Big Mother Is Watching

theodp writes "Newsweek reports that high-schoolers are being denied the joy of ordering unhealthy lunches thanks to their schools' adoption of services like MealpayPlus. New web-based services allow moms to prepay for cafeteria food, specify what their kid can and can't buy, and go online to track his purchases." From the article: "If the child tries to buy a prohibited item, an alert flashes on the cashier's computer. Of course, the system isn't foolproof. According to a KRC Research survey, 73 percent of 8- to 12-year-olds are throwing out part of their lunches at least once a week; 36 percent are trading them." All I ever got was PB&J.

In other news...

[ChaseTec]

Bill Thompson, the only kid at Deerbrook High School still granted pizza privileges, has become the youngest person ever to retire at age 17.

Re:talk about over protective

[Rob_Warwick]

Its like TV, why raising your kids by yourself if the little friend from Panasonic can do it also

You're still failing at raising your kids. Every one knows that responsible parents only let their kids watch a TV from Sony!

Comeon, they aren't going to become good little consumers without proper guidance.

Re:talk about over protective

[Anonymous Coward]

Good for you. Although you probably shouldn't have skipped all those English classes.

Re:talk about over protective

[Anonymous Coward]

So true, if everyone would just rely on the well known bastion of self control that children have, all you have to do is teach and they'll make the right decision all the time. Or at least if they make the wrong decision once, they probably won't do it again, and this is so true with something like food where eating one unhealthy meal is usually all it takes for a child to go screaming back to mommy and daddy for healthy food.

For example...

[mlow82]

Overprotection does indeed leave children underprepared. For example, the parent's parents always corrected his spelling and broke apart his run-on sentences. Now look. For shame, overprotective parents...for shame.

Re:talk about over protective

[maxwell demon]

You shouldn't put your kids in front of a Sony. Maybe they get installed the mental analog to a rootkit, and then they phone home to Sony ...

Not if he's seen them naked

[giafly]

Also, it's kinda hard to understand for Jonny why he should eat his broccoli and drink his healthy water while mom and dad are guzzling down greaseballs with root beer.

Re:talk about over protective

[Profane MuthaFucka]

When I was a kid, we had to steer our own ships out of port and put down mutinies, uphill, both ways, in the snow! Ok, that was a harsh childhoold, I admit.