I might be willing to concede that Childhood obesity is an actual area of concern, but the roots of the problem are far deeper then sodas and cupcakes at school.  The availability of lousy food and a sedentary culture are far more to blame. 

School district bans candy, cakes, and cookies

Kids might see it as a trick, but there will be no traditional treats, including candy, at this year’s Halloween parties in the East Syracuse-Minoa schools.

And class birthday parties this fall are taking on a new flavor because cupcakes, cookies and cakes have been banned.

ES-M has become the first district in Central New York to prohibit outright sweet desserts in classroom celebrations. Chances are pretty good others in the region will follow, school nutrition experts say.

Schools around the country are cracking down on cupcakes in the classroom, even though some parents say the policies go too far. The cupcake ban is just one of many steps schools are taking to help curb childhood obesity.

The problem is that the schools and the government are not the ones who should be dealing with Childhood obesity in the first place, at least not as the primary focal point of response.

The homes are.

The second bit of school weirdness is from the UK, but no less weird.

Teachers’ Muslim dress order

A SCHOOL was yesterday accused of MAKING teachers dress up as Asians for a day – to celebrate a Muslim festival.

Kids at the 257-pupil primary have also been told to don ethnic garb even though most are Christians.

The morning assembly will be open to all parents – but dads are BARRED from a women-only party in the afternoon because Muslim husbands object to wives mixing with other men.

Just two members of staff – a part-time teacher and a teaching assistant – are Muslim.

Yesterday a relative of one of the 39 others said: “Staff have got to go along with it – or let’s face it, they would be branded racist.