School Beat: The Power of One VoiceDana Woldowbyline‚ Nov. 15‚ 2007On Halloween, with the City focused on whether the Castro would explode, a minor miracle was unfolding across town in the Presidio, where a preschool was planning its first ever Halloween celebration - without candy! Almost as noteworthy as the absence of Snickers bars was the fact that this healthy holiday celebration came about entirely because of the unwavering commitment of one parent. A year ago, parent Karen Gehrman was fed up with the amount of sugary snacks and treats her 3-year-old daughter was being given at one of the SFUSD’s pre-kindergarten sites. She reported, “There was a sugar culture at this school that seemed woefully out of touch with the current vibe on kids’ health. On Halloween that year, parents were filling kids' baskets with chocolates and candies, after a flat of Costco frosted sugar cookies had been distributed, and teachers gave the kids candies on the playground.” Gehrman recalled. “I had to ask the teachers not to let the kids eat the candies in the classroom.” All this for 3- and 4-year-olds. The school staff acknowledged Gehrman’s concerns but indicated that one lone parent’s request was not going to compel them to limit snacks for all the children |