The Big Picture

Deb and I just returned from St. Louis where we attended Big Bang, the annual meeting of The Big Picture Company, a Providence, RI based non-profit which develops and supports schools around the world. Most of their schools serve underprivileged students, often in the inner city. http://www.bigpicture.org

Our school systems are failing most students, especially those from poor families. Many students learn little or drop out; few are enabled to reach potential. Big Picture's philosophy is to identify and support each student's interest and talents while helping to correct health and social issues preventing optimal school participation. Each small group of students has an advisor who stays with them throughout their time at the school where cooperation, empathy and mutual support are an integral part of the education. A major feature of Big Picture schools is internships. Mentors in diverse fields are identified and recruited. Students typically spend two full days a week in an internship, developing relationships and learning a subject in depth. After each nine week internship the student prepares a written and Power Point summary of her work. Testing and grades are eliminated in favor of experience and personal evaluations. When students move on to traditional systems in college they do well because they have come to love learning, having accumulated excellent skills to solve problems and acquire new knowledge. Almost all Big Picture students end up pursuing careers (ranging from beautician to carpenter to artist to scientist with advanced academic degrees) in which they have had internships. We have visited three of these schools and loved seeing children who delight in being part of a stimulating, pleasant place of true education. Our grandson attends and enjoys a Big Picture school in San Diego.

At the meeting I presented information about the science of diet and nutrition to a group of sixty teachers and administrators. What you eat controls behavior and performance, the critical elements of schooling. Barbara Reed Stitt demonstrated this in the Appleton, Wisconsin schools. She changed foods served at school to mainly whole food plant based. Attendance improved greatly; disruptive behavior almost disappeared; classroom performance went up. This approach is inexpensive, scientifically grounded, and very effective but is ignored in almost all schools. https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=josUVt8-UD2AyfNQ&u=/watch%3Fv%3DLgabV3Ktgww%26feature%3Dem-share_video_user

A major problem is federal government policy to support agriculture big business. Surplus foods from overproduction, especially cheese and other dairy, are given to school districts to support the reduced and free lunch (occasionally breakfast, snacks and dinner) programs. Districts are told what to feed the students to enrich big agriculture businesses in spite of overwhelming evidence that this is an unhealthy diet. In addition districts and schools are bribed by soda and snack companies to offer vending machines with unhealthy food. School administrators have constant budget problems; they often grasp at easy solutions which are very damaging to students and the educational process.

An effective approach to improved student eating habits is exposure to different foods. One of the best ways to accomplish this is school gardens and food preparation classes. Big Picture has a new "Seed to Table" program run by Paul Hudak, an inspiring teacher who has created these programs in Oregon and California schools. Students love this work, learning to grow, prepare and try different vegetables and fruits. An appreciation of practical science in botany and health flows naturally from this activity. https://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/seed-table-cultivating-sustainability-natives/