Supernanny/ Superchef - Government doesn't know best
20th February 2008
Obesity is the latest target for the 'super nanny' of the Labour Government, with an education system that is supposedly failing to teach healthy lifestyles the most recent incumbent of the political naughty step.
The Government target is to have all schools teaching a compulsory cooking programme by 2011 with £2.5 million taxpayers' money thrown in for good measure.
Brilliant! We can solve the obesity epidemic sweeping our country, eradicating the forecast threat of 1 million chubby children within a decade and ensure a new, slim line, future for our nation, all between the hours of 9am and 3pm. Problem solved.
Why am I sceptical? Because this policy comes alongside over 900,000 children still waiting for the Government to deliver the promised 2 hours of sport, let alone the addition of 5 hours to be spent immersed in 'culture'.
Now don’t get me wrong, raising a healthier generation who enjoy sport and hold knowledge of cultural pursuits, extending beyond the current chart position of Rhianna, are admirable aims. However, the Government needs to get in touch with the reality of schools over-burdened with targets and directives coping with an already stretched curriculum. It should focus instead on core issues like the four in ten children leaving primary school illiterate and innumerate.
Surely we should give parents and teachers the freedom and responsibility to promote a healthy, cultural lifestyle? Isn’t it about time we acknowledged that parents and teachers know best and not the government acting as supernanny or superchef?
