

In addition to insurance papers, make sure you bring prescription medications, cash or ATM cards, birth certificates and ID cards. And don't forget baby formula and diapers if you have little ones.

Gennifer [Cartwright, who participated in the station's five-minute evacuation test,] also forgot to bring her family photo albums. If the house burns down, you'll never be able to replace these family pictures.

When it comes to pets, only bring them if you can transport them safely. That means cages for cats, and extra water for the animals.

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