Extra Credit

Risky business: Energy drinks and kids

Arlington school district trustees got some ammo today in their argument against allowing students to bring energy drinks such as Monster and Red Bull to campus when The New York Times weighed in today on some of the nasty after-effects. Staff writer Tara Parker Pope (formerly of the Wall Street Journal and Houston Chronicle) cited a March report in The Journal of American College Health on the link between energy drinks, athletics and risky behavior. The study suggested that high consumption of energy drinks is associated with of risky and aggressive behaviors, including unprotected sex, substance abuse and violence. (OK, that covers most of adolescence, right?)

Anyhow, take note, Arlington. And now I'm off to get my $4 skinny vanilla latte.

- Kristin Sullivan

No Red Bull for Arlington students?

Interesting debate reported by S-T staffer Eva-Marie Ayala at Thursday's Arlington school board meeting over whether the district should ban energy drinks like Red Bull, the hopped-up, super sugary and caffeine-filled canned beverage favored by so many young folks (I say that because now I'm 40).

The issue apparently was raised by Malcolm Turner, Arlington schools' executive director of student services, who told trustees: "We’re seeing students that are consuming multiple energy drinks in one day, two or three, and then they get sick and end up in the nursing clinics. Some of the symptoms are palpitations, tremors, vomiting, diarrhea and chest pains."

School board President Jim Ash seemed confused and said he thought the board was discussing Gatorade. Other trustees wondered how they could ban energy drinks when students bring Starbucks beverages back from off-campus lunch runs. Trustee Sheri Wade said she doesn't like students bringing any drinks back to campus because who knows what's in them and because students who bring caffeine back have to go to the bathroom more.

Hmmm. I can think of a few of my former teachers at Sam Houston High School (Go, Texans!) who could have used a little more caffeine.

- Kristin Sullivan

Outsourcing school jobs

Do you want your child's lunch served by a school employee or by someone who works for a private business? How about your child's bus driver or the campus custodian? Many school boards have gone the private route because they say it's cheaper. But is it a good deal? A recent study published by an education research group says maybe not.

-Martha Deller

 

Where's the beef?

Hopefully, it's not in your kid's school. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recalled about 143 million pounds of frozen beef that may have come from cows too sick to be used for human consumption. And reportedly, 37 million pounds - or about one quarter of the recalled meat - went to school lunch programs, but officials say the beef most likely has already been eaten.

We're not yet sure which local districts use the suppliers Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. But for more information on the recall, check out this story in today's Star-Telegram.

- Katherine Cromer Brock