Technology going too far in teaching, parenting

Push Coin in the school:

"Well, Mary, we received information from the school today, and we see you chose the chicken nuggets over the leafy salad and the ice cream over yogurt. Your nutritional grade for today is a D. Unlike us, your parents, we need you to focus on good nutrition. Now, I want you to stand by the refrigerator and think about what you are doing to your body!"

Put your finger on the pad and off goes information to parents concerning eating habits: food purchases, calorie counts and nutritional information sent home by email. As adults we can't seem to leave our children alone.

Oh my gosh, they need to carry money and be responsible for their ID and a lunch card.

Let's realize it's all part of growing up. Live, fail, learn.

Would the school's faculty and administration allow their eating habits to be transmitted to its district's nutritionist? Or better yet, when I stop by the local fast-food restaurant, should my order be transmitted to my children's computer? No way.

If we are serious about this, let's instead focus on being positive role models.

Can't we find better ways to spend our educational dollars, provided by taxpayers?

We are giving up far more than we gain.

Workshops on promoting student responsibility would be an interesting start.

Marc Denny

Lake Zurich