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Chocolate milk is a popular drink because it offers a sweeter and more decadent taste than regular milk. It has also been touted as an excellent after-workout snack because of its nutrients and is recommended for children who don't like milk but could benefit from the vitamins and minerals in milk.

Chocolate milk can be both healthy and unhealthy. That is because, although it contains high levels of calcium and vitamin D, which are vital for bone and overall health, it is also high in added sugar.

This article discusses the health score of chocolate milk and how to make the drink healthier so you can reap the rewards of consuming it without the harmful effects of excess sugar.

Benefits: When Would Chocolate Milk Be Healthy?

Chocolate milk contains several nutrients that aid in different aspects of health. Vitamin D and calcium, which are found in high amounts in milk and other dairy products, are the most notable. These nutrients are vital for bone health.

Research has examined the effect of consuming milk on bone health and found that it can help to decrease bone loss by encouraging a more effective balance between the breakdown and remodeling of bone tissue.

Other health benefits associated with chocolate milk revolve around its nutrient content, which is:

Leucine: This is an amino acid that aids in the maintenance and strength of muscles.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA): This omega-6 can aid in weight management, according to some studies, but more research is needed.

Protein and carbs: These two nutrients can help the body replenish itself with electrolytes and fluids lost during strenuous workouts, so it can also be an excellent post-workout recovery beverage.

Regular and chocolate milk contain similar nutrients. However, chocolate milk has added sugars and therefore more carbohydrates, making it potentially less healthy than regular milk.

Post-Workout Chocolate Milk

Nutritional Value of a Single Serving of Chocolate Milk

A single serving of chocolate milk may vary depending on a person's preference, but when looking at a typical serving of 473 mL, the nutritional content in chocolate milk is as follows:

These nutrient facts are for a specific brand of chocolate milk, but most store-bought nonorganic chocolate milk will has the same nutritional content.

Which Types of Chocolate Milk Are Not as Healthy?

The unhealthiest chocolate milks contains a lot of added sugar. Most chocolate milk will be sweetened to offset the bitter taste of cocoa, but some contain higher sugar levels than others.

Some may also add high fructose corn syrup, which has been shown to increase the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes or obesity.

Added sugars can also increase the risk of:

Chocolate milk also contains lactose, which can cause gastrointestinal distress in people who are lactose intolerant, meaning their small intestine does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase to digest lactose (milk sugar). That said, an older study published in 2003 found that chocolate milk is one of the best dairy products to consume if lactose intolerant because it is better tolerated than unflavored milk.

It's suggested that cocoa offsets the effects of lactose intolerance by stimulating lactase in the body, an enzyme that helps break down and digest dairy products. It also slows gastric emptying and reduces the number of gut bacteria that produce high levels of gas.

Choosing the Right Chocolate Milk

If you want to drink chocolate milk for its health benefits, finding one with the least added sugars is best. That will provide you with the necessary nutrients without the added sugar.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Milk

Dairy-free products are popular because they are considered healthy options for people without nut sensitivities or allergies, especially for people with lactose intolerance. Many people also reach for dairy-free products if they are vegan, as they are safe to eat for people who do not consume animal or animal-based foods.

Nondairy chocolate milk is made with alternative milk products, such as:

These are entirely plant-based and contain zero lactose, so they are safe for those who avoid dairy for health and ethical reasons. Regarding the health score, lactose-free milk products often contain less fat and added sugars than their dairy counterparts.

They are also often fortified with many nutrients -more than what is found in traditional milk-to ensure that people still get the vitamins and minerals needed for overall health. It is important to note that, while fortified, brands may differ; so always read the label to see what is included or not included in your favorite nondairy chocolate milk.

Chocolate Milk and Pregnancy

Milk can be an excellent dairy option for those who are pregnant because it is safe to consume and contains many nutrients that aid in a healthy pregnancy. That said, chocolate milk should be consumed in moderation because the added sugar in this milk variety is not recommended during pregnancy. Low-fat and pasteurized chocolate milk is the best option, as pregnant people should not consume unpasteurized food products.

Chocolate milk can be both healthy and unhealthy based on its nutrient content. While the well-loved beverage is high in sugar, it also contains many vital nutrients that aid in overall health. Drinking chocolate milk is generally safe for most people, but it should be consumed in moderation because of its high sugar content.

If you want to enjoy chocolate milk without all the sugar, you can opt for low-sugar and nut-milk options that often have much less sugar than their dairy counterparts or make your own chocolate milk at home.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Chocolate milk is good for you in the sense that it's a source of calcium. However, a lot of brands have added sugar.

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Back to Animals

A zoo can be an awesome place to see animals first hand and learn about what they eat, their habits, environment, and all sorts of other interesting facts about animals. Another name for a zoo is zoological garden.

Today zoos are becoming better and better places for animals. In the past some zoos were somewhat cruel to animals. Placing animals in environments they were not suited for and often not keeping the animal's best interest in mind. However, today many zoos do wonderful work in animal research and take great care of their animals.

Photo by Ducksters

Some good things that many Zoos do today include:

Acting as sanctuaries for endangered animals. They provide a safe environment for animals that are being threatened by changes in the environment. Often zoos will work to breed and maintain endangered animal populations. Sometime animals are nearly extinct in the wild and the only place they survive is in zoos.

Education on wildlife. Zoos provide a great opportunity for us to learn more about creatures from distant lands.

Research on wildlife and how we can help animals survive radical changes. Zoos do veterinary medicine research as well.

Today's modern zoos house animals in enclosures that are similar to the animal's natural habitat. This can include buildings made for nocturnal animals where they are bright at night, so the animals can sleep, and dark during the day, so zoo visitors can see the animals moving about. Also, climates are controlled in some zoo enclosures for animals like penguins and polar bears. Many zoos have great open spaces as well where animals may graze together. Some zoos have an area where you can take a mini-safari or ride around in a truck or bus to hopefully see the animals up close.

Perhaps the most famous zoo is the San Diego Zoo in Southern California. Many modern zoo practices were pioneered at the San Diego Zoo. The largest zoo in number of animals is the Bronx Zoo with over 6000 animals. The largest zoo in land size is the North Carolina Zoo with 535 acres.

Photo by Ducksters

Seeing an elephant, giraffe, lion, polar bear, penguins, seals, or other incredible creatures at the zoo can be an amazing experience. Be sure to check out your local zoo and get the opportunity to see some awesome animals and learn more about nature.

Another great place to see animals, similar to a zoo, is at an aquarium. Most states have an aquarium where they display all sorts of fish and some sea mammals.More on endangered species:
Amphibians in Danger
Endangered Animals
How Animals Become Extinct
Wildlife Conservation
Zoos

Back to Animals

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Learn about the zoo. History and types of zoological gardens. List of Zoos with interesting animals.

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How do you feel about keeping animals in zoos? Read both sides of the argument to help you decide.

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Newsela | Some clever chimps stage escape at Kansas City Zoo

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It took a branch, a wall, and a smart chimpanzee ringleader to cause a “Code Red” at the zoo.

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Learn more about the Association for Zoos and Aquariums’ members, educational programs, and conservation efforts, as well as the kinds of facilities we support.

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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New York City proposal would be ‘just another nail in the coffin of upstate dairy farmers’

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Real sanctuaries are safe, comfortable places for animals to live after they've been rescued from not-so-nice places like circuses or laboratories. People can sometimes visit these sanctuaries, which is an awesome way to learn about and see animals without supporting businesses that hurt them, like roadside zoos or wildlife parks. Roadside zoos and wildlife parks use animals to make money. It's confusing because they sometimes call themselves "sanctuaries" or "rescues" to bring in more customers, because they know that people don't want to visit roadside zoos, but they're being dishonest when they do that.

It's important not to get these horrible places confused with actual sanctuaries. But how can you tell the difference? It's easy! There are a few simple questions you can ask about a place to figure out whether it's helping or hurting animals the animals who live there.

You can find answers to these questions by browsing a facility's website and social media pages (your parents can help):

1. How are animals housed?

Real sanctuaries make sure that an animal's living space is as close to their natural habitat as possible. Animals should live with others of their own kind so they can have friends. It's mean to keep them all alone in small, dirty pens with concrete floors and nothing to do-and you should stay away from places like that.

2. What kinds of activities do the animals get to do?

The animals' living area should have lots of ways for them to play and enjoy themselves! For example, there should be a large structure for chimpanzees to climb on, water for bears to soak and splash in, and large fields for roaming and exploring. Animals need these things if they're going to be healthy, happy, and comfortable.

Animals should also live with others of the same species so they can communicate with each another easily and form relationships and groups. In many sanctuaries, the animals who already live there help teach the newcomers how to get back in touch with their natural instincts and enjoy life again.

3. How big is the facility?

Animals should be given enough space to explore, roam, climb, and forage. And a real sanctuary NEVER takes the animals out of the facility to show them off.

4. Are visitors allowed to touch or hold the animals?

True wild-animal sanctuaries (with big cats, bears, primates, or wolves) NEVER allow visitors to touch or hold the animals, even babies, and that includes taking photos with them. This would be scary for the animals and dangerous to the visitors, too!

5. Where did the animals come from?

The animals who live there probably came from a place where they were mistreated, so they have a sad and painful past. The staff will want to share each animal's story so that visitors can learn about the various places that hurt animals (like laboratories, circuses, and roadside zoos). Real sanctuaries provide animals with a permanent home for the rest of their life. They NEVER trade, borrow, or loan animals.

6. Does the facility breed animals?

Sanctuaries NEVER breed animals, meaning that they don't make any of the animals have babies. Places that do breed animals are using them to make money-that's not right, and that's not a sanctuary.

7. What is it like to visit a sanctuary?

Most sanctuaries only allow very limited visits. Usually a guide takes people on a small tour of the place and doesn't let them walk around by themselves.

8. Is it accredited?

True sanctuaries are accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), a group that makes sure sanctuaries follow strict rules to protect the animals who live there, like the ones listed above.
*****
All living, feeling beings deserve a comfortable place to live where people aren't always staring at them. A true sanctuary puts the needs and wants of the animals first. So if you care about animals, NEVER visit a roadside zoo or a wildlife park, and explain to your friends and family why places like that are bad for animals!

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8 Ways to Tell a REAL Sanctuary From a Roadside Zoo | PETA Kids

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Roadside zoo or animal sanctuary? This list will explain the difference-so you can figure out if a place is hurting or helping animals.

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Like many foods-real butter, anyone?-chocolate milk's fortunes have risen and fallen over time.

Citing concerns over childhood obesity, some school districts-from the District of Columbia in 2010 to Tempe, Ariz. just this school year -have taken the often controversial step to ban chocolate and other flavored milk from their schools.

But some districts are reintroducing chocolate milk back into their cafeterias.

One big concern is that when kids pass on milk, they're also passing on an important source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D and calcium.

This tug-o-war over chocolate milk isn't confined to district-level politics, it's been happening at the federal level, too. In 2012, the Obama administration rolled out stricter requirements for federally-subsidized school meals, including a rule that all flavored milk had to be fat free.

That rule was reversed by the Trump administration last year.

Should Schools Ban Chocolate Milk?

So, is it better for students to drink chocolate milk than no milk at all?

The School Nutrition Association, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all support offering chocolate milk in schools, but their reasoning is tactical: flavoring is a useful way to get students to drink enough milk, as well as the important nutrients that comes with it. Most milk consumed in school is flavored, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and it's still healthier than many other surgery drinks.

Despite pushback, flavored milk remains a mainstay in most schools. Nearly 80 percent of school districts offer flavored milk in their cafeterias, according to the School Nutrition Association's 2018 survey of its members. That's back up to 2014 levels after a dip in 2016 when 70 percent of districts reported serving flavored milk.
Related stories: Image: Getty

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Why Schools That Banned Chocolate Milk Are Bringing It Back

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Like many foods-real butter, anyone?-chocolate milk's fortunes have risen and fallen over time. Citing concerns over childhood obesity, some school districts-from the District of Columbia in 2010 to Tempe, Ariz. just this school year -have taken the often controversial step to ban chocolate and other flavored milk from their schools.

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NC Zoo’s ‘adoption’ program benefits animals, zookeeper training

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NC Zoo’s ‘adoption’ program benefits animals, zookeeper training

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This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

The N.C. Zoo is one of only two state-operated zoos in the country. While more than 60 percent of its operating budget comes from the state, all of its conservation, research and education programs - and even the animals exhibited at the park - are purchased with private funds raised by the North Carolina Zoological Society.

Karen Brown with the Zoo Society says the "Adopt an Animal" program features a list of animals that can be "adopted" for a year.

Those who "adopt" an animal get a certificate, a photo of the animal and a fact sheet about the species.

Funds raised through the program benefit the Zoo's Animal Enrichment Program, which allows the Zoo to pay for additional training for zookeepers as well as purchase treats for the animals.

Some of the most popular animals for "adoption" are the African elephant, the polar bear, the zebra, the giraffe and the chimpanzee.

For more information about "adopting" zoo animals, visit nczoo.com or call the Zoo Society at (336) 879-7250.

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NC Zoo's 'adoption' program benefits animals, zookeeper training

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The N.C. Zoo is one of only two state-operated zoos in the country. While more than 60 percent of its operating budget comes from the state, all of its conservation, research and education programs - and even the animals exhibited at the park - are purchased with private funds raised by the North Carolina Zoological [...]

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Dive Brief:

The Tempe Elementary School District in Arizona is the latest district to ban chocolate milk, and the New York City Department of Education could be among the next to cut the drink from school menus in an effort to make school lunches healthier, District Administration reports.

Tempe parents haven't voiced complaints about the chocolate milk ban, but some New Yorkers aren't happy about it and say the ban would hurt dairy farmers. Those opposed are also citing research claiming chocolate milk helps students reach recommended daily vitamin levels.

Washington, D.C.; Rochester, NY; Minnesota and San Francisco schools have already banned flavored milk, while Detroit and Los Angeles have reinstated it following prior bans.

Dive Insight:

Districts are on the right track when searching for ways to improve nutrition and cut the sugar content of school lunches. A study led by the Yale School of Public Health shows school policies and programs can reduce the obesity levels of students, showing students who attended schools with healthy school lunch policies had lower average BMIs than those who didn't.

The study looked at schools with policies that made sure all school meals met federal guidelines, and nutrition information was shared with parents and students. Water was encouraged as the beverage of choice over sugary drinks.

As part of the " Let's Move!" program, former first lady Michelle Obama championed a school lunch overhaul that would reduce the amount of sugar, sodium and fat in food sold at schools. More whole grains, fruits and vegetables were served, and whole and low-fat flavored milk were prohibited.

The rules on sodium and flavored milk are easing under the Trump administration, but some states are pushing back. A group of states, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, recently sued U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue over changes to the school lunch program, saying that relaxing the rules ignores research and can contribute to childhood obesity.

Whether chocolate milk is harmful or helpful is up for debate. Some medical professionals tout chocolate milk as a recovery drink for athletes because it provides fluid and electrolytes, is a good source of protein, and replenishes carbohydrates and necessary vitamins.

The downside is that chocolate milk does have added sugar and sometimes contains high-fructose corn syrup, an ingredient that has been linked to obesity and diabetes.

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Chocolate milk debate rages on as more districts ban the beverage

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The Tempe Elementary School District in Arizona is the latest district to ban chocolate milk, and the New York City Department of Education could be among the next to cut the drink from school menus in an effort to make school lunches healthier, District Administration reports.

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*the start of the clip may be one that you want to steer students toward during Session 12 “Who Said What? Studying Perspective”

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Smithsonian's National Zoo: We Save Species

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Chocolate milk is often promoted as a great way to recover from a workout and a good alternative to regular cow's milk when trying to increase children's calcium and vitamin D intake. However, many people wonder whether the high sugar content of the sweetened milk overshadows its nutritional value.

Chocolate milk is milk typically flavored with cocoa and sugar.

Though nondairy varieties exist, this article focuses on chocolate milk made with cow's milk.

This article reviews whether chocolate milk is good or bad for your health.

Chocolate milk is generally made by mixing cow's milk with cocoa and sweeteners like sugar or high-fructose corn syrup.

Chocolate milk also contains smaller amounts of zinc, selenium, iodine, magnesium, and vitamins A, B1, B6, B12.

Milk is considered a complete protein - meaning it provides all nine essential amino acids your body needs.

It's particularly rich in leucine, which seems to be the amino acid most involved in building and maintaining strong muscles (, , , ).

Milk is also rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of omega-6 fat found in meat and dairy, particularly from grass-fed animals. Some studies suggest that CLA may offer small weight loss benefits - though not all studies agree (, , 9).

On the other hand, because it's sweetened, chocolate milk contains 1.5-2 times more sugar than unsweetened cow's milk ().

Most health authorities recommend limiting added sugars to less than 5-10% of your daily calorie intake - or less than 10 teaspoons of added sugar per day for the average adult ().

One cup (240 ml) of chocolate milk can contain up to 3 teaspoons of added sugar. So drinking too much can contribute to about 30% of the daily recommended limit (, ).

Summary
Chocolate milk can provide you with the same nutrients found in regular cow's milk. However, it also contains more calories and 1.5-2 times more sugar than unsweetened cow's milk.

Chocolate milk is rich in calcium - the main mineral present in your bones.

Dairy is the biggest source of dietary calcium in the United States and Canada - providing around 72% of the average person's daily calcium intake. The remainder comes from vegetables, grains, legumes, fruit, meat, poultry, fish, and eggs ().

Milk is also rich in protein and phosphorus, as well as often fortified with vitamin D - all of which are additional nutrients important for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth (, 16).

This may explain why many studies link the consumption of milk and dairy products to lower risks of fractures and bone diseases, such as osteoporosis - especially in older adults ( 17, 18).

Since the bulk of research on dairy and bone health has been conducted with Chinese and Caucasian girls and women, more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of dairy in all ethnicities and genders ( 18).

That said, these nutrients aren't exclusive to dairy. Other calcium-rich foods include legumes, nuts, seeds, seaweed, leafy greens, blackstrap molasses, and some types of tofu.

Several foods are also commonly fortified in calcium and vitamin D, including some types of cereal and juice, as well as certain plant milks and yogurts.

Summary
Milk is rich in calcium, protein, phosphorus, and vitamin D. These nutrients are instrumental in building and maintaining strong bones and may protect your bones as you age.

Chocolate milk may help your muscles recover after a grueling workout.

This may explain why chocolate milk is often promoted as a great recovery drink. That said, most studies showing benefits are done on athletes whose workouts are typically more intense and frequent than the average exerciser.

What's more, the benefits aren't exclusive to chocolate milk.

A review of 12 studies reported that chocolate milk was no more effective than other carb- and protein-rich beverages at improving post-exercise recovery markers, such as serum lactate and serum creatine kinase (CK) ().

Therefore, a homemade smoothie - or other well-balanced meals or snacks - are likely just as effective at helping your muscles recover from your workout while being much more nutritious.

Summary
Chocolate milk offers a combination of protein and carbs that may help boost your body's ability to recover after workouts. However, well-balanced meals or snacks are likely more nutritious and equally effective options.

Drinking chocolate milk regularly may have several downsides.

Rich in added sugars

Most health authorities recommend that adults and children limit their intake of added sugars.

For instance, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that women and children consume less than 100 calories - or 6 teaspoons - of added sugar per day whereas men should aim for less than 150 calories or 9 teaspoons per day ().

Excessive intake of added sugars is linked to weight gain and a higher risk of chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain types of cancers (, ).

Diets rich in added sugars have also been associated with acne, dental caries, and an increased risk of depression (, , ).

Research shows that consuming 17-21% of calories from added sugar may increase your risk of heart disease by 38%, compared to consuming less than 8% of calories from added sugar ().

What's more, added sugar has been found to increase heart disease risk in children through increasing calorie intake and body fat. It also elevates heart disease risk factors, such as LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels ().

Not everyone can tolerate it

Chocolate milk contains lactose, a natural sugar found in milk and other dairy products.

Moreover, some people are allergic to milk or develop chronic constipation when drinking it. This is more common in young children than in adults (, ).

Summary
Chocolate milk is high in sugar and lactose, a protein that many people are unable to digest. Milk allergy is also common - especially in young children.

Chocolate milk provides important nutrients - such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D - which may benefit health. However, it's high in calories and added sugar, which can contribute to weight gain and may increase your risk of certain chronic diseases.

Chocolate milk intake should be closely monitored in children. Too much can contribute to obesity, cavities, and other health issues in kids (, ).

Though chocolate milk is a tasty beverage, it should be considered more of a dessert than a beverage for children and adults alike.

Summary
Chocolate milk is high in calories and added sugar and should be consumed in moderation.

Chocolate milk offers the same nutrients as cow's milk but packs a hefty dose of added sugar.

This beverage may offer some benefits to your muscles and bones - but may also promote conditions like heart disease in adults and obesity in children due to its sugar content.

Therefore, chocolate milk is best enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat rather than consumed on a daily basis.

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Chocolate milk is often promoted as a great way to recover from a workout and a good alternative to regular cow's milk when trying to increase children's calcium and vitamin D intake. However, many people wonder whether the high sugar content of the sweetened milk overshadows its nutritional value.

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Is chocolate milk a good choice for your child? Well, as with all things food, it depends. Learn about the chocolate milk pros and cons for kids so you can make the best decision for your family.
Given all the publicity around sugar-laden drinks, high fructose corn syrup and unhealthy weight in kids, offering chocolate milk to your child can be a confusing prospect.

As a pediatric dietitian, one of the most FAQ (frequently asked questions) I receive is this: Is chocolate milk good for you?

In this post, I will attempt to look at the facts and weigh the pros and cons of chocolate milk in your child's diet.

Ultimately, I hope you will have enough information to feel good about your stance, whatever it may be.

Is Chocolate Milk Healthy?

Chocolate milk is considered a flavored milk. The addition of cocoa powder and added sugar increases calories and gives a boost of sweet flavor.

Many children enjoy it at lunch. School cafeterias and lunch programs across the country have been scrutinized for making flavored milk part of the lunch fare for children. Yet, some children would never drink plain milk unless it was flavored.

I believe the influence on your child's diet boils down to how often and how much your child is drinking a glass of chocolate milk.

The extra sugar has been researched and found to add to an ideal blend of carbohydrate. Carbs and protein are both important for an athlete's healing and recovery after a workout.

To help you understand this topic better, I'll break down a few key concepts and facts about chocolate milk for kids.

The Pros: Chocolate Milk Nutrition

There are some up sides to chocolate milk. Let's go through a few of them here.

Sugar in Chocolate Milk

Unfortunately, many parents may hear "chocolate" and think sugar.

[And some adults get nervous about sugar being too addictive and causing cravings for more sweets.]

People get confused by the carb content. They think the carbs are purely from table sugar content. But, there's more to the story.

For one, chocolate milk has natural sugars, something I tried to clarify in this article about common milk myths. The type of natural sugar in chocolate milk is called lactose.

When you combine sucrose from added sugar and the naturally-occurring lactose from milk, it can certainly look like a hefty dose of sugar!

But that number represents both sucrose and lactose.

Why is sugar a positive thing? The carbohydrates in food help kids feel energized and give their brains and bodies the energy to think, grow and go about the tasks of daily living.

Essential Nutrients in Chocolate Milk

Don't forget the 9 important nutrients that are present in this healthy drink for kids. There are good nutrients to be had, especially calcium and vitamin D, which are not always easy for kids to get enough of when they skip out on milk.

Calcium and vitamin D are key nutrients to building strong bones, which exclusively happens during childhood.

In fact, calcium and vitamin D are consumed inadequately in the diets of children, across all age groups (except children under age 2), and among all demographics.

My book, The Calcium Handbook, can help further your understanding of calcium-containing food options to include for your child so that you can help your child build strong bones.

Chocolate Milk Protein

There's about 8 grams of protein in a cup of chocolate milk. You'll find two types of protein in chocolate milk and in all cow's milk and dairy foods, called casein and whey. Casein is the protein component from which "curds" in cottage cheese and cheese are made.

Whey protein has been researched extensively in sports nutrition and it has some nutritional benefits. Whey is called a "fast protein," entering the blood and muscles quickly to expedite muscle repair and recovery.

Protein is also filling. Satiation is an important component of appetite regulation. When we feel full and satisfied, we're better able stop eating!

It Tastes Good

Is chocolate milk good on the taste buds? Many children think so.

Children like to eat food that tastes good, and that holds true in the case of drinking milk.

Many studies published have shown that milk consumption is higher in schools when flavored milk is offered.

A Recovery Drink after Sports Training

As I mentioned, chocolate milk has been studied as a workout recovery drink, and from all indications, it has a positive impact on muscle recovery and growth, and helps replenish glycogen stores in muscle tissue.

From soccer players to cyclists, it appears that, when consumed after prolonged exercise, the combination of carbohydrate and protein has positive effects on the body's ability to recover and rebuild muscle.

Parents of athletes take note: 8-10 oz appears to do the trick.

That's why I stock it in my home routinely.

Is Chocolate Milk Bad for You?

And there are some downsides...

Drinking Too Much and Too Many Calories

It is true with anything we eat-too much is too much. And I mean calories. This goes for flavored milk like strawberry milk or vanilla milk, also.

Too much of a good thing can be bad for your child. Think about too much fruit and the resulting trips to the bathroom. (I've experienced this first hand with my kids!)

Chocolate milk can be part of a healthy and satisfying diet as long as you keep the quantities consumed in check.

Aim for three servings of dairy per day, on average, and be mindful of the portion size and how often you offer it.

It's not a good idea to offer three servings of chocolate milk, so make sure you rotate foods in the dairy category (like yogurt, cottage cheese, or cheese).

Last, be conscious of the recommendations for sugar (less than 10% of total caloric intake).

An Allergy to Cow's Milk

Food allergy may warrant avoidance of milk and all foods made with milk. Consumption of milk and foods made with milk can cause swelling, hives and anaphylaxis.

If your child is allergic to milk, avoid chocolate milk and other flavored milks. Read more about What's the Best Milk for Kids.

Skin Problems & Acne

Does dairy cause acne? I've heard many people state their skin cleared up after removing dairy from their diet.

Scientifically, the research does not show a cause and effect relationship between dairy and acne, however, there are a few studies that suggest consumption of milk and ice cream are associated with acne.

No association was found with cheese and yogurt.

Is Chocolate Milk Good for You? Your Decision!

Ultimately, whether you choose to offer chocolate milk to your child or not, the decision is yours. If your child is really drawn to chocolate milk and you find he's drinking too much, you may need to lay down some guidelines.

If it's an occasional drink for your child, you may decide to be relaxed about it. Either way is okay.

Chocolate Milk in Schools

Many school lunch programs have eliminated chocolate milk. Is this the right thing to do? I'm not sure.

I can see limiting the number of days it is served. I can see assuring that it's a low-fat milk version.

A complete ban, though?

When it is pulled out of schools, overall milk consumption drops by an average of 35%, according to research.

Studies suggest this occurs because fewer students choose milk (clearly their preference was chocolate or flavored milk over white milk), and more milk was wasted.

Unfortunately over time, an improved acceptance of white milk did not occur, making overall consumption of milk decrease, and this can affect your child's health.

A Good Source of Nutrition for Kids

The 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans indicate that calcium and vitamin D continue to be shortfall nutrients (nutrients with inadequate intake) for children.

A review of calcium intake and status in children indicate that up to 50% of children as young as 2 years are not meeting their nutritional needs for calcium.

While the optimist (and dietitian) in me knows that children can get calcium from other sources, the realist in me thinks differently.

I believe that these shortfall nutrients may create some real health problems for children as they age, particularly to their bone health.

Chocolate milk may help close that gap and helps kids build strong bones.

What I Do with My Kids

When I plan food and meals, I lead with nutrients in mind. I look for the foods that will fulfill the nutritional requirements of my kids.

I know that without milk and dairy products, my kiddos are unlikely to get what they need, especially for calcium and vitamin D.

I aim for 3 servings of milk or dairy per day. I used to not purchase it for my home when my children were younger.

Then, if they chose to have it at school, that was fine with me, as it was the only place they were getting it.

Now I buy it for my young athletes.

I am careful not to vilify or eliminate flavored milk. I find ways we can work it in reasonably. I treat it just as I would the birthday cakes, the Thanksgiving pie, and the "fun food" (high fat, high sugar treats and junky food) my children eat.

As I see it, making flavored milk the bad guy gets us stuck in the muck, and it becomes difficult to classify and navigate the other foods in our less than perfect diets.

But of course, I like nearly all foods, and want my kids to be open-minded and like them also.

To me, it's less about chocolate milk, and more about the balance, variety, and amounts of all the food groups we serve our children.

Let us be better at teaching our children about choice, variety, balance, and amounts, rather than spending time and energy instilling fear and confusion about food.

Time well spent, in my humble, dietitian's opinion.

What's your stance?

Some Chocolate Milk Brands to Try

From all the cow's milk and non-dairy options of chocolate milk, there are many types of milk brands to try. I've tried a few and in our home, I purchase Fairlife chocolate milk, mostly because we have a lactose intolerance to consider.

However, I suggest you try a few store-bought chocolate milks to determine which is best for your family. To keep the calories in check, you can opt for a lower-fat milk. [Read more about whole milk nutrition facts.]

And don't forget your local dairies and the store brands - there's a lot to choose from! [Related: Is raw milk okay for kids?]

How Much Protein in Chocolate Milk?

Most chocolate milk brands contain about 8 grams of protein per cup. However, some lactose-free chocolate milk brands, like Fairlife, have more.

Chocolate Milk Calories per Cup

Most chocolate milks you can find in the grocer will have about 150 calories per cup for a low-fat version and about 200 calories per cup for full fat, or whole milk chocolate milk.

How Chocolate Milk is Made

Chocolate milk is made by adding cocoa powder and sugar to white milk. If you're making a homemade chocolate milk, you can do the same or add chocolate syrup to plain white milk.

Is Milk Good for You?

Yes, I think milk is good for kids! Per cup, it delivers 13 nutrients that kids need for good growth and development, plus many kids enjoy the taste.

You may enjoy some of my other articles and podcast episodes related to chocolate milk:
This post was updated in November 2020.

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Chocolate Milk for Kids: Is it Healthy to Drink or Not?

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Is chocolate milk for kids healthy for them? Learn about the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself!

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Czech zoo cheers birth of endangered eastern black rhino

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Czech zoo cheers birth of endangered eastern black rhino

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Are there animal care problems at the zoo

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Are there animal care problems at the zoo

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/ CBS News

WASHINGTON - The National Zoo has a reputation as a leader in animal care, science and cute photo opportunities such as the naming of Bao Bao the baby panda earlier this month.

But a CBS News investigation has learned that behind the scenes, there are insider allegations of mismanagement involving animal care. Five sources with more than 35 years' combined experience at the National Zoo have raised concerns to CBS News about recent animal injuries, deaths and escapes.

The sources don't want to be identified for fear of retaliation. They say problems began last year when the zoo decided to double the population of the Cheetah Conservation Station, adding a half dozen new species but no extra space. Besides cheetahs, the CCS also houses zebras, gazelles and other species.

CBS News asked animal biologist and ethicist Marc Bekoff to look at the complaints. He was an independent reviewer of a 2005 National Academy of Sciences investigation of the zoo that found "systemic problems at the highest levels."

Of the newly raised issues, Bekoff said: "I call it 'fetch and pray.' You get the animals and then you pray that the project will work out."

The CCS' new animal mix didn't always work out. Issues identified by the zoo sources include two newly acquired hornbill birds that were kept in an indoor shack for seven months because their exhibit yard wasn't ready. Only after a volunteer complained were the birds allowed in an outdoor space. But the wallaby that had to share its yard with these new arrivals became frightened, according to sources, bloodied its nose and spent much of its time frightened and hiding.

One of two new red river hogs quickly became malnourished and died of an infection. The other hog, along with oryxes and sitatungas (two types of antelopes), sometimes became overly aggressive when mixed together, and some were injured in vicious fights.

It's not unusual for animals to spar, but the zoo sources say management failed to predict easily foreseeable conflicts between species and genders, and had ineffective backup plans for separating and protecting the animals when the conflicts arose.

"It's no surprise to me as a field biologist that so many of them do not work out," Bekoff told CBS News. "They're just too hastily put together and they're not well thought through."

Zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson says the National Zoo meets the highest industry standards and the animals always receive the best care.

"We take great care in introducing our animals to these various habitats and transitioning them. Ideally, these things wouldn't happen, of course," said Baker-Masson. "I think my colleagues were very well aware and they know these species and they know how to take care of these species. ... Every single animal has a very specific course of action and a plan."

Bekoff says the zoo's plans appear to have been inadequate. "They should only be able to get the animals when it can be shown that they can properly house them and care for them."

Two animals in the CCS, a Dama gazelle and a pregnant kudu (another type of antelope), died when they got spooked on separate occasions and ran into barriers in their confined spaces, breaking their necks.

The gazelle death happened last month after a zebra attacked a veteran zookeeper. The commotion apparently frightened the gazelle, which is on the endangered species list. Zoo sources say it wasn't found for hours. The pregnant kudu died last June. Zoo sources say as the animal lay suffering with a broken neck, workers were unable to quickly locate necessary veterinary records.

Baker-Masson says Dama gazelles and kudus are skittish animals by nature and were housed in adequate spaces that met the requirements of the American Zoological Association, which recently re-accredited the facility.

As for the hornbill birds that were keep indoors for eight months, Baker-Masson says the space was "more than adequate and it gave the staff a very good amount of time to prepare and work with the hornbills" but "ideally they would have [had] access to their outdoor yard space more quickly."

Bekoff calls the lengthy indoor confinement "totally unacceptable."

"There's not one single excuse that I would accept," he said. "Basically this is a form of animal abuse and animal neglect. ...They get an 'F' in this project.'

Zoo sources also expressed concern about two escapes from the CCS: a vulture whose wings were allegedly not properly clipped and a red panda who managed to climb out of its exhibit. Both animals were later recaptured and zoo officials say the failures that allowed the escapes have been fixed.

CBS News has learned that the zoo convened a task force last summer to investigate the internal complaints about animal care at the CCS. The task force made findings last August and Baker-Masson says some of its recommendations are already being implemented.

Zoo officials refused CBS News' repeated requests to release the task force report even though, under public records law, it's considered public material.

As to why the National Zoo is withholding the information, Baker-Masson provided a number of rationales. First, she said that the task force report was still only a draft, four months after it was scheduled to be completed. However, when CBS News asked for the draft, she would not provide that either.

Later, in an interview, Baker-Masson said that the task force report is finished, but that the zoo isn't ready to release it.

"We're more than happy to [release the task force report]," Baker-Masson told CBS News. "But we have to do it in a thorough and process-oriented way that makes sense."

She acknowledged that some of the concerns investigated were founded.

"Absolutely," Baker-Masson said. "Anytime a concern is raised, it's looked at very seriously and we have to examine, you know, what changes are appropriate for that particular species, what changes are appropriate for the staff, what changes are appropriate for the facility itself. So yes, absolutely, some changes have been made."

Another incident the zoo is keeping mum about is the November zebra attack on the zookeeper. Baker-Masson says that AZA standards require that there always be a barrier between a keeper and zebras, which can inflict serious bite wounds. But the zoo says three weeks after the attack, it still has not identified how the zebra got to the keeper and it would not release the incident report or other public information about it. The injured zookeeper was recently released after several weeks in the hospital.

Sharyl Attkisson

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Are there animal care problems at National Zoo?

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Behind the scenes, there are insider allegations of mismanagement involving animals at famed D.C. facility

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Extreme Sports Facts

Check out our range of extreme sports facts.

Learn about the summer and winter X Games, different types of extreme sports, the surfaces and environments such as water, land, snow and air, as well as lots more interesting facts and information.

Extreme sports, sometimes called action sports or adventure sports, do not have an exact definition but are generally considered to be activities that are seen as having a high level of potential danger.

Extreme sports often involve high speeds, dangerous heights, the requirement for a high level of specialist technical skill, and highly specialized gear or equipment.

Success in extreme sports usually involves judging panels scoring athletes based on visual and technical criteria and completion of a 'trick'.

Height based extreme sports include Bungee jumping, skydiving, BASE jumping, paragliding and hang gliding.

Water based extreme sports include scuba diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding surfing, whitewater kayaking and rafting.

Wheel based extreme sports include BMX, skateboarding, mountain biking, inline skating, rally car and motocross.

Winter based extreme sports include skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobile.

Cliff and cave based extreme sports include rock climbing, ice climbing, caving, free diving, mountaineering and cave diving.

The X Games are an annual extreme sports event, organized by the U.S. sports broadcaster ESPN. Participants compete to win gold, silver, and bronze medals along with prize money.

The first Summer X Games were held in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island. The first Winter X Games were held in 1997 at Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake, California.

X Games are typically held in the USA. The winter games are held in January or February and the summer games are usually held in August.

X Games have also been held in Asia since 1998 and Europe since 2010.

The X Games competitions often makes heroes of those athletes who are talented and brave enough to pull of a new and exciting 'trick' such as Tony Hawk's 900 in skateboarding, Travis Pastrana's double backflip in freestyle motocross, Heath Frisby's first snowmobile front flip or snowboarder Torstein Horgmo's triple flip.

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Extreme Sports Facts - Information About X Games, Action Sports & More

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Extreme Sports Facts Check out our range of extreme sports facts. Learn about the summer and winter X Games, different types of extreme sports, the surfaces and environments such as water, land, snow and air, as well as lots more interesting facts and information.

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I would like to begin by defining “zoo.” It is a park-like area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibit. Hold on, large enclosures? More like tiny cages. As zoo funds are cut, cages become smaller wi

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In many of these articles, students will read mention of the movie “Blackfish.” We do not think that this movie should be available in the text set to students. It is a film aimed at adults and contains graphic content that might be disturbing to children.

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ALBANY, N.Y. - A possible ban on chocolate milk in New York City public schools has led to swift backlash from upstate dairy farmers and congressional lawmakers who fear it could negatively impact children's health and the state's economy.

A spokesman for the city's Education Department - which is weighing the ban over health concerns for children - said no final decisions have been made. The story was first reported by the New York Post on Sunday.

"Our priority is the health and well-being of our students, and every day, we offer a variety of healthy, delicious, and free meal options that exceed USDA standards," the department said in a statement.

But the idea isn't sitting well with the state Farm Bureau, which argues a ban on flavored milk would have a negative consequence on children's health and hurt the more than 4,000 dairy farms in the state.

David Fisher, president of the New York Farm Bureau, wrote a letter to City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, voicing his concern over the potential ban.

"New York Farm Bureau appreciates that they have the best interest of students' health at heart, but removing flavored milk is the unhealthy choice and will do a disservice to the thousands of students who depend on their school to provide a healthy, balanced diet," the letter said.

Low milk prices in recent years have made it difficult for some dairy farms to survive in the state, and recent trade disputes have only exacerbated the issue.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers headed by Democratic Rep. Anthony Brindisi wrote a similar a letter to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"Banning flavored milk hurts our kids and our hardworking farmers," Brindisi, who represents the state's 22nd Congressional District, which spans central New York and parts of the Southern Tier, said in a statement.

Limited options

This isn't the first time New York City has sought to limit milk options for students in public schools.

In 2006, the district began serving only low-fat and nonfat milk options, the Post reported.

And current regulations require two milk options be served to students during lunch. Choices include low-fat and nonfat white milk as well nonfat chocolate milk.

But a blanket ban on chocolate milk over health concerns would have an undesired effect on children, depriving them of important nutrients, Brindisi said in his letter.
There may be benefits to organic dairy: Study finds residue of pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormone in non-organic milk
"Over two-thirds of milk served in school is flavored, which represents an essential way that kids get the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development," said the letter, which was also signed by Democratic Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney and Antonio Delgado and Republican Elise Stefanik.

Another blow for farmers?

A ban on chocolate milk would be another blow to farmers in the state who have fallen on tough times in recent years.

New York is one of the largest dairy producers in the nation, but low milk prices have made it difficult for some dairy farms to stay in business.

New York has sought to bolster the industry by establishing school-to-farm lunch programs that put local farms in touch with city schools to serve healthier options.

But the number of farms in the state has continued to decline since the 1980s, according to the Farm Bureau, and recent trade disputes between the United States and countries like China have some farmers on edge.

A Farmer Workers Bill of Rights approved by state lawmakers this year has organizations like the Farm Bureau worried that the state's declining agriculture industry will only continue to slip.

"While we understand the intent is to serve healthy meals to children, this ban will have the opposite effect on children who receive meals at school and the nutrients they receive, as well as substantial economic impact on New York dairy farmers that are already experiencing hardship," Fisher said in his letter.
Follow Chad Arnold on Twitter: @ChadGArnold
If the proposed ban is approved, New York City would be the third city to ban chocolate milk, joining San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

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New York City proposes ban on chocolate milk in schools. State officials are unhappy

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ALBANY, N.Y. - A possible ban on chocolate milk in New York City public schools has led to swift backlash from upstate dairy farmers and congressional lawmakers who fear it could negatively impact children's health and the state's economy.

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Environmentalists have taken aim at the targets systematically, seeking to eliminate or rein in big sources of ocean pollution - first plastic bags, then eating utensils and, most recently, drinking straws. More than a dozen coastal cities prohibited plastic straws this year. Many more are pondering bans, along with the states of California and Hawaii.

Yet the No. 1 man-made contaminant in the world's oceans is the small but ubiquitous cigarette butt - and it has mostly avoided regulation. That soon could change, if a group of committed activists has its way.

A leading tobacco industry academic, a California lawmaker and a worldwide surfing organization are among those arguing cigarette filters should be banned. The nascent campaign hopes to be bolstered by linking activists focused on human health with those focused on the environment.

"It's pretty clear there is no health benefit from filters. They are just a marketing tool. And they make it easier for people to smoke," said Thomas Novotny, a professor of public health at San Diego State University. "It's also a major contaminant, with all that plastic waste. It seems like a no-brainer to me that we can't continue to allow this."

A California assemblyman proposed a ban on cigarettes with filters, but couldn't get the proposal out of committee. A New York state senator has written legislation to create a rebate for butts returned to redemption centers, though that idea also stalled. San Francisco has made the biggest inroad - a 60-cent per pack fee to raise roughly $3 million a year to help defray the cost of cleaning up discarded cigarette filters.

'The most littered item in the world'

Cigarette butts have now also fallen into the sights of one of the nation's biggest anti-smoking organizations, the Truth initiative. The organization uses funds from a legal settlement between state attorneys general and tobacco companies to deliver tough messages against smoking. The group last week used the nationally televised Video Music Awards to launch a new campaign against cigarette butts. As in a couple of previous ads delivered via social media, the organization is going after "the most littered item in the world."

It's no wonder that cigarette butts have drawn attention. The vast majority of the 5.6 trillion cigarettes manufactured worldwide each year come with filters made of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic that can take a decade or more to decompose. As many as two-thirds of those filters are dumped irresponsibly each year, according to Novotny, who founded the Cigarette Butt Pollution Project.

The Ocean Conservancy has sponsored a beach cleanup every year since 1986. For 32 consecutive years, cigarette butts have been the single most collected item on the world's beaches, with a total of more than 60 million collected over that time. That amounts to about one-third of all collected items and more than plastic wrappers, containers, bottle caps, eating utensils and bottles, combined.

People sometimes dump that trash directly on to beaches but, more often, it washes into the oceans from countless storm drains, streams and rivers around the world. The waste often disintegrates into microplastics easily consumed by wildlife. Researchers have found the detritus in some 70 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of sea turtles.

Those discarded filters usually contain synthetic fibers and hundreds of chemicals used to treat tobacco, said Novotny, who is pursuing further research into what kinds of cigarette waste leech into the soil, streams, rivers and oceans.

Plastic fibers threaten to foul the food chain

"More research is needed to determine exactly what happens to all of that," said Nick Mallos, director of the Trash Free Seas campaign for the Ocean Conservancy. "The final question is what impact these micro-plastics and other waste have on human health."

Tobacco companies initially explored the use of filters in the mid-20th century as a potential method for ameliorating spiraling concerns about the health impacts of tobacco. But research suggested that smoke-bound carcinogens couldn't be adequately controlled. Then "filters became a marketing tool, designed to recruit and keep smokers as consumers of these hazardous products," according to research by Bradford Harris, a graduate scholar in the history of science and technology at Stanford University.

Over the last two decades, the tobacco companies also feared being held responsible for mass cigarette litter, said Novotny. Internal company documents show the industry considered everything from biodegradable filters, to anti-litter campaigns to mass distribution of portable and permanent ashtrays.

Industry giant R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. launched a "portable ashtray" campaign in 1991, distributing disposable pouches for butts in test marketing with its Vantage, Camel and Salem brands. (A handy pocket behind the pouch was designed for storing matches, keys and loose change.) The company donated to the nationwide Keep America Beautiful anti-litter campaign and in 1992 it installed its own "Don't Leave Your Butt on the Beach" billboards in 30 coastal cities.

More recently, an R.J. Reynolds subsidiary, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, has launched a filter recycling effort, and the company mounts an intensive public awareness campaign about litter leading into Earth Day. It also says it continues with the portable ashtray effort - distributing some four million pouches to customers this year.

Big Tobacco tries, on occasion, to clean up its butts

A spokesman for Philip Morris USA, another big manufacturer, said admonitions on cigarette packs are part of a campaign that also includes installing trash receptacles, encouraging the use of portable ashtrays and support for enforcement of litter laws.

But academics who followed such campaigns said they encountered an essential problem: Most smokers preferred to flick their butts.

In industry focus groups, some smokers said they thought filters were biodegradable, possibly made of cotton; others said they needed to grind the butts out on the ground, to assure they didn't set a refuse can afire; others said they were so "disgusted" by the sight or smell of cigarette ashtrays, they didn't want to dispose of their smokes that way. In one focus group cited in industry documents, smokers said tossing their butts to the ground was "a natural extension of the defiant/rebellious smoking ritual."

"Their efforts - anti-litter campaigns and handheld and permanent ashtrays - did not substantially affect smokers' entrenched 'butt flicking' behaviors," said a research paper co-authored by Novotny.

That's left cities, counties and private groups like the Ocean Conservancy to bear the brunt of the cleanups. There have been a few other quixotic solutions, like the French amusement park that recently trained a half dozens crows to collect spent cigarettes and other trash.

Cigarette companies on occasion have looked for alternatives. Participants in one focus group gathered by R.J. Reynolds in the 1990s mused that the company might find a way to make edible filters, possibly of mint candy or crackers.

The industry looked for more practical solutions, including paper filters, but prototypes made the smoke taste harsh. And other materials, like cotton, were deemed to make a drag on a cigarette less satisfying.

Mervyn Witherspoon, a British chemist who once worked for the biggest independent maker of acetate filters, said the industry's focus on finding a biodegradable filter "came and went, because there was never a pressure to do it."

"We would work on it and find some solutions but the industry would find something more interesting to work on and it would go on the backburner again," Witherspoon said. "They are quite happy to sit tight until somebody leans on them to do something."

A green alternative and an anti-butt coalition

Witherspoon is now working as a technical adviser to Greenbutts, a San Diego-based startup that says it has developed a filter made of organic materials that will quickly break down in soil or water. The filters are composed of Manila hemp, tencel, wood pulp and bound together by a natural starch, said Tadas Lisauskas, an entrepreneur who founded the company with Xavier Van Osten, an architect.

The businessmen say their product is ready for market, and can be delivered for a reasonable price if mass produced. But Lisauskas said that to really take off, the company needs a boost from the government. "We are hoping governments incentivize use of the product," said Lisauskas, "or, at the end of the day, make it mandatory."

Novotny said he hopes the push for legislation will gain steam if environmental organizations like the Ocean Conservancy and the Surfrider Foundation can establish common cause with health-oriented organizations like the American Cancer Society. So far, the environmental groups have been more out front on the issue.

Researchers have suspected that filters increase illness by encouraging people to smoke more often and to inhale more deeply when they smoke. Last December, an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute said that "altered puffing and inhalation may make smoke available to lung cells prone to adenocarcinomas."

Those are cancers that starts in the glands that line the inside of the lungs and other organs. And the incidence rate of the disease has been on the increase, Novotny said. The National Cancer Institute suggested that the Food and Drug Administration should consider regulating or even banning filters.

So far, legislators who back such proposals say their attempts at banning cigarette filters have had trouble making headway with fellow lawmakers, many of whom receive campaign contributions from the tobacco industry. Novotny said he thinks an important counterweight eventually could come via a full-throated anti-filter campaign from the powerhouses of the anti-smoking movement: the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association.

California Assemblyman Mark Stone, who represents a coastal district that includes Monterey, said public momentum for a ban on cigarette filters is increasing as more people come to understand the environmental and health toll for what he called "a little toxic bomb."

"The idea to get rid of the useless part of this product is finally gaining traction in the public," said Stone, a Democrat, "and I hope that the Legislature soon follows the popular sentiment."

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Critics say cigarette filters, a health and environmental scourge, must go

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Cigarette butts have long been the single most collected item on the world's beaches, with a total of more than 60 million collected over 32 years.

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You know all those people that told you that video games are bad for you? They were wrong. Read this to find out more.

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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*may be one that you want to steer students toward during Session 12 “Who Said What? Studying Perspective”

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This piece is a response to "The Modern Zoo" from the May 2008 issue of Teen Ink. I volunteer at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and have gotten to know its keepers, veterinary staff, and other workers. According to the writer of "The Modern Zoo," staff torture animals, do not provide adequate living space, and keep the animals merely to entertain. In my three years of volunteering, I have never seen, nor had any reason to suspect, any foul play at my zoo. The allegations in "The Modern Zoo" that all zoos are inhumane and cruel is false, I believe.

According to the article in Teen Ink, "Zoos claim to educate visitors. Yet we've all seen the one-sentence signs that describe monkeys. What can be learned from this? Certainly not enough to justify inhumane captivity." One-sentence signs are not the end of zoos' efforts to educate. At my zoo an entire department is devoted to educating the public about conservation of animals and our planet. If zoos didn't care about education, why would they have this? While exhibits may display signs with brief information, staff work daily at the zoo to educate visitors about conservation and other critical topics.

Some zoo employees visit schools and businesses to educate the public about how to be more responsible with our environment. This department even organizes conservation projects around Ohio, such as the community effort to remove waste from Big Creek. Volunteers spent a day restoring the creek to a more healthy ecosystem. The zoo is also part of a national conservation campaign called Year of the Frog, dedicated to saving amphibian species from extinction. Zoos put forth tremendous effort to educate people, and to say that they do not is just not true in my experience.

"Zoo animals endure inadequate living conditions with no space," claims the article. It's not fair to make this generalization. My own zoo, for example, is planning a one-of-a-kind, spacious exhibit for its elephants. The exhibit encompasses many acres, and will be large enough to support a breeding population. If zoos didn't care about adequate space for their animals, why would they waste time raising millions of dollars to build this type of exhibit? Also, my zoo cares a lot for its animals; it houses the second oldest hippo in North America and its polar bears are twice the age of those in the wild.

I witnessed a life-saving surgery on a 13-year-old wolf. Veterinarians worked for two hours to save his life. Thirteen is very old for a wolf. Zoos do care for their animals, and do what they can to keep them strong and healthy.

"These animals are simply meant to entertain," claims "The Modern Zoo." That too is false. At the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, animals are never forced to do anything for the sake of visitors' entertainment. We believe in positive animal/ human interaction. Zoo staff never force or coerce an animal due to this policy.

The author of "The Modern Zoo" is obviously very passionate in his opinion about zoos. I am also very passionate. I have not written this to personally attack him. Rather, I am simply stating facts. "The Modern Zoo" paints zoos as cruel, inhumane facilities, but it is both unfair and untrue to claim this about all of them. Many have state-of-the-art veterinary facilities and work hard to save endangered species.

I hope that readers will see that zoos seek to protect and save endangered species, as well as educate and encourage the public to do the same.

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This piece is a response to "The Modern Zoo" from the May 2008 issue of Teen Ink. I volunteer at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and have gotten to know its keepers, veterinary staff, and other workers. According to the writer of "The Modern Zoo," staff torture animals, do not provide adequate living space, and keep the animals merely to entertain.

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The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard's Dairyman.

American Dairy Association North East's Refuel with Chocolate Milk campaign is reaching tens of thousands of student athletes in the six-state region through local and national sports organizations.

"Refuel with Chocolate Milk is the core of dairy checkoff's sports marketing strategy," said ADA North East CEO Rick Naczi. "We're able to share the important health benefits of chocolate milk with a very targeted group that can ultimately help boost sales."

Scientific evidence shows that lowfat chocolate milk used as a recovery drink helps repair and rebuild muscles after strenuous exercise because of its 3:1 carbohydrate-to-protein ratio. Chocolate milk is also a source of B vitamins that help convert food to energy.

ADA North East helped secure chocolate milk as the official beverage of the New York State Public Schools Athletic Association, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Maryland Public Schools Secondary Athletic Association, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association and Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association. Chocolate milk is also part championship events with Public Schools Athletic Association in New York City and white milk with the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Each year across the region ADA North East sponsors 135 high school sports state championships, providing 50,000 athletes the chance to refuel with chocolate milk, and nearly 15,000 coaches and athletic directors get year-round dairy nutrition information.

Other sponsorships include several local marathons and the National Double Dutch jump rope competition in New York City.

ADA North East also has a sponsorship with the New York Yankees to help fight the increasing rate of childhood obesity. By joining forces, Refuel with Chocolate Milk sponsored Yankee youth baseball summer camps in 13 towns to reach youth with milk's important nutrition information, and specifically hosted 80 youth from the Bronx to participate in the camps.

Yankee Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera joined the 80 campers to promote healthy eating, especially the role low-fat chocolate milk plays in the body's ability to recover after training. Rivera notably commented on his game-day practice of drinking chocolate milk that he believes helped boost his storied 19-year professional career.

In addition, Yankees Manager Aaron Boone recorded a public service announcement about the Summer Meals program in New York City that provides children access to healthy foods and dairy products when school is out for the summer months. Boone also provided a signed Yankees jersey offered in a drawing for those who shared the Facebook post with the PSA.

To learn more about ADA North East's sports marketing programs, visit www.AmericanDairy.com/dairy-in-sports.
About American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer's checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 11,000 dairy farm families in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.AmericanDairy.com.

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The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard's Dairyman. American Dairy Association North East's Refuel with Chocolate Milk campaign is reaching tens of thousands of student athletes in the six-state region through local and national sports organizations.

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Slopestyle can be dangerous. But is it too risky at Sochi Olympics?

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Slopestyle can be dangerous. But is it too risky at Sochi Olympics?

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Exposing The Myth Of Plastic Recycling: Why A Majority Is Burned Or Thrown In A Landfill

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Very little of plastic we recycle is actually removed from the waste stream.

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How did a quiet 16th birthday celebration turn into a full-scale riot? Read this to find out what happened when a Dutch teenager made a Facebook error.

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Should Zoos and Aquariums Exhibit Beluga Whales?

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Should Zoos and Aquariums Exhibit Beluga Whales?

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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - This year, kids saw the return of 1% chocolate milk to their school lunch trays.

"So far, they seem pretty happy about it," said Steamboat Springs School District Nutritional Services Director Max Huppert.

"They are consuming more milk than they were before, and choosing it over juice," he said.

Last year, only skim flavored milk was allowed under federal USDA guidelines.

And guidelines dictate offering only 1% or skim white milk, Huppert said. 2% milk isn't available to him as an ordering option, and certainly no whole milk. And no milk is not an option, either.

Part of the politics of milk in schools has to do with dairy industry lobbyists.

Milk consumption has seen a decline nationwide, and the industry has self-identified as being in crisis.

The change to allow 1% flavored milk, and legislation introduced to bring whole milk back to schools, came about following the appointment of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who used to be in the dairy business.

Proponents argue the sugar in 1% flavored milk is worth the calcium benefit.

A January 2019 article in Bloomberg BusinessWeek stated: "The Department of Agriculture is throwing out Obama-era school nutrition standards and tossing a lifeline to the dairy industry. It's called more fat, sugar and salts."

Under the 2010 Healthy-Hunger-Free Kids act, nutrition standards began to require more fruits and vegetables, leaner proteins, calorie limits, more whole grains and lower sodium. And chocolate or strawberry milk had to be fat-free.

Perdue blamed the Obama-era guidelines for the industry decline, though other factors likely also play a role - including a growing preference for milk alternatives and demographics showing fewer kids in the population.

According to the Bloomberg article: "When the Obama-era rules took effect in 2012, requiring all flavored milk in schools to be skim, it only exacerbated the industry-wide slide. Skim doesn't taste as good, and more kids passed. By the MilkPEP's [Milk Processor Education Program] count, children caused the largest share of milk's volume drop from 2011 to 2015."

USDA data shows a gradual decline in milk consumption from 1980, with whole milk seeing the steepest decline.

In Huppert's ten-year tenure, whole milk has never been an option, he said.

Huppert said the kids didn't like the fat-free chocolate milk. It tasted weird, he said, possibly a fault in the formulation. The fat-free white milk wasn't popular either. They are required to offer at least two varieties.

Of course, there is also a debate on whether or not milk, indeed, does a body good.

Milk is an easy and efficient way for kids to get some key nutrients, said Pediatrics of Steamboat Springs Pediatrician Dr. Ron Famiglietti - namely calcium and vitamin D.

But, there are other ways to get those nutrients, he notes. And Famiglietti supports those who choose routes on equal grounds to the milk drinkers.

Other dairy products like cheese and yogurt have calcium, as do vegetables and nuts. "Just not nearly as much," he said.

Huppert notes cheese does not seem to breed the same controversy as milk.

In a Reader's Digest article titled "Is Milk Good for You?," data showed milk sales dropped significantly in Europe during the past decade. However, "While the consumption of liquid milk products has fallen, the consumption of cheese has increased rapidly, says Johanna Mäkelä, professor of food culture at the University of Helsinki. 'So it could be said that milk is still consumed a lot, but the form and the products made out of it have changed.'"

Vitamin D is added to milk, with the reasoning dating back to 1900 and concerns about rickets (a childhood bone disorder) and calcium absorption. Kids weren't getting as much sun (and thus vitamin D), but today, too much UV exposure isn't recommended, Famiglietti said. And in winter, they often are covered up and/or not outside as much. Other foods rich in vitamin D, like beef liver or fatty fish, tend not to be as kid-friendly, he noted.

In terms of skim or 1% versus whole milk, Famiglietti recommends that decision be made in consideration of the individual child - and whether or not they need more calories.

Whole milk can be a great source of nutrition and calories for kids who are underweight, he said, whereas kids who are overweight may be served better by the lower fat varieties.

And there is such thing as too much milk, he said. Two to three cups per day through the end of puberty - while those bones are growing - is the recommended amount.

In terms of the Obama-era requirements, Huppert said he was going that route anyway. And making things from scratch made it easier to include whole grains and limit the amount of processed food. He follows many of those tenets regardless of regulation, aiming to offer healthy food that kids want to eat.

Today, there are numerous milk alternatives. There's rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk, cashew milk, soy milk, oat milk and coconut milk. And they all have their plusses and minuses, Famiglietti said, in terms of nutritional value, calories and kid-friendly taste.

Cow's milk is not recommended for children younger than one, he said, for a number of reasons related to iron absorption, digestibility and other concerns.

An internet search on whether cow's milk is good or bad for you brings, as with any controversial food, research and claims on both sides.

According to PETA, milk is bad for you because it "robs bones of calcium," increases the risk of prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, high cholesterol, obesity and acne.

They've launched the campaign slogan "If she's not your mom, it's not your milk."

But research also shows milk contains valuable vitamins and minerals that aren't found in other beverages, and has an ideal ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Studies can be found that attribute milk to strengthening bones, reducing the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes and several cancers.

Then there is the issue of lactose intolerance, which happens when someone's intestines lack the enzyme lactase needed to digest lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in milk and other dairy products.

Even lactose intolerance has a political side. Milk, and the ability to tolerate lactose, has actually been used as a symbol of purity by white supremacists. Studies show people of Northern European descent are better at processing lactose.

Huppert is all for keeping kids healthy and finding the best research to support that mission, though he favors less government restrictions in general when it comes to his menu planning.

Milk is an easy way to get Vitamin D and calcium, Famiglietti said, which are essential nutrients for growing humans. But it's not the only way.

The overall diet of a child is a better gauge of healthy eating, Huppert said. And he suspects the guidelines that rule milk are often more political than nutritional.

To reach Kari Dequine Harden, call 970-871-4205, email kharden@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @kariharden.
To reach Kari Dequine Harden, call 970-871-4205, email kharden@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @kariharden.

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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - This year, kids saw the return of 1% chocolate milk to their school lunch trays. "So far, they seem pretty happy about it," said Steamboat Springs School District Nutritional Services Director Max Huppert. "They are consuming more milk than they were before, and choosing it over juice," he said.

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Opinion | The Great Recycling Con (Published 2019)

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The greatest trick corporations ever played was making us think we could recycle their products.

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Pros and Cons of Technology in Classrooms

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Pros and Cons of Technology in Classrooms

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Technology in education is the biggest change in teaching we will ever see. For years, policy makers, teachers, parents and students alike have been weighing the potential benefits of technology in education against its risks and consequences.

Prior to March 2020, some would say that technology allowed you to experiment in pedagogy, democratize the classroom and reach Generation Z students. Others may have argued that technology in the classroom could promote cheating. But after 2020, technology in education has become essential-especially as the COVID-19 pandemic forced higher ed and public schools to swap face-to-face instruction for distance learning.

Below, we share 20 best practices for using technology in the classroom-and offer workable solutions that will help you meet the needs of your students. You can also download our free guide, which highlights how five acclaimed educators use technology to help their students excel in any course.

How technology can support learning outcomes for today's students

Students are digital natives. They've grown up with technology; it's woven into their lives. In fact, it's one of the basic 21st-century skills that they'll need in school and the workplace.

Technology integration in the classroom now begins during elementary school and carries through to high school and higher education. But using computer technology in the classroom isn't just about digital devices in class-it relates to anything that facilitates an interaction between teacher and student. Technology in education programs could be seen as a culprit, or it could be harnessed to improve student engagement and effectiveness-and that's what we'll discuss below.

"Digital education is generating new learning opportunities as students engage in online, digital environments and as faculty change educational practices through the use of hybrid courses, personalized instruction, new collaboration models and a wide array of innovative, engaging learning strategies," says David Goodrum, Director of Academic Technology and Information Services at Oregon State University.

"Furthermore, a 21st century view of learner success requires students to not only be thoughtful consumers of digital content, but effective and collaborative creators of digital media, demonstrating competencies and communicating ideas through dynamic storytelling, data visualization and content curation," Goodrum says.

Types of classroom technology

Education technology allows you to engage, interact with, and inspire students in and out of your class. Plus, certain types of technology tools like podcasts or video streaming platforms can help meet the unique learning styles of your cohort. Many of the technologies below are used to operate online education programs-including lectures, labs, group meetings or class tutorials. Plenty of higher education institutions have already integrated some of the following technology tools into their degree programs today.

Learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Moodle and Blackboard allow you to manage courses, assign homework and tests, and track student grades.

Digital courseware such as ebook products by Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Macmillan can be used to create and distribute teaching resources (such as textbooks or question packs) to students as a way to create engaging homework experiences.

Classroom response systems including iClicker and Poll Everywhere help students reflect on their learning via polls or discussions in class.

Virtual classroom tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom are used to host synchronous online lectures and let participants engage in breakout rooms or 'share their screen' with one another.

Remote proctoring software like Proctorio and Honorlock help maintain academic integrity by monitoring student behavior during tests and flag behavior indicative of cheating.

This article looks at the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom. We'll also share the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the classroom when incorporating new digital teaching and assessment techniques into your lesson plans.

8 pros and cons of using technology for student engagement

The pros:

1. Technology in the classroom helps ensure full participation

Online polling and other digital tools help to engage all students, including shy students who wouldn't normally raise their hands in class. Online engagement systems allow you to regularly check in with students for feedback on course materials and assignments. Student insights can also be used to help spot areas where learners might be struggling.

Student response systems help learners measure their understanding of a topic while professors can see what areas they need to review. For instance, iClicker offers questions that may be multiple choice or true or false. Students are then asked to identify a correct answer to a question in exchange for participation points from a professor. Clickers, virtual classroom software and assessment platforms like Socrative or Kahoot! can make for great engagement tools for educators looking to enhance their lectures. Student response systems help foster digital citizenship in the classroom and give students an opportunity to engage in class and get rewarded for it at the same time.

Another active learning technique that education technology can facilitate is offering students quizzes (not for credit). At the beginning of the class, students can gauge familiarity with a subject by taking a quick, anonymous quiz on the topic you're teaching-and this can also inform and direct what you need to focus on. At the end of the class, facilitating the same quiz again allows all students to gauge what they do and don't understand.

2. Using technology in the classroom allows you to experiment more in pedagogy and get instant feedback

Technology allows for more active learning. You can increase engagement through online polling or asking quiz questions during online lectures, with instantaneous results. If you're using a digital textbook, subject matter is dynamic and timely with embedded links to relevant materials or immersive multimedia.

Whether adding a single tool for a specific project or term, or making a more dramatic change such as a flipped classroom, being well-versed in technology can help build credibility with students and even fellow colleagues. Video conferencing software, live polls and discussion boards are all ways to form feedback loops with your students. An LMS such as Moodle and polling software like Poll Everywhere can also help educators get an instant understanding of student comprehension.

3. There are countless resources for enhancing education and making learning more fun and effective

From apps and e-textbooks to organizational platforms, there's no shortage of tools that can transform the classroom. Some instructors are turning toward classroom 'gamification,' the use of competitive scenarios, and the distribution of points and rewards to make the online classroom more fun and engaging. The key to ensuring these methods are also effective is designing them to support your course learning objectives. Digital storytelling, where students use simulations to immerse themselves in a fictional environment, can make learning more exciting and relatable for students. Gamification also allows for interactive lessons and can reduce passivity in the classroom.

Some gamification activities introduce healthy competition to your class. In role play, for example, students are asked to pose arguments on behalf of historical figures. Technology can greatly aid the implementation of classroom games, while students may be incentivized to complete their assessments. Blended learning can also play an effective role here, whereby student curriculum is partially delivered in person and partially via digital means.

4. Technology makes it simple for students to collaborate and engage in group work outside of class

Gone are the days when one student was tasked with creating a PowerPoint presentation for a group. Through technology, students can start working on a project together in class and seamlessly collaborate, communicate and bounce ideas off one another using social media, interactive whiteboards and more. Physical and social barriers no longer exist, letting students work together from anywhere and at any time. Technology has also enabled students to engage in spontaneous discussions and find instant answers to problems or questions they may have about a topic.

The cons:

5. Technology in the classroom can be a distraction

Tech savvy students may find it hard to concentrate in class when a wide range of digital devices are around them. It can be hard to keep students' attention while lecturing behind a screen, but James Lang, Professor of English and the Director of the D'Amour Center for Teaching Excellence at Assumption College, has a solution. Lang argues that change renews attention-meaning that if students are starting to tune out, it's time to incorporate opportunities for class discussions. Lang calls these moments 'signature attention activities' as they are designed to spark engagement in the midst of a slump.

Matthew Numer, an assistant professor in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University, says in an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education that banning laptops is an "insult" to students. "Our students are capable of making their own choices, and if they choose to check Snapchat instead of listening to your lecture, then that's their loss. Besides, it's my responsibility as an educator to ensure that my lecture is compelling. If my students aren't paying attention, if they're distracted, that's on me." To Numer, students glancing at their mobile devices may indicate that a course's curriculum and instruction needs to be revamped.

This makes the notion of creating a structure and culture of respect all the more important from day one. Identify specific projects, opportunities for breaks and your intentions for participation and engagement using technology in the classroom. Creating expectations and guidelines for students-and sticking to them-will be important for them in respecting your boundaries.

6. Technology can disconnect students from social interactions

Many people are skeptical of technology and what it does to students', and everyone else's, ability to verbally communicate.

By creating assignments in class that use both technological tools as well as oral presentations and group collaboration, student learning has the potential to become more dynamic and interactive. Participation can also go beyond verbal communication. Consider how your LMS, discussion board or live chat can be leveraged to increase student engagement.

7. Technology can foster cheating in class and on assignments

Students have always found ways to cheat, but the digital age makes it even easier-from copying-and-pasting someone else's work to hiring an essay-writer from an online essay mill. Here, digital technology could end up hindering students' professional development.

While technology could be seen as yet another avenue for cheating, it's possible to structure assignments and exams in a way that makes cheating difficult. Alternatively, you can make exams open-book and focus on problem-solving and mastery rather than retention. Some classroom software allows you to set questions that are subtly different for every student, making them focus on the technique rather than the answer. Ed tech software such as Turnitin is already well-established in most higher education settings. With COVID-19, some institutions have relied on proctoring software to maintain academic integrity from a distance. These assistive tools can help professors maintain academic integrity.

8. Classroom technology doesn't necessarily make students more accountable

While it can certainly help, technology use in the classroom doesn't always mean students are more likely to stay on top of their deliverables. For example, it can be tricky to know if your students are viewing the full lecture recordings or coming to class having completed their assigned readings. Social media and other ed tech platforms don't necessarily indicate completion. Some LMS providers may show if a student has opened a file, but that only says so much. Whether students have reviewed, absorbed and are able to retain that information is a question that-like traditional learning materials-not all classroom tech can solve.

7 pros and cons of using classroom technology to increase flexibility

The pros:

9. Technology can automate a lot of your tedious tasks

Automation can speed up tedious, time-consuming tasks, such as keeping track of student attendance and performance. Engagement tools can help streamline grading for writing assignments, discussions and participation, as well as answer common student questions, which otherwise could seem daunting due to their objective nature.

The canonical example of this? One professor at Georgia Tech coded an artificially intelligent teaching assistant. ' Jill Watson' was able to answer a selection of student questions and pass any that she couldn't handle to a real person. Integrating technology in the classroom has the potential to reduce the amount of time spent on minor tasks.

10. Technology in college classrooms gives students instant access to fresh information that can supplement their learning experience

There is value in having textbooks and course materials that are always up to date, which can even include additions suggested by students. This also fosters a more collaborative learning environment-students can share information, work together on group projects and interact with their instructor online. Collaboration between professors and their students is put into practice through a learning management system (LMS) such as Moodle or Blackboard, where professors upload new content for students to review online.

Educational technology enables students to engage in an ongoing cycle of learning: before, during and after class. Student response systems such as clickers can also help learners apply their understanding of concepts covered in class and can indicate areas that need to be reviewed. For Generation Z, technology is arguably the best way to meet student needs. Demian Hommel, Senior Instructor of Geography and Environmental Sciences and Marine Resource Management at Oregon State University, uses a classroom response system to poll students every few minutes during lectures. "Using technology to help students understand the trends and patterns that are going to affect them is transformative," he says.

"Using technology to help students understand the trends and patterns that are going to affect them is transformative." -Professor Demian Hommel

11. Students have the choice to learn in real time or at their own pace

Using technology in the classroom has given students more choice in, and control over, their learning experiences. Learning tools have also given professors the flexibility in how to deliver their lectures or labs. For instance, students can tune into live-streamed lectures hosted at a specific time, while others can view lecture recordings on their own if they're unable to attend a live session. Plus, real-time lessons in online learning can help students feel a great sense of belonging and camaraderie that would otherwise be lost.

Asynchronous learning provides a new level of flexibility for both students and educators. For example, instead of waiting for students to show up at your office, host your office hours via Zoom and let your students know that they're free to drop by during a given time frame. Additionally, technology can be used to help students take asynchronous tests. Just make a test available on your LMS for a 48-hour period so that students can take their assessment at a time and place that works for them.

12. Address the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines with thoughtful technology use

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for ensuring your course delivery meets the needs of all students. It's the ultimate way to provide flexibility in how, when and where learning takes place. The three tenets of this framework are providing multiple means of engagement, representation and expression.

In order to represent content in a variety of ways, you might consider complementing a textbook reading with a podcast. Alternatively, multiple ways of expressing students' understanding could mean offering students learning opportunities through journal articles or video reflections. Finally, multiple forms of engagement might mean gauging students' interests at the start of the term through icebreakers or a student interest inventory-and then use these insights to tailor your units of study accordingly.

The cons:

13. Lesson planning might become more labor-intensive with technology

The task of adapting technology into your classroom can seem daunting or overwhelming. In many ways though, using technology can become as natural to you as any daily activity.

When you're choosing classroom technology, it's important to engage with the software vendor and make sure you have the appropriate level of support in place. Some questions you should ask include whether they supply training or onboarding, and what their reliability statistics and support functions are. After all, you don't need to be the person all the students come to if the technology goes offline.

The most important factor is to allow yourself time to learn how to use a new ed tech tool and make sure you ask for, and receive, the support that you need.

14. Students don't have equal access to technological resources

An online education should be accessible to students. But some students can't afford iPads or even the textbooks required for class. Others simply do not have reliable Internet access. Point these students in the direction of your institution's library or community resources, or create assignments that allow them to work in groups and share resources. You might also consider using open educational resources (OER), which provide a cost-effective alternative to the traditional college textbook. Don't make technology the focus of your class, and don't make it a barrier. Incorporate it in a holistic and inclusive manner-and ensure you do your part to find equitable learning solutions.

15. Technology in education can create privacy concerns

Video conferencing or web-hosting solutions have brought with them some concerns around data protection. For example, do platforms offer end-to-end encryption in basic plans provided to students? Social media handles set up as part of a tutorial or learning activity can also lead to student information being accessed by a wider audience than intended. What's more, Zoombombing-disruptive intrusions into a video conference call-became a common occurrence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And though they maintain academic integrity, remote proctoring solutions can make test-takers feel uncomfortable. Students may not want to have their homes shown in front of a proctor and being monitored can increase stress and anxiety.

5 pros and cons of using technology to aid instructional design

The pros:

16. We live in a digital world, and technology is an essential life skill

Being digitally literate is more than obtaining "isolated technological skills," according to the NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition. Rather, it's about "generating a deeper understanding of the digital environment, enabling intuitive adaptation to new contexts and [the] co-creation of content with others." Here, the traditional whiteboard is almost extinct, while technology has never been more essential in the virtual classroom. Creating presentations, learning to differentiate reliable from unreliable sources on the Internet and maintaining proper online netiquette are all vital skills that students will learn to develop in the classroom.

Technology use can also help universities deliver a better return on the investment students pay for their education-as well as make learning relevant to a primarily Generation Z audience. Mobile technology in classrooms is a must-have if students want to be prepared for almost any career today. Student achievement may be boosted if they have the means to continue working on projects outside of the classroom.

17. Classroom technology is a cost-effective alternative to traditional course materials

Technology can help save students hundreds during a semester. Rather than asking students to buy a copy of five different textbooks, some professors might want to direct students to their institution's library or adopt open source textbooks.

Using technology in the classroom has its benefits for the environment as well. Institutions can reduce the amount they spend on ink and paper by distributing important documents in a centralized digital location. As opposed to asking students to buy a print book from your campus bookstore, authoring your own digital, interactive book can help students save big. Katie Thompson-Laswell, Senior Instructor of Human Development and Family Science at Kansas State University, was able to save her students $70 on course materials in the spring 2019 semester. Two years later, new cohorts of students continue to enjoy a low-cost, interactive homework experience from anywhere.

The cons:

18. The quality of research and sources students find may not be credible

The Internet is a blessing and a curse. Your students may need guidance on identifying legitimate and unreliable sources. Many colleges have writing centers that can help with this. You can also use OER-ranging from lecture notes, examinations, assignments and textbooks-and adapt them to fit the needs of your course and students. How can you tell if content is written by a competent authority? Use these tips to find effective OERs. Top Hat's Catalog-filled with hundreds of low-cost, interactive textbooks-is also a reliable source of OER you can use, regardless of your discipline or teaching modality.

19. Some classroom technologies could eventually replace professors

Classroom technology has helped position educators as a 'guide on the side' versus a 'sage on the stage.' But that shift in the role that professors play has the potential to put them on the sidelines-especially with online learning. Technology has automated many learning processes such as grading. With asynchronous online learning especially, it's possible that students could now have little-to-no interactions with their educators compared to their experiences in the traditional classroom.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which prioritize unlimited participation and open access, let students gain an unrestricted learning experience without a professor present. Platforms like Coursera let students watch on-demand video lectures from leading universities and companies for a fraction of the cost of a university degree. These platforms even offer selective degree and certificate programs. Other platforms like LinkedIn Learning prioritize skill-based learning, which allows students to complete courses or learning modules at their own pace-without the guidance of an instructor.

20. Institutions' lack of IT support can make it challenging to evaluate and implement new classroom technologies

Where do you begin if you're new to teaching? Educators may understandably feel overwhelmed when adopting new tools and platforms to meet the needs of their Generation Z students. While colleges may have a site-wide license for a particular LMS, educators are often left to their own resources to decide how to bring their material to life. Depending on the scale and quality of instructional design services offered at their institution, this can be a lengthy and uneasy process.

How classroom technology can help you meet your teaching goals next semester

This past academic year has highlighted the essential role that technology plays in student learning. No matter where you're teaching next semester, the best practices for using classroom technology below can help make your course more engaging, interactive and active. For additional advice, download our free guide on how to effectively use technology in your next face-to-face, hybrid or online classroom.

Eliminate distractions in class

1. Use frequent polls to make sure students pay attention-and to hold them accountable
2. Begin lessons with a game or icebreaker to encourage focus and collaboration from the start of class

Allow students to learn at their own pace

1. Adopt a flipped classroom model where students can view lecture modules and complete quizzes in advance of live lectures
2. Complement live activities with self-paced exercises such as blog posts or video journal responses, which students can share in your LMS

Create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable speaking out

1. Incorporate an anonymous discussion board during in-class polls
2. Ask your teaching assistants to respond to, and acknowledge, students' contributions in and out of class

Help students stay accountable for their learning outside of your classroom

1. Adopt or author your own digital interactive textbook that includes comprehension questions throughout
2. Keep a digital repository of discussion board prompts or quiz questions and re-quiz students on these concepts in future homework assignments to check for subject mastery

Provide instant feedback on student performance

1. Consider employing low-stakes, multiple choice quizzes that can be auto-graded
2. Grade assignments using a built-in rubric in your LMS and provide personalized feedback upon student request

Technology in the classroom: The final verdict

It's clear that the benefits of technology in the classroom outweigh the cons. But the key to technology in the classroom is always going to be the teacher-student relationship, because that's where the education happens. Technology can be a highly effective tool, but that's all it is-a tool. In today's hyper-connected world, sensible use of technology can enhance education. By using technology as an aid in the classroom, educators can create memorable and impactful learning outcomes for their diverse group of college students. For best practices on how to integrate technology in your classroom next semester, download our free guide packed with tips and tools five professors have used to give their course delivery a boost.

References

1. Kelly, R. (2018, January 11). 7 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2018. https://campustechnology.com/Articles/2018/01/11/7-Ed-Tech-Trends-to-Watch-in-2018.aspx?Page=1

2. Dhami, H. (2020, August 13). James Lang's Distracted: Why Students Can't Focus and What You Can Do About It. [Blog post]. https://tophat.com/blog/james-lang-distracted/

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How to Take Advantage of Ed Tech In The Classroom | Top Hat

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Get best practices for enhancing technology in your classroom. Plus, download Top Hat's free guide to make ed tech tools work for your course.

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Is Florida's panther release program working?

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Is Florida's panther release program working?

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Trump Administration Rolls Back Obama-Era Rules for School Lunches (Published 2018)

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The Department of Agriculture announced its plans to lower nutritional standards for grains, flavored milks and sodium in school cafeterias.

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Is your kid obsessed with becoming the next X Games star, Olympic medalist, or YouTube stuntman? Young kids often have no fear when it comes to taking risks, but are extreme sports like dirt bike riding and bungee jumping dangerous for kids?
Related: Sports Safety Tips for Your Child
Though traditional sports like football, basketball, and hockey aren't exactly going out of style, the world of extreme sports is growing in popularity. Kids and adults alike are participating in increasing numbers in these risky-if not sometimes downright dangerous-sports. But why?

From skateboarding and snowboarding to BMX biking and rock climbing, pop culture and social media have collided to amp up physical activity and make super-sized stunts seem like the norm. Long gone are the days when peer pressure from classmates, neighbors or older sibs drove younger children to drop into a half-pipe or launch their bike off a crazy incline.

Today's kiddos are also influenced by...well, influencers. YouTube stars, TikTok creators, and even Olympic athletes have turned extreme sports from something that only the wildest child would attempt to everyday activities.

If your littles are begging to do extreme sports and you're totally new to these types of activities, read on for more info on the risks, benefits, times to encourage your kiddo, and when to flat out say a big 'ol, " NO."

Extreme Sports Growing More Popular with Kids

Some kids are happier riding their skateboards than dealing with the structure of soccer practice. Others like cruising around on their BMX bikes until their legs just quit, surfing themselves silly, or spending the entire weekend learning new tricks on their inline skates.

Of course, young kids are also attracted to extreme sports because they're cool. And who doesn't like being on the cutting edge? Snowboarding, the bad-boy little brother of skiing, was legitimized by sports traditionalists when it became an official Olympic event at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Fast-forward to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were actually held in 2021 thanks to the pandemic) and skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing became legit gold, silver, and bronze events!

Studies Show Fewer Kids Are Joining School Sports Teams

Have the days of dribbling a ball down a court or passing a puck gone the way of the dinosaurs? According to stats from Project Play, in 2021 the most popular youth sports for children ages six through 12 were bicycling, basketball, and baseball. Even though more than 5.2 million children biked in 2021, this was a significant change from way back in 2008.

The Project Play statistics show that only 18 percent of children reported bicycling in 2021, while a whopping 27.7 percent got active on two wheels in 2008.

Basketball team play dropped from 16.6 percent to 14.5 percent participation and baseball from 16.5 percent to 12.6 percent between 2008 and 2021. The number of children playing other popular team sports, such as soccer, tackle football, and flag football, also dropped during the same time frame.

Basketball is Less Popular But Bicycling is Big with Teens

The same downward trends didn't happen for teen participation in all traditional sports. Bicycling participation grew from 16.8 percent to 21 percent between 2008 and 2021 and baseball play rose from 8.2 percent to 9.5 percent.

What could account for the overall downward trend in team and individual youth sports play? There isn't one reason. But some of the possible explanations include an increasingly competitive climate, the high cost of intensive travel sports (such as hockey), or interest in other activities -such as extreme sports.

Dangerous Sports: Kids in BMX, Climbing, and Bungee Jumping?!

We spoke to Paul Vail, 29, a BMX freestyle bike rider for more than 14 years to learn more about the kinds of extreme sports kids are trying.

Vail says that when it comes to extreme sports, "Today's kids who've been riding skateboards or BMX bikes since they were 12-year-olds will become the parents who say, 'Yes, skateboarding, bike riding -- perfectly acceptable sports for my kid to do. And don't tell me they have to play football or be on the basketball team to be accepted, because that's no longer true.'"

Vail balks at the term "extreme sports." "People have been skydiving, skiing, riding bikes, doing tricks, and taking jumps forever. I think the extreme sports label is a gimmick. I like the term 'alternative sports'."

Extreme or not, it's important to encourage kids to express themselves physically, whether their athletic tastes are trendy or traditional. Both solo and team-oriented sports can build self-confidence, relieve stress, and promote physical fitness -- all of which are vital to growing kids and adults alike.

Kids in "alternative" sports are expressive, highly skilled athletes. And sports like rock climbing, snowboarding, inline skating, surfing, skateboarding, extreme skiing, and mountain biking (to name just a few), require significant technical ability as well as strength and endurance. Plus, alternative sports can help your kids develop positive qualities like discipline, persistence, and determination.

Kids in Ski Jumping or Snowboarding

BMX, skateboarding, and bungee jumping aren't the only extreme sports kids flock to. Even though ski jumping might seem like a new adventurous activity, it made its Olympic debut way back in 1924.

Of course, this doesn't mean kiddos were climbing up mountains, whooshing down slopes, and flying into the air on two skis a century ago. While this soaring sport isn't exactly new, its youth appeal has spiked in recent years. According to Women's Ski Jumping USA, five to eight years old is the age average for ski jumpers to start the sport!

Like ski jumping, snowboarding is a winter-time extreme sport that has skyrocketed in popularity. Again, snowboarding became Olympic-official in 1998. Almost a decade later, in 2006, then-19-year-old Shaun White made his first bid for the gold. But White certainly wasn't the last teen to take this extreme sport up a level and put it center stage.

Seventeen-year-old Chloe Kim became the youngest women's Olympic halfpipe competitor to nab the gold in 2018 at the PyeongChang games. With role models like White and Kim to follow, a whole new generation is getting into the halfpipe!

Not only do today's kiddos follow these, and other top athletes, but during the Olympics, they can watch the extreme antics of snowboarders on YouTube, TikTok, and just about every other social media site.

Kids and Sport Injuries

How dangerous are extreme sports? As a parent, your child's safety is priority number one. And that's why you're not so sure about your kiddo's extreme activities. Even though extreme sports do often come with, as the name implies, extreme risks, these aren't the only athletics that can result in serious injuries.

According to Stanford Medicine Children's Health, each year over 3.5 million children (14 and under) are injured during sports play. This includes more than 775,000 kiddos who require ER treatment. The majority of the injuries requiring hospital-level care are the result of collisions, falls, overexertion (during informal recreational activities) or object-related impacts.

When it comes to the most injuries per sport, football takes the top spot-with nearly 215,000 five- to 14-year-olds treated in hospitals in one year. This number is higher than what you find with some extreme sports. But in general, more children play this type of traditional team sport than engage in extreme activity.

A 2015 study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine looked at the prevalence of head and neck injuries in extreme sports. The researchers found that between 2000 and 2011 there were more than four million total injuries from these types of activities (this includes adult injuries).

Over 11 percent of these were head and neck injuries. Of these head and neck injuries, the extreme sports with the highest number of incidents included skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, and motocross.

Fear is probably the number-one reason many of us avoid taking risks. For athletes in extreme sports, conquering fear is part of the adventure of sport. When a skateboarder is practicing tricks on a 15-foot ramp (commonly called a half-pipe), or a mountain biker is flying down a rock-strewn single-track trail, and he makes a mistake and falls -- well, it's going to hurt a little. Okay, maybe a lot.

But the athletes we spoke to didn't complain about injuries. In fact, most have enjoyed relatively injury-free experiences in their sports. Brian Krause, a competitive skydiver for the U.S. Army's Golden Knights, has taken thousands of jumps out of airplanes without so much as a sprained ankle.

But Matt Donovan, a pro downhill mountain bike racer from Massachusetts, said that when he first got serious about racing, his season was "very injury-laden. I had two concussions, a separated shoulder, a broken hand, multiple cuts, and lacerations. And I cracked a rib."

There are two kinds of sports injuries:

1. Chronic Repetitive or Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries can cause stress fractures, muscle tears, or progressive bone deformities.

2. Acute Injuries

Acute sports injuries occur as a result of trauma from contact with a major force. Acute sports injuries include fractures, broken bones, dislocations, and more serious spinal and brain injuries.

Is It Wrong to Let Children Do Extreme Sports?

Should safety concerns stop your child from trying an extreme sport? There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. If your adventure-loving kiddo is all about skateboarding, snowboarding, parkour, BMX biking, or any other high-octane activity, you will need to think about:

Your Child's Age and Developmental Level

Is your child developmentally ready to handle the challenge? What is their skill level when it comes to basic coordination and athletic tasks like running, jumping, and balancing? Can you trust them to act responsibly, follow an instructor's directions, and wear safety equipment correctly?

Your Child's Motivation

Does your child want to become the next Tik Tok star? If your tween has dreams of easily twisting a BMX bike around in mid-air like their fave influencer or thinks videos of teens crashing their skateboards into just about anything and everything is hilarious, they may struggle to stay safe while engaging in an extreme sport.

The Instructor or Coach

Who will teach your child about the sport? A YouTube video or IG video are not a substitute for the real deal. Only a qualified instructor or professional should instruct your child.

The Safety Equipment

Do you know what safety equipment your child will need? Will they wear it? You may need to learn more about the equipment standards before you allow your child to participate in extreme activities.

What types of equipment do children need? The specific items depend on the sport. These could include a helmet, shoulder pads, shin pads, elbow pads, or wrist guards.

According to Seattle Children's Hospital, skiers and snowboarders should wear a helmet that meets ASTM, CEN, or Snell standards. Skateboarders should wear one that conforms to the ASTM F1492 standard. Children who ride bikes or scooters should wear a helmet that meets CPSC or Snell standards, knee pads, and elbow pads.

When is an extreme sport too extreme? If you don't feel comfortable with your child engaging in the activity or don't feel that they can follow safety directions, it's okay to just say no. Some sports are not age-appropriate for younger kids, and you should wait until they're a bit older to try them out.

It's also okay to talk to ask questions, talk to a pro, or take your time gathering facts, stats, and any other info about the adventurous activity! Learn more about extreme sports by taking our quiz here.

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Kids and Extreme Sports: Should They Be Allowed?

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Should kids do extreme sports? BMX riders, snowboarders and X Game stars weigh in on the benefits and risks of kids doing extreme sports.

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It is important to acknowledge that students are already interested and engaged in using technology, this creates many amazing opportunities for schools and teachers to benefit from integrating some forms of technology in the classroom and to make teaching and learning more effective. Here are some of the main benefits of using technology in the classroom. Improves engagement
When technology is integrated into lessons, students are expected to be more interested in the subjects they are studying. Technology provides different opportunities to make learning more fun and enjoyable in terms of teaching same things in new ways. For instance, delivering teaching through gamification, taking students on virtual field trips and using other online learning resources. What is more, technology can encourage a more active participation in the learning process which can be hard to achieve through a traditional lecture environment.
Improves knowledge retention
Students who are engaged and interested in things they are studying, are expected to have a better knowledge retention. As mentioned before, technology can help to encourage active participation in the classroom which also is a very important factor for increased knowledge retention. Different forms of technology can be used to experiment with and decide what works best for students in terms of retaining their knowledge.
Encourages individual learning
No one learns in the same way because of different learning styles and different abilities. Technology provides great opportunities for making learning more effective for everyone with different needs. For example, students can learn at their own speed, review difficult concepts or skip ahead if they need to. What is more, technology can provide more opportunities for struggling or disabled students. Access to the Internet gives students access to a broad range of resources to conduct research in different ways, which in turn can increase the engagement.
Encourages collaboration
Students can practice collaboration skills by getting involved in different online activities. For instance, working on different projects by collaborating with others on forums or by sharing documents on their virtual learning environments. Technology can encourage collaboration with students in the same classroom, same school and even with other classrooms around the world.
Students can learn useful life skills through technology
By using technology in the classroom, both teachers and students can develop skills essential for the 21st century. Students can gain the skills they will need to be successful in the future. Modern learning is about collaborating with others, solving complex problems, critical thinking, developing different forms of communication and leadership skills, and improving motivation and productivity. What is more, technology can help develop many practical skills, including creating presentations, learning to differentiate reliable from unreliable sources on the Internet, maintaining proper online etiquette, and writing emails. These are very important skills that can be developed in the classroom.
Benefits for teachers
With countless online resources, technology can help improve teaching. Teachers can use different apps or trusted online resources to enhance the traditional ways of teaching and to keep students more engaged. Virtual lesson plans, grading software and online assessments can help teachers save a lot time. This valuable time can be used for working with students who are struggling. What is more, having virtual learning environments in schools enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing between teachers.
To learn more about different ways of incorporating technology in the classroom, visit the Webanywhere website.

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Top 6 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom - Advancing Education

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Explore the top 6 benefits of technology in the classroom. Enhance your teaching methods with School Jotter.

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Costa Rica To Close Its Zoos And Release Animals Into The Wild

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Costa Rica To Close Its Zoos And Release Animals Into The Wild

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Costa Rica To Close Its Zoos And Release Animals Into The Wild

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The silky anteater, shown here, could be climbing trees in its native forests soon.

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When former first lady Michelle Obama's strict limitations on school lunches went into effect, students across the country dumped the unappetizing offerings in the garbage, a debacle that cost taxpayers billions in wasted food and lunchroom sales.

Students, parents, administrators and lunch staff pleaded with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to roll back the restrictions - specific limits on everything from total calories to fat, sugar, sodium, and whole grain content - and the government created various waivers to allow schools to serve students food they will actually eat.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

Now, the Trump administration is scrapping the unnecessary bureaucracy altogether by making many of the changes permanent, effectively erasing rules that some believe unfairly targeted minorities and ignored cultural diversity.

Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokeswoman for the School Nutrition Association representing local cafeteria workers, explained the situation to the Associated Press.

Pratt-Heavner "said whole-grain bread and buns generally aren't a problem. But she said students complained about other items, in many cases because of cultural or regional preferences.

"Finding whole-grain biscuits and grits that students like are a challenge in the U.S. South, she said, while tortillas are a challenge in the Southwest," the AP reports.

The SNA reports nearly 2 million fewer kids are eating school lunch each day since Obama-inspired rules took effect.

The recent changes mean schools no longer need a special waiver from the government for only whole grain breads, and cafeterias can now serve low-fat chocolate milk without Uncle Sam's permission. Students could only get fat-free flavored milk under previous rules.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Friday the changes, set to be published in a rule later this month, will also give schools more time to meet sodium aggressive sodium guidelines imposed by Obama, NPR reports.

MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes

The move is based on the obvious reality that healthy lunches don't benefit kids if they won't eat them.

"If kids are not eating what is being served, they are not benefiting, and food is being wasted," Perdue said.

He seems to understand that parents are far more in tune with their children's dietary needs than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.

"We will listen to schools, and make common-sense changes as needed, to ensure they can meet the needs of their students based on their real-world experience in local communities," Perdue said.

SNA President Gay Anderson applauded Perdue for seeing the big picture.

"School nutrition professionals have made tremendous progress in improving student diets, but the pace and degree of menu changes under updated nutrition standards were more than some students would accept," Anderson said.

"We appreciate Secretary Perdue for finding solutions to address the concerns of schools and students," he said. "This rule will entice more students to eat healthy school meals, which meet calorie limits and offer fruits, vegetables and milk."

"Nutrition advocates," meanwhile, are attacking President Trump for easing the Obama-era regulations, alleging a delay in sodium standards "will put kids' health in jeopardy."

"Parents will be disappointed when they learn that the meals served to their kids in school are under attack from President Trump's de-regulatory agenda," Margo Wootan, with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in a prepared statement. "This will mean that school lunches will fail to be consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as is required by law."

A statement from the American Heart Association said "when it comes to our children's health, there should be no 'flexibility.'

"Failing to meet the science-based sodium standards for school meals originally adopted by USDA will put kids' health in jeopardy," the statement read.

NPR reports the daily sodium limit recommended by federal dietary guidelines is 2,300 mg, or just over 1,000 mg less than the average daily consumption of kids in the U.S.

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GREAT AGAIN: Schools bring back chocolate milk as Michelle O lunch rules eased

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When former first lady Michelle Obama's strict limitations on school lunches went into effect, students across the country dumped the unappetizing offerings in the garbage, a debacle that cost taxpayers billions in wasted food and lunchroom sales. Students, parents, administrators and lunch staff pleaded with the U.S.

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/ CBS News

Extreme sports bring excitement, and are starting to draw big bucks.

But are the athletes putting too much on the line?

The daring participants say extreme sports are all about the thrill, the rush of adrenaline they get. They're climbing higher, jumping farther and moving faster, all in the name of personal glory.

Still, when things go wrong, they pay a heavy price.

Humans aren't supposed to fly, but Jeb Corliss comes pretty close.

His extreme exploits have a huge following. One video of him in action alone has gotten almost 9 million views.

Corliss hurt in stunt jump
Uncertainty clouds recovery of skiier Sarah Burke

On Monday, Corliss was seriously injured on Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. Moments after he stepped off a cliff -- a 3,500-foot drop -- he hit the wall, breaking both his legs. He had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital.

Only a day before that, another extreme athlete, ice climber John Roberts, died after a 60-foot fall in Colorado.

And last Tuesday, free-skier Sarah Burke was critically injured during a training run in Utah.

All of these athletes take risks and are at the leading edge of extreme sports -- a one-time bit player on the sports scene that has exploded in recent years, thanks in part to social media and TV coverage.

The extreme athletes known as "Birdmen" even attracted the attention of "60 Minutes" in 2010.

Sponsorships have helped extreme athletes soar to new heights. Corliss has eight sponsors, including camera company GoPro.

GoPro CEO Nick Woodman says what Corliss does is risky, but not nearly as risky as most people would think, because he's so good at it.

Corliss jumped without permission from South African authorities, a jump that not only put him in danger, but his rescuers, as well -- one of the many reasons why big brands tend to shy away.

"A lot of big brands, (and) rightly so, don't want to take that chance. You don't want to see blood spattered all over a logo that you've invested millions and millions of dollars in," says sports marketer Joe Favorito.

But, Favorito adds, athletes who are determined will find a way. "What they're trying to do is offset costs and take it to another level as, quote, a professional athlete," he said. "And people think, when you're associated with sponsors, that makes you a professional. Sometimes, it makes you become a little more risky."

Professional skier and base-jumper JT Holmes knows how dangerous extreme sports can be. He knew Burke, and watched his close friend, Shane McConkey, die after jumping off a 2,000 ft cliff. Holmes was also the subject of the Steve Kroft "60 Minutes" story on "Birdmen," and was a stunt man for the film "Transformers." Holmes insisted on "CBS This Morning" that he engages in extreme sports because they're "just good, clean fun." He admitted he thinks about the possibility the activities could kill him. "Certainly," Holmes said. "Every single jump, every single ski run, you have to be aware of the (possible) consequences and, if you're going to choose to put yourself in these perilous situations, you need to be prepared."

To see the entire interview, click on the video below.

Trending News

Jeff Glor

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They've become big business, but a death and some injuries have led some to question whether they're worth the money, thrill

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When he was a kid, Alex Vardakostas helped out in his parents' restaurant. "As soon as standing on top of a milk crate made me tall enough to reach the counter, I was making sodas for customers," he told TIME for Kids. Before long, Vardakostas was working the grill alongside adult employees. He estimates he's flipped 50,000 burgers.

Now, Vardakostas co-owns a burger joint. It's a restaurant called Creator, in San Francisco, California. But he doesn't stand over a grill flipping burgers. Neither do his employees.

VCG/GETTY IMAGES

At Creator, burgers are cooked and assembled by machine. Vardakostas a device. It grinds meat, cuts vegetables, grates cheese, and applies seasonings. The end result tastes just as good as-or better than-a burger made by hand. It costs less, too. That's because it's less expensive to the machine than to pay a kitchen full of employees.

Robo-Workers

Creator is just one example of a growing trend: is taking over many jobs. That means work is done by machines or computers, not people.

THOSSAPHOL-GETTY IMAGES

According to a 2017 report from McKinsey Global Institute, between 400 million and 800 million people could be forced out of jobs by 2030. McKinsey predicts that as technology improves, some tasks will be done more quickly or cheaply by machine. So businesses will install robots or computer programs to perform them. That means there will be less work for human employees. Many people could lose their jobs. Or they might have trouble finding new ones.

"There's going to be a big disruption in the next 10 or 20 years," says Martin Ford. He is an author and futurist. That is someone who studies trends and makes predictions about the future.

KIM KULISH-CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES

A Human Touch

Some jobs are more likely to be automated than others. Machines can do jobs that have three qualities: they are routine, repetitive, and predictable. "It's the kind of job where you come to work and work on the same kind of thing again and again," Ford says. Some of these jobs pay low wages and require little education. But others pay well and demand an advanced college degree. Taxi drivers, cashiers, lawyers, and doctors all perform some tasks that can be done by machines.

FRANCOIS GUILLOT-AFP/GETTY IMAGES

So what human jobs are safe? "Anything where you're thinking outside the box and coming up with new ideas," Ford says. "Or things that involve interacting with other people, having , and building relationships." Jobs in engineering, science, the arts, therapy, and nursing are examples.

Stop & Think! How does the writer help a reader visualize robots at work? How does word choice affect a reader's response to the topic?
Assessment: Click for a printable quiz. Teacher subscribers can find the answer key in this week's Teacher's Guide.

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When he was a kid, Alex Vardakostas helped out in his parents' restaurant. "As soon as standing on top of a milk crate made me tall enough to reach the counter, I was making sodas for customers," he told TIME...

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Zoo kills a giraffe and many ask: Was there another way?

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Zoo kills a giraffe and many ask: Was there another way?

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Why Zoos Matter

We at the Saint Louis Zoo are passionate about the work we do. We not only care about the work we're doing, we are fostering animals that are threatened or endangered and supporting their perpetuation into the future.

Making a Difference

The world around us is changing fast. Species of wildlife are facing global extinction on a massive scale. About 41 percent of all amphibian species and 26 percent of all mammals are now threatened with extinction, and fully half of the world's primates - our closest relatives - teeter on the edge of existence. We face the loss of one in eight of all bird species. Overall, the extinction rate has increased a hundred-fold over the last century, and today we estimate that over 18,000 species face oblivion. Zoos are in a unique position to make a difference. Zoos are focused on offering the very best possible nutrition, enrichment and environment for animals in their care.

The many committed people at zoos care deeply about animals, working with an incredible variety of species, from one-celled creatures to elephants. Our research on behavior, reproductive biology, nutrition, animal health and genetics is valuable to wildlife managers, field researchers and other scientists.

For example, the Saint Louis Zoo has been doing a mother/infant bonding study with antelope and other hoofed animals at Red Rocks for 14 years. The data we've gathered - how often and when a species typically nurses, who initiates nursing, proximity, grooming, nuzzling - has provided information to field researchers that would be hard to come by otherwise.

We are animal experts

Zoo professionals are experts on breeding small populations of endangered species. That knowledge, too, has become valuable to scientists working with wildlife populations. Nowadays animals in wild habitats are often found in small, fragmented groups because of agriculture, logging or other human activity.

We collaborate with organizations worldwide on conservation breeding, habitat preservation, community development, public education and research.

Explore our conservation efforts

From Fence to Field

In 2004, the Saint Louis Zoo established the WildCare Institute to work in conservation hotspots locally and around the globe.

From Forest Park and Missouri streams to the Horn of Africa or the coastline of Peru, the Zoo is taking a holistic approach to wildlife conservation. While the Zoo has been involved in helping save endangered species for decades, our goal today is create a sustainable future for wildlife and for people around the world. Ultimately, we need to help save the ecosystems on which animals and humans depend. WildCare Institute addresses three key ingredients in conservation success: wildlife management and recovery, conservation science, and support of the human populations that coexist with wildlife.

Connecting people to animals

People learn at zoos. They learn in our formal classes, lectures, camps, teacher workshops, distance learning, zoo tours, overnights and outreach programs. Informally they learn from keeper chats, docent volunteers, interpreters, signage and special exhibits. Most important, they learn from observing zoo animals.

On a scale of 1 to 10, our visitors rate their educational experience at the Saint Louis Zoo as a 9.1.

Unique Experiences.

Zoos are a place where families can have unique experiences together every time they visit. Today's families are more conscious than ever of the need to teach their children about the natural world and respect for living creatures.

Why do people come to the zoo?

Why do zoos matter?

Because we care.

We want to keep this planet's amazing wildlife around for future generations.

Donate to our Conservation Fund

If you'd like to contribute financially to our conservation efforts, you can make a donation through the Saint Louis Zoo.

Learn more

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The Saint Louis Zoo is dedicated to saving species and bringing people and wildlife together. Home to over 16,000 animals, many of which are endangered, entry is free every day for everyone, an important part of our commitment to people and animals - always.

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Story highlights

A California state legislator is proposing to ban the captivity of killer whales for entertainment at SeaWorld in the wake of CNN's controversial documentary " Blackfish."

"It is time that we embrace that the long-accepted practice of keeping orcas captive for human amusement must end," state Assemblyman Richard Bloom, a Democrat from Santa Monica, said at a press conference Friday at the city's oceanfront pier.

Bloom was joined by "Blackfish" director Gabriela Cowperthwaite, two former SeaWorld orca trainers and an animal welfare activist.

"This is about greed and this is about corporate exploitation, both of the whales and the trainers, but most importantly the whales," said John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld orca trainer who resigned in August 2012.

A Bloom statement described the proposal as "landmark legislation calling for comprehensive improvement to orca protection laws in California."

Currently, there are no laws prohibiting the captive display of orcas, but there are federal laws governing the care, capture and research use of the killer whales, Bloom said.

The documentary, produced by Magnolia Pictures and acquired by CNN Films, recounts the 2010 death of longtime SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau by a killer whale named Tilikum, a 12,000-pound bull, in Orlando, Florida.

SeaWorld also offers orca shows at a third site, in San Antonio, Texas, but the California legislation would apply only to SeaWorld's San Diego facility.

The film challenges the concept of keeping killer whales for entertainment and implies Tilikum had been driven to madness by captivity.

Since then, a fiery controversy has erupted.

SeaWorld strongly disputes the allegations that "Blackfish" makes and called the film grossly one-sided and the product of animal activists.

On Friday, SeaWorld spokeswoman Becca Bides criticized the bill.

"The premise behind this proposed legislation is severely flawed on multiple levels, and its validity is highly questionable under the United States and California Constitutions," Bides said in a statement. "We trust that our leaders who are responsible for voting on this proposal will recognize the clear bias of those behind the bill."

Bides added the participants joining Bloom were well-known "extreme animal rights activists, many of whom regularly campaign against SeaWorld and other accredited marine mammal parks and institutions."

"Included in the group are some of the same activists that partnered with PETA in bringing the meritless claim that animals in human care should be considered slaves under the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution - a clear publicity stunt. This legislation appears to reflect the same sort of out-of-the-mainstream thinking," Bides said in a statement. "We engage in business practices that are responsible, sustainable and reflective of the balanced values all Americans share."

The proposed law would end performance-based entertainment for all killer whales in California, captive breeding programs and the export and import of genetic material, and the import and export of orcas within the state.

Also, the proposal would retire all captive killer whales to sea pens if available and would allow retired orcas to be on display, but not perform. The bill would limit the amount of human interaction for trainer safety, according to Bloom's fact sheet.

"Like the elephant - the largest land mammal in captivity - we have realized that orcas are more complex than most other marine mammals and require more space, have a more complex social structure and most importantly need their family network (pod) for a happy and healthy life," said a fact sheet by Bloom.

Currently, California has 10 captive killer whales, and seven of them were captive-born, according to Bloom.

In the past 50 years, California has lost 14 orcas, 12 of which were caught in the wild, Bloom said.

"After the tragic death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, the public has begun to question the moral justification of keeping orcas in captivity for our general entertainment," Bloom's fact sheet said. "As a state we should lead the way in ending captivity for entertainment purposes and should be ensuring our current captive population general welfare needs are taken care of, and that we end any future captivity whether it be by capture or captive breeding programs here in California."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the proposed legislation "has the potential to end the deep injustice of exhibitions of captive marine life," said spokesman David W. Perle.

"PETA and kind people around the world have called on SeaWorld to retire these deprived orcas to a seaside sanctuary, but the park continues to defend its overt cruelty," Perle said in a statement.

One animal trainer, Grey Stafford of Arizona's Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium, criticized the proposed law, which he said "collapses under its own weight of inconsistencies, particularly with respect to animal welfare and future breeding."

"We still have a lot to learn about the killer whales," said Stafford, who used to train orcas.

The killer whale shows ensure the animal and its ocean habitat remain in the public consciousness.

"I am more concerned about the welfare of all species," Stafford said. "Out of sight means out of mind."

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California bill would ban orca shows at SeaWorld | CNN

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A California state legislator is proposing to ban the captivity of killer whales for entertainment at SeaWorld in the wake of CNN's controversial documentary " Blackfish." "It is time that we embrace that the long-accepted practice of keeping orcas captive for human amusement must end," state Assemblyman Richard Bloom, a Democrat from Santa Monica, said at a press conference Friday at the city's oceanfront pier.

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&#151; -- Chocolate milk with 1 percent fat will soon be back on public school lunch menus as the Trump administration eases nutritional standards put in place under President Obama.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday published a new interim rule, due to take effect on July 1 after a period of public comment, which relaxes sodium limits and whole-grain requirements on school lunches and also allows flavored milk with 1 percent back into school cafeterias nationwide.

Currently, public schools are allowed to serve only flavored milk that is nonfat or unflavored milk that is low-fat or nonfat.

"This is not reducing the nutritional standards whatsoever," Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters when he unveiled the proposed changes in May. "I wouldn't be as big as I am today without flavored milk."

"Schools need flexibility in menu planning so they can serve nutritious and appealing meals," Perdue said in a statement Thursday. "Schools want to offer food that students actually want to eat. It doesn't do any good to serve nutritious meals if they wind up in the trash can."

The rule is meant to provide "regulatory flexibility" for the National School Lunch Program, which is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced, reduced-cost or free lunches to children.

Critics say the new rules will roll back the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act championed by former first lady Michelle Obama, who worked to tighten nutritional standards for the program as part of her campaign against obesity.
ABC News' Mariam Khan and Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report.

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Regular chocolate milk back on school menus as Obama-era rules are eased

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151; -- Chocolate milk with 1 percent fat will soon be back on public school lunch menus as the Trump administration eases nutritional standards put in place under President Obama. The U.S.

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Aquariums and marine mammal theme parks like SeaWorld, the Miami Seaquarium, and Canada's Marineland are part of a billion-dollar industry built on the suffering of intelligent social beings who are denied everything that's natural and important to them.

Wild orcas and other dolphins live in large, complex social groups and swim vast distances every day in the open ocean. In captivity, they can only swim in endless circles inside tanks that, to them, are the equivalent of bathtubs and they're denied the opportunity to engage in almost any natural behavior. They are forced to perform meaningless tricks and are often torn away from family members when they're shuffled between parks. Many die far short of their species' natural life expectancy.

Families Torn Apart

Countless marine animals (even the original Shamu) were taken from their rightful ocean homes and placed in tanks. Tilikum, the orca who lashed out and killed SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau and two other people, died in a concrete prison 33 years after he was taken away from his Icelandic family. Lolita, torn away from her family when she was just a baby, has spent half a century in the same tank at the Miami Seaquarium. Some countries continue to capture wild dolphins and whales.

Captivity's Tragic Consequences

Frequently housed with incompatible tankmates, dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals are often drugged in order to manage stress-induced aggressive behavior and relieve the endless monotony of swimming in circles. They break their teeth chewing on the metal bars and concrete sides of their tanks and are forced to perform tricks for tourists in exchange for food-all in the name of entertainment.

While wild female orcas can live to be more than 100 years old, orcas at SeaWorld often die by the time they reach their teens and rarely approach even the average life expectancy of wild orcas. More than 40 orcas have died at SeaWorld from causes such as bacterial infections and fractured skulls. More than 300 other dolphins and whales along with approximately 400 pinnipeds have also died at the parks.

While Marineland can no longer breed whales and dolphins or confine new ones-thanks to Canada's recent ban on their captivity-it's still imprisoning the animals currently languishing there. Dozens of dolphins, whales, and walruses have died there-including a walrus named Apollo who recently suffered a heart attack. An orca named Kiska-who was abducted from her family in the ocean as a baby 40 years ago-is confined in isolation and can do nothing but swim in endless circles inside her cramped tank.

The Trouble With 'Interactive' Programs

Touch tanks as well as "swim with dolphins" and "paint with dolphins" programs allow the public to pet, kiss, paint with, or even ride these animals. Such programs invade their already diminished worlds and are intrusive, stressful, and even dangerous for them, as well as being risky for human participants.

Animals in "petting pools" are frequently exposed to foreign bacteria and other pathogens, and they can become anxious, frustrated, aggressive, and even neurotic as a result of being confined to shallow tanks and exposed to constant interaction with humans. Members of the public have been injured at SeaWorld's dolphin-petting pools.

Even programs that enable people to swim with dolphins in nature can be invasive. Boats and swimmers may chase, harass, and scare them, interfering with their natural feeding, resting, migrating, and playing behavior.

Poor Government Regulations

Captive marine mammals have some federal protections in the U.S., but enforcement is lax. There are simply too many animal exhibitors for the limited number of U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors-as of February 2020, there were 104 inspectors for 12,851 facilities. Even when exhibitors are cited for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act, they're rarely assessed fines or meaningful penalties.

Keeping Dolphins Free

In nature, orcas work cooperatively in search of food. They share complex relationships in a matrilineal society and-in some populations-rarely leave their mother's pod. They have group-specific food preferences and behavior. These attributes, along with their pods' unique dialects, are considered a form of culture that is unrivaled by any species other than humans.

Other dolphins, too, maintain dynamic relationships within a large social network. They live with up to a few dozen others in a pod and can swim as many as 60 miles each day and dive to depths of nearly 1,500 feet in nature.

The world is moving away from keeping intelligent, sensitive cetaceans in captivity. In the U.S., the National Aquarium is building the dolphins in its care a seaside sanctuary-a safe ocean cove in which captive marine mammals can be released into a protected area of the sea to dive deep, feel the ocean currents, and finally live like they should, all while still receiving care, food, and veterinary support. Two whales have been moved from a marine park in China to a seaside sanctuary in Iceland, and The Whale Sanctuary Project just announced plans for a seaside sanctuary for rescued orcas and belugas in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Governments around the world are also recognizing that dolphins (including orcas) and other cetaceans do not belong in tanks. Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, and Croatia have all banned the practice of keeping cetaceans in captivity. In 2013, India's Ministry of Environment & Forests banned the practice of keeping dolphins captive for public entertainment. Other countries, including Brazil, Luxembourg, Nicaragua, and Norway, have highly restrictive standards that make it nearly impossible to keep cetaceans in captivity. The last dolphinarium in the U.K. closed more than 20 years ago.

What You Can Do

Please don't visit marine parks, and never buy tickets to roadside zoos or aquariums that keep ocean animals in captivity. Encourage your local aquarium to create more space for rehabilitating (and releasing) injured wildlife by refusing to breed more animals.

You can also leaflet at local roadside aquariums or marine parks, pressure officials to avoid subsidizing these facilities with taxpayer money, write letters to the editor of local publications, and support legislation that prohibits the capture or restricts the display of marine mammals.
Please join PETA in urging SeaWorld and other marine parks to stop using animals and to relocate the orcas, bottlenose dolphins, and other animals to seaside sanctuaries, where they can thrive in the enrichment and diversity of the sea while still receiving the care that they require.

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Aquariums and Marine Parks are no safe havens for marine mammals like dolphins and whales. Learn more on how you can help animals and not support these facilities.

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Sarah Burke's Death: Extreme Sports Dangers

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Sarah Burke's Death: Extreme Sports Dangers

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Owl attacks on Dutch town- Residents in the northern Dutch town of Purmerend have been advised to take umbrellas out at night after a series of attacks by an owl. Dozens of residents have suffered head injuries over the past three weeks because of a European eagle owl. Two runners were attacked on Tuesday, with one requiring stitches for five separate head wounds. The European eagle owl's usual prey are small mammals and birds. One of the sites of the attacks has been a home for the disabled. A Spokeswoman for the home said that residents and workers had suffered at least 15 separate attacks by the nocturnal bird, which remains still on site. During the day there is no problem for the town, but at night people now only go outside armed with umbrellas, helmets and hats, to protect themselves.

Animals rescued from overcrowded zoo in Mexico- More than 100 animals have been rescued from an overcrowded private zoo in Mexico, after complaints from visitors. Mexican environmental officials raided the zoo after many visitors had complained about the potential danger. The officials found overcrowded and cramped cages piled on top of each other and unsafe conditions for visitors. Among the animals rescued were lions, tigers, jaguars, pumas, bears, buffalos and camels. The zoo in Tehuacan in the south east of Mexico City is owned by Sergio Gomez (senior Mexican politician). Officials said they had seized 101 of the 240 animals held at the zoo.their hands into the cages. However the officials say they are trying their hardest to find suitable homes for the animals.

The animals were kept in terrible and unsafe conditions and lacked proper care and had no proper ventilation, the animals were cramped together which was making the animals aggressive. Visitors were also not properly protected and said that they could insert

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Smart, Social and Erratic in Captivity (Published 2013)

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A film, a book and a trainer’s death have renewed debate among scientists and animal advocates on the wisdom and morality of keeping killer whales in marine parks.

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June 4, 2010 -- Fat-free chocolate milk beat out carbohydrate sports drinks at helping to rebuild and refuel muscles after exercise, researchers report.

The combination of carbohydrates and protein in low-fat chocolate milk appears to be "just right" for refueling weary muscles, says William Lunn, PhD, an exercise scientist at the University of Connecticut.

"It's not just a dessert item, but it's very healthy, especially for endurance athletes," Lunn tells WebMD.

The research involved eight male runners in good physical shape who ate a balanced diet for two weeks. At the end of each week, they took a fast paced, 45-minute run.

Following each run, the men drank either 16 ounces of fat-free chocolate milk or 16 ounces of a carbohydrate-only sports beverage with the same number of calories.

Post-exercise muscle biopsies showed increased skeletal muscle protein synthesis -- a sign that muscles were better able to rebuild -- after the milk drink, compared with the carb-only beverage.

Additionally, drinking fat-free chocolate milk led to a higher concentration of glycogen, or muscle fuel, in muscles 30 and 60 minutes after exercise, compared with the sports drink. Replenishing glycogen after exercise helps future performance, Lunn says.

The findings were presented at the American College of Sports Medicine conference in Baltimore this week.

While only men were studied, one would expect women to gain the same post-workout benefits from chocolate milk, he says.

While the studies were small, there's no reason not to reach for fat-free chocolate milk after your next workout, says sports nutritionist Nancy Clark, MS, RD, of Healthworks Fitness Center in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

"Athletes can consider it an inexpensive nutritional alternative to engineered sports beverages for help with post-workout recovery," she tells WebMD.

The studies were supported by a grant from the National Dairy Council and National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.
This study was presented at a medical conference. The findings should be considered preliminary as they have not yet undergone the "peer review" process, in which outside experts scrutinize the data prior to publication in a medical journal.

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Chocolate Milk Refuels Muscles After Workout

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June 4, 2010 -- Fat-free chocolate milk beat out carbohydrate sports drinks at helping to rebuild and refuel muscles after exercise, researchers report. The combination of carbohydrates and protein in low-fat chocolate milk appears to be "just right" for refueling weary muscles, says William Lunn, PhD, an exercise scientist at the University of Connecticut.

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SeaWorld to Expand Killer Whale Environments

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SeaWorld to Expand Killer Whale Environments

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SeaWorld plans to spend upwards of hundreds of millions of dollars to build an expanded killer whale environment and programs to protect the creatures in the wild, the company announced Friday.

This announcement comes two days after SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. released a report showing a significant drop in revenue for the first half of 2014. The company has also come under fire from animal-rights activists who claim the company was mistreating its killer whales.

In addition to the new habitat, SeaWorld is pledging $10 million in matching funds for killer whale research. The company said it is embarking on a multi-million dollar partnership focused on ocean health, the leading concern for all killer whales and marine mammals. The total investment will be hundreds of millions of dollars, officials told NBC 7.

SeaWorld San Diego will be first park to debut the new killer whale environments, named the Blue World project, with a planned total water volume of 10 million gallons, nearly twice as much as the existing facility. The new environment will also provide the world's largest underwater viewing experience for guests.

"Our guests will be able to walk alongside the whales as if they were at the shore, watch them interact at the depths found in the ocean, or a birds-eye view from above," Jim Atchison, chief executive officer and president of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., said in Friday's announcement.

PETA Foundation Director of Animal Law Jared Goodman called the announcement "a desperate drop-in-the-bucket move to try to turn back the hands of time."

In a written statement obtained by NBC 7, Goodman said, "It will not save the company. What could save it would be the recognition that it needs not to make larger tanks but to turn the orcas out in seaside sanctuaries so that they can feel and experience the ocean again, hear their families, and one day be reunited with them. A bigger prison is still a prison."

Images: Changes Coming for SeaWorld San Diego's Orca Exhibit

At a special announcement in San Diego, SeaWorld lead veterinarian Dr. Christopher Dold said the park has invited a number of experts to be part of an advisory panel to help design the project.

Plans will include a fast-water current. "A treadmill for killer whales," Dold said. "The whales can swim through this and be exercised and stimulated."

Each animal will react differently but they will all explore it and staffers will monitor their reactions, Dold said.

The announcement comes midway through a challenging year for the major theme park. Officials have launched a new publicity campaign to combat the effects of the documentary "Blackfish," which focuses on claims of whale mistreatment. The park also successfully fought a proposed bill in California that would ban using killer whales as performers.

In June, dozens of riders stranded for hours hundreds of feet off the ground in the park's iconic SkyTower ride. Then, in July, a controversial anti-SeaWorld ad was unveiled in time to greet Comic-Con crowds in San Diego.

City Council President Todd Gloria and other city leaders attended Friday's announcement.

The city has a vested interest in how SeaWorld San Diego conducts business because the 190-acre theme park sits on city-owned property in Mission Bay Park.

The city earns revenue in a number of ways from ticket to alcohol sales - an estimated $14 million a year.

It's also one of the city's largest employers with a staff of 2,500 to 4,500 depending on the season.

"This new habitat enriches the experiences for our visitors to our region expanding on their appreciation for killer whales and all marine life and our environment as a whole ," Gloria said. "I think we can all agree that's an important message and one that's worth investing in.
-NBC San Diego's R. Stickney contributed to this report. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated that the new environment will cost upwards of $10 million. SeaWorld says the project will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

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SeaWorld to Expand Killer Whale Environments

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Sea World plans to spend hundreds of millions to build an expanded killer whale environment and programs to protect the creatures in the wild, the company announced Friday. to build an expanded killer whale environment and programs to protect killer whales in the wild, the company announced Friday

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Choose Your AdventureWelcome to the Outdoors section of Exploration Junkie! Exploration often implies various outdoor activities and sports - on land, in the water, or in the air. And of course, it's also a lot of fun. Develop your outdoor skills now and take your outside experiences to a whole new level!

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AP

New York City's do-gooders are at it again, this time looking to put a 10-cent fee on each plastic bag that stores normally provide to their customers without charge.

This isn't just another burden on the city's beleaguered small retailers, it's also a terrible idea for public health.

When then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg pushed a similar proposal a few years back, it never even got a hearing. But the new bill already has 19 City Council members signed on as co-sponsors.

And Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris told WNYC radio this month that the fee is a direction the de Blasio administration is "very supportive of."

I long ago lost count of how many regulations of the past decade have unintended, bad consequences that hit the city's small retailers the hardest.

These beleaguered store owners already face an army of enforcement agents who treat them like a cash cow. The city's bids to promote "the public good" never take into consideration the health of these stores or the neighborhood economies that they support.

Our local army of regulators belongs to what the author Saul Bellow called the Good Intentions Paving Co.

This company's projects are always well-meant, but when they turn out to have undesired costs, tradeoffs and side-effects, the company leaders sincerely believe that none of the blame can possibly attach to them. After all, their intentions were good!

The irony here is that the bag fee poses a direct threat to New Yorkers' health.

The point of the bag tax is to force consumers to substitute reusable bags for the no-longer-free plastic ones.

Problem is, reusable bags play a significant role in food contamination unless they're properly washed on a regular basis - something people rarely do.

In a public-health study done at the University of Arizona, researchers found that only 3 percent of shoppers with multi-use bags said they regularly washed them. The same study found bacteria in 99 percent. Half carried coliform bacteria, and 8 percent carried E. coli - an indicator of fecal contamination.

"I classify them as pretty dirty things, like the bottom of your shoes," said Ryan Sinclair of the Loma Linda University School of Public Health, a co-author of the study.

As the study showed, the reusable bags function as a Petri dish for all kinds of contaminants. Further, three-fourths of their users acknowledged that they don't use separate bags for meats and for vegetables, and about a third said they used the bags for, well, all sorts of things (storing snacks, toting books).

A study by the Centers for Disease Control verified the dangers: "Reusable bags, if not properly washed between uses, create the potential for cross-contamination of foods.

"This potential exists when raw meat products and foods traditionally eaten uncooked (fruits and vegetables) are carried in the same bags, either together or between uses. This risk can be increased by the growth of bacteria in the bags."

What about the environmental benefit? At best, it's smaller than the do-gooders imagine.

It takes less energy to make plastic bags than the canvas ones that the "reusers" usually push - and, in fact, consumers find multiple post-store uses for the plastic, from in-home trash bags to padding in a storage box.

Yes, most wind up in the garbage eventually - but before we restrict them, let's figure out ways to make plastic-bag recycling more efficient - something that the Department of Sanitation has failed to do.

Polls throughout the country find that people overwhelmingly reject bans and regressive taxes. Imagine the results if people knew more about the health threat posed by reusable bags.

Let's shelve the bag fee and search for better ways to aid the environment that don't burden our small businesses and threaten our citizens' health.

Brad Gerstman is a lawyer, lobbyist and co-founder of the New York Association of Grocery Stores.

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The City Council's plan to promote E. coli

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New York City's do-gooders are at it again, this time looking to put a 10-cent fee on each plastic bag that stores normally provide to their customers without charge. This isn't just another burden...

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Opinion: Why these friendly robots can't be good friends to our kids

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Opinion: Why these friendly robots can't be good friends to our kids

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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A sea turtle swims through the water and spots a white blob floating near the surface. "Yum!" it thinks. "A jellyfish!" Chasing after its dinner, the turtle swallows the item. But the floating blob isn't a jelly-it's a plastic bag that could make the sea turtle sick.

This sea creature isn't alone: Over 700 species of marine animals have been reported to have eaten or been entangled in plastic. Scientists think that the amount of plastic in the ocean might triple by 2050-and that would mean seriously bad news for the ocean and the creatures that live there. But by understanding the issue and taking action, you can help stop that from happening.

What's the problem with plastic?

First, let's get real: Not all plastic is bad. Bike helmets, car airbags, and many medical supplies made with plastic save lives. Plastic water bottles can bring clean drinking water to people who don't have it, and plastic straws can help people with disabilities drink.

The problem is that most of us use and then toss way more plastic than we need: things like grocery bags, drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, and plastic packaging around toys. This kind of plastic that's used only once before being thrown away is called single-use plastic, and it makes up more than 40 percent of all plastic trash.

Where does the plastic go?

That's a lot of trash. Scientists think that 8.8 million tons of plastic winds up in the ocean every year-that's as if you stacked up five plastic grocery bags full of trash on top of each other on every foot of coastline in the world.

How does it get into the sea? Plastic left on the ground as litter often blows into creeks and rivers, eventually ending up in the ocean. And because plastic trash is different from other types of waste-it doesn't decompose back into nature like an apple core or a piece of paper-it stays in the ocean forever. That means discarded fishing nets and six-pack rings can entangle animals; harmful straws and grocery bags can be mistaken as food.

What can we do about it?

You can do so much to help keep Earth clean! You can look at how much single-use plastic your family uses by filling out a plastic journal for a week-then talking about what you can do to use less. Need ideas? Check out these quick tips to reduce your plastic waste. By working together, our choices can help save animals-and the ocean they live in.

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Designing zoo habitats that promote animal well-being

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Designing zoo habitats that promote animal well-being

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No longer are zoo habitats with green tile walls and floors, looking more like a large bathroom than an animal's natural environment, the norm. Today, many zoologic institutions strive to create habitats for their collections that are hospitable and stimulating.

In his Oct. 11 AVMA Animal Welfare Forum presentation, "Steering the ark toward Eden: facility design for animal well-being," zoo design expert Jon C. Coe explained how zoological habitats can enhance animals' lives.

In the 1970s, large, lushly landscaped displays modeled after natural settings replaced the sterile, tiled enclosures. The shift toward naturalistic settings was followed by a rather hands-off approach to husbandry. Naturalistic displays were considered by many to be stimulating enough for the captive animals.

Coe noted that, although this approach worked well, it did not stop animals from growing bored with their environment. Boredom can have harmful effects, he added.

"Some people think the key to zoo animal welfare is to provide large, natural enclosures," said Coe, senior principal at CLR Design in Philadelphia. "An exhibit may look great, but it isn't doing much for the animal unless it also incorporates a choice of behavioral opportunities, variety, and novelty."

Behavioral and physical problems were once thought to be unrelated to an animal's environment. Yet there is growing evidence of a link between these problems and a lack of physical activity and inhospitable habitats. Research has also shown that providing captive animals with choices through an enriched environment lowers stress levels.

Several zoo exhibits over this past decade have done just that. The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and Sea World Florida allow some of their animals to search for and catch their food. Orangutans at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., are able to travel across the zoo on overhead ropes to visit friends and potential mates.

One recent innovation brought to the United States from Europe is the rotating exhibit. In traditional displays, animals might spend their entire lives in the same space. The rotation concept allows the animals to visit several areas each day. Gorillas at the Louisville Zoo, for instance, can choose between large, naturalistic outdoor habitats or a circular arrangement of indoor rooms.

Rotation exhibits are in the works at zoos in California, Washington state, and Sydney, Australia.

Stimulating environments enhance animal well-being by promoting activity and curiosity, resulting in improved physical and mental fitness. These exhibits aren't inexpensive, however, because additional staff with greater expertise are needed, and mechanical failure is a risk. But the benefits to animal well-being far outweigh the costs, according to Coe.

In addition, zoos in Honolulu and Australia are planning elephant exhibits featuring large pools in which the animals can participate in low impact aerobic exercise.

Coe advocates more research into these activity-based zoo exhibits to more accurately assess their effects on animal health and well-being. He envisions the next stage in the evolution of zoologic designs to be when the "monkeys really do run the monkey house."

In today's paradigm, animals are entirely dependent upon their human keepers. Yet for millions of years, ancestors of today's captive animals prospered in a world of fierce competition. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that captive primates can lower their stress levels by taking control of the situation.

Coe is looking forward to the day when captive species can acquire their food through foraging or simulated hunting, and can customize their own environments, as when bears and elephants trigger fans or cooling showers without the aid of their human keepers.

These kinds of environments, Coe noted, will have their greatest applicability in wildlife sanctuaries and those institutions that reintroduce animals into the wild.

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Designing zoo habitats that promote animal well-being

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Many zoologic institutions strive to create habitats for their collections that are hospitable and stimulating.

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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This may be one you want to steer students toward during Session 12 “Who Said What? Studying Perspective”

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When a kid in Malibu, California forced the rest of her classmates to miss out on a day at SeaWorld because she was misled by Blackfish, it made national news.

Ever since that girl forced the radical agenda of animal rights groups like PETA, The Dodo and others, they have claimed that children are rejecting accredited zoological organizations in favor of a debunked documentary.

However, we are learning this isn't the case, and in fact quite the opposite is happening nationwide!

Children of all ages are rejecting the radical agenda being shoved in their faces and asking for alternatives. Not only are they analyzing the source material the school is presenting to them, they're demanding they be allowed to think critically by hearing both sides of the issue, which is a victory for anyone interested in education.

Here we have a few stories of kids who are standing up to radical activists and demanding that they hear the full story and learn the truth:

Austin and Goliath in San Antonio, Texas

When one of Austin's teachers announced that they would be required to watch Blackfish in school, Austin stood up and demanded that they allow a SeaWorld trainer from SeaWorld San Antonio to come in afterwards to comment about the film.

The teacher responded, "We don't have time for that." Austin quickly countered, "Then we don't have time for Blackfish." The teacher agreed and the class was spared 80 minutes of out-of-context YouTube clips and propaganda.

Chris Brings Keiko to Texas

When Chris learned about the new book "Killing Keiko" by Mark Simmons, he went straight to his school's library. When he found out it wasn't available, but other radical animal rights books were, he kindly asked if "Killing Keiko" could be included. The librarians happily agreed and ordered the book. It is now available to all the students at his high school.

We have begun to learn that students in Florida, California, Idaho, Utah, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and more are all requesting that their libraries stock Killing Keiko.

Nikki vs. The Debate Team in New York, New York

When Nikki learned that her debate team would have to debate "Pro: SeaWorld should be closed" she had to fight other class members to represent the "Con" which was to defend SeaWorld in the debate. After days of research and preparation, she ended the debate convincing numerous audience members from the rival school that SeaWorld does incredible good in the world and should NOT be closed!

These 3 stories are just the tip of the iceberg. There has been so much interest in SeaWorld's real story that SeaWorld has been piloting an education program that would allow their trainers to virtually talk with any classroom about the amazing animal care their animals receive.

It is a new era and children around the country are demanding that they get to hear both sides and learn the truth!

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Kids Nationwide Reject the Blackfish Agenda

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When a kid in Malibu, California forced the rest of her classmates to miss out on a day at SeaWorld because she was misled by Blackfish, it made national news. Ever since that girl forced the radical agenda of animal rights groups like PETA, The Dodo and others, they have claimed that children are rejecting accredited zoological organizations in favor of a debunked documentary.

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(Soundbite of music)

MICHEL MARTIN, host:

I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News.

Coming up, Red Bull, Monster, RockStar - energy drinks are the go-to beverage for club goers and college students and the occasional journalist facing a deadline. But now, an anti-energy drink is being marketed to urban use that promises a mellow time. But some critics are sounding the alarm about a new drink called Drank. We'll tell you why in just a few minutes.

But first, a different kind of beverage, one that most school kids are happy to see in the lunch line but that is leaving some parents and nutritionists cold -namely: chocolate milk. Some school systems are considering taking chocolate milk off the menu at the urging of nutritionists who say children just do not need the extra calories and sugar, and they will drink plain milk if it is offered.

But now, the milk industry has struck back. This week, the Milk Processor Education Program and the National Dairy Council have launched a new campaign titled "Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk." Theyve enlisted celebrity moms like Rebecca Romijn, as well as a group of their own nutrition experts to press the case that chocolate milk is just as healthy as plain white milk.

(Soundbite of TV commercial)

Ms. REBECCA ROMIJN (Actress, Model): I like chocolate milk, and I know my girls will, too. It's a great way for them to get all the nutrients that go with it. That's why I'm raising my hand for chocolate milk.

MARTIN: That was, of course, Rebecca Romijn.

Joining us now to talk more about this are Keith Ayoob. He's a pediatric nutritionist at the Albert Einstein Medical Center. He has been a consultant to milk industry. And also with us, Marlene Schwartz, deputy director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.

I welcome you both. Thank you for joining us.

Dr. KEITH AYOOB (Pediatric Nutritionist, Albert Einstein Medical Center): Thanks for having me.

Dr. MARLENE SCHWARTZ (Deputy Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Yale University): Thank you for having me.

MARTIN: I'm not going to ask you all what you had for breakfast this morning. Whether its

(Soundbite of laughter)

MARTIN: chocolate milk or plain milk. But Marlene, I'm going to start with you and ask why do you want chocolate milk tossed off the school lunch menu?

Dr. SCHWARTZ: Well, I think what's important to realize here is that milk absolutely is an important part of children's diets, and I am certainly not anti-milk. But we know from research that weve done and others that children will drink plain milk. And the WIC program - which is the Women, Infant and Children program in the United States - does not support the use of chocolate milk. Head Start centers, preschool centers around the country all serve plain, white milk. And what weve observed is that the children will drink it.

So the question is, if children will drink regular milk when they're three and four and five years old, why is it that when they enter kindergarten, suddenly we think oh, no, they're not going to like it anymore and we introduce something that's significantly higher in sugar and calories?

MARTIN: Mr. Ayoob, before I ask your perspective on this, we mentioned that you have been a consultant to the milk industry. Can I ask, were you a paid consultant, and how recently?

Dr. AYOOB: Yes, I was, and it was last year. And I would also - well, I was actually asked to give them, along with some others, just sort of what I would call scientific counsel because of what I do in my normal day life. I'm an associate professor of pediatrics, but I also am a clinician. And after I hang up, I'm going to see patients all day. And so I'm very, very attuned to the issue of childhood obesity.

I have been sort of fighting it on a long-term basis for the last 25 years here. So I'm, you know, I fully understand the issue of extra calories and things like that. What I dont really understand, however, is that there's a lot of evidence that shows that kids who drink - and we're talking about low fat chocolate milk or fat free chocolate milk, okay? We're not talking about anything else here.

MARTIN: Mm-hmm.

Dr. AYOOB: Is that when kids have the choice, they will often chose chocolate milk but theyll also drink more milk. Theyll not only drink more in the way of, you know, theyll chose chocolate milk but kids who drink chocolate milk, also drink more white milk. And we know that about seven out of 10 kids have diets that are deficient in calcium.

And I guess what I also noticed, and whats happened in New York City, is when the districts here in the Bronx pulled chocolate milk off the menu, they found that there was a reduction in milk consumption by 10 percent. And thats concerning, because extrapolate that over the course of over the whole of New York City, which has 1.1 million kids, that would be 110,000 kids, who arent going to drink milk.

And Ill tell you, we need to think of this - not in terms of what goes on at the school day, but I think of it what happens after the school day is over. Because what I see, is when they come and sit in the waiting room here, is that when kids dont drink milk at lunch, not only are they not likely to get enough calcium for the day, but theyre also not going to get eight ounces of fluid. Theyre not going to get eight grams of protein. And theyre going to end up the school day more hungry and more thirsty.

MARTIN: So youre weighing the balance, youre saying on balance, it is still worth it to keep chocolate milk on the menu.

Dr. AYOOB: And not only my words though but this is specifically outlined in the dietary guidelines.

MARTIN: Okay okay, hold on a second. Im going to let Marlene respond a bit. Im going to ask Vivien Godfrey, the CEO of the Milk Processor Education Group, told us that most kids chose chocolate milk over plain milk. And she says that in the absence of chocolate milk, theyll chose to drink juice, soda, or water rather than plain milk.

So, Marlene, youve also done studies on children and their food choices, what about that?

Ms. SCHWARTZ: Well, what we found in our research, is essentially children drink whats served. And so, sure, if you put chocolate milk next to plain milk, a lot of children will chose the chocolate milk. Of course they will, because its higher in sugar and it tastes sweeter. I think the key is to really promote the drinks that you want them to be consuming. In this case it would be plain milk.

And in terms of the research, when Ive looked into the research on this, what I found in, you know, articles published in the journal of the American Dietetic Association last year that looked at national data, is that when youre looking at small children, the vast majority of them actually are exclusively plain milk drinkers.

So, I dont think were talking about the majority of children overall. And I think what this campaign is really about - its about the sale of chocolate milk in schools. And I think whats motivating it is not a lack of calcium in childrens diets, but rather the fact that 58 percent of the chocolate milk sold in this country is sold in schools. And I think theyre worried about losing that part of the market.

MARTIN: Well sure sure, that sounds plausible but the fact is what about what Mr. Ayoob said that - that a lot of the kids were getting their best nutrition at school, theyre not going to get the other stuff at home. What about that? Dont you find that (unintelligible).

Ms. SCHWARTZ: I think weve

MARTIN: Wait a minute, let Marlene respond to it and then Mr. Ayoob, Ill come back to you, briefly.

Ms. SCHWARTZ: My point is that, I think weve painted ourselves into a corner. Its just like with the soft drinks in the schools or with high sugar cereals in the schools, that they are already used to these extremely sweet beverages, and these, you know, sweet cereals. And so, of course, when you take them away theres going to be an adjustment period.

So, I am not surprised that, you know, consumption might have gone down, slightly, when they were taken out of the schools. But its almost like we need to retrain children.

MARTIN: Okay.

Ms. SCHWARTZ: Weve, you know, sort of fallen into this trap of just adding sugar to everything to their cereal, to their milk - and then were surprised when they have a preference for high sugar food.

MARTIN: All right, I gave you the first word. I am going to give Mr. Ayoob the last word. Mr. Ayoob, what about that? I mean, why not just offer the best choices and teach kids to chose that?

Dr. AYOOB: And that sort of a root canal approach, but I have to say that the amount of sugar thats in chocolate milk, or that amount of sugar that kids get in chocolate milk accounts to about two or three percent of the sugar that they get. And if we left out the less, you know, the more junkie drinks that kids drink, that would pretty much remove the vast majority of sugar.

Now, the dietary guidelines specifically cited flavored milk as a way to use some extra added, what they call discretionary calories, to drive the consumption of more nutrient rich foods like milk. So, its a good way to spend those extra calories that we all know kids are going to have to have on some level.

MARTIN: Its an interesting discussion and we thank you both so much for your work in this area and for talking to us about it. Keith Ayoob is a pediatric nutritionist for the Albert Einstein Medical Center. As he mentioned, he has previously been a paid consultant to the milk industry and he was kind enough to join us by phone from his office in New York.

Marlene Schwartz is the deputy director of Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. And she was kind enough to join us from the studios at Yale University. I thank you both so much.

Ms. SCHWARTZ: Thank you.

Dr. AYOOB: Thank you.

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This week the Milk Processor Education Program, in partnership with the National Dairy Council launched the campaign "Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk" to get support for the sweet beverage to stay on school menus. But some experts say, chocolate milk's extra calories will just help kids pack on the pounds.

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Be mindful with your reusable canvas and non-woven bags. Without frequent washing and appropriate storage, reusable bags can harbor dangerous bacteria.

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Nearly 90% of Americans reuse plastic bags. What do you do with yours?

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Ask any school child what the pros of a school uniform are and they'll likely greet you with blank stares. If you think back to when you were a child you'll remember that most of us hated wearing a school uniform. However while it might not be entirely popular among the children, it can nevertheless have many positive benefits and if you think back to your time in school objectively now, then you can probably appreciate that fact.

For parents, teachers or governors trying to decide on their viewpoint of school uniforms it can be hard to think of it objectively and to think of all the different strengths and weaknesses they poise. Read on then and learn some of the plus and minus points about the controversial school uniform.

Pros of School Uniforms

It helps you to find children: If a school is on a trip, or if a child runs away, a school uniform can help teachers to quickly identify children from their school and so prevent them from getting lost. This is a very useful ability for teachers and if it means fewer children going missing it's of course a good thing.

It prevents competition and teasing: When children wear their own clothes into school, this then becomes a time for them to judge each other. Some children will be more mature than others, some will have better dress sense, and some will have more money at their disposal. What you don't want is some children turning up in fashionable new clothes and bullying the ones in their hand-me-downs who will inevitably feel embarrassed as a result. With a school uniform everyone is the same, thus no one can argue this point. Likewise wearing home clothes can show affiliation - to sports teams, to TV series, or to bands - and this can then cause arguments between the 'rival' teams.

It can enforce a positive attitude: In a work place we dress smartly even though there's normally no uniform in office jobs, and even the self employed are advised to dress as though they were going into an office. The reason for this is that it can make you feel professional, and that that in turn can make you produce a better quality of work. The same is true of school children and if they are in shirts they will feel more like little workers and less like football fans.

It can teach discipline: Though many jobs do not require a uniform, others do. If you children are going to grow up to become nurses or checkout assistants then they may as well get used now to putting on the same uniform day in and out.

It shows their age: At the end of the day you want people to know that your children are children. This prevents people from chatting them up or serving them alcohol. By putting them in school uniforms the older looking children then can't pretend to be older than they are.

It can be used as an excuse: If a child is misbehaving and needs to be put in line, it can sometimes be difficult for a teacher to find a reason. By telling them off for having their shirt un-tucked though you have a legitimate reason. This is often why there are dress codes in clubs (though some parents would undoubtedly argue this was a bad reason to wear a uniform).

Cons of School Uniforms

They're expensive for parents: Those parents who would have sent their children to school in old hand-me-downs and knitted jumpers may not be as relieved about the uniform as you may think, as it will mean they have to fork out for expensive school uniforms time and again in order to pay for their children's education. They will also need several versions of the same outfit as their children will have to wear them five days a week. This is on top of the clothes they already had to wear. They may well end up still wearing hand-me-downs from older siblings, or faded clothes from the charity shop too.

They can give the school a bad name: If the children of a school are out causing trouble wearing the uniform from a school, it can reflect badly on that school and result in fewer parents wanting to send their children there.

It can cause controversy: Someone has to design the uniform and someone has to choose what it consists of. Rules like 'girls wear skirts' can be perceived as pervy or sexist, while girls not being allowed to wear skirts can upset a lot of the girls. Likewise ties will be seen as a point of controversy (again is there gender equality here?) and every time there' a redesign parents and pupils alike will likely be angry. By letting children wear their own clothes you can avoid all of the politics involved here.

They can stifle individuality: Some people say that school uniforms are good for creating a sense of authority and discipline in children, whereas other parents would argue this is undesirable and they would rather their children were more creative and more liberal. At the same time they might feel that it takes away a way for children to express themselves and be more creative. It could be seen as stifling their creativity and independence to get them more willing to work for the 'man' in later life. Whether or not this is a good thing is entirely a matter of perspective.

Children don't like them: At the end of the day children would all love to wear their own uniforms. It would make children want to come to that school and it would make them a lot more likely to tow the line in other ways. Other schools would think that the children from yours were the 'cool' ones and it would generally be a great gift to the children. They're the ones who have to wear the things day in day out... so this has got to be worth something.

They look bad: School uniforms by and large are ugly to look at and usually involve black and yellow stripes, mucus green jumpers and uncomfortable materials. It's no wonder the children don't like wearing them... And this fact can make them teased by other children.

So there is no easy answer about whether children should or shouldn't wear uniforms and really it comes down to your own philosophies. At the end of the day though it's possible to make school uniforms a lot more pleasant than they are currently and there's no reason for them to be quite so bad to look at. Meanwhile it's also possible to find a compromise - such as making children wear a certain hat, or wear a tie and shirt but letting them choose them. Even just saying they have to wear a red jumper. If you are in charge of uniforms at your school then, maybe try thinking outside the box and ending the age old debate? Perhaps if you are little creative then you can satisfy both camps to at least some degree.

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Ask any school child what the pros of a school uniform are and they'll likely greet you with blank stares. If you think back to when you were a child you'll remember that most of us hated wearing a school uniform.