I have quite a few issues with this article.
First, many professors lament the reading, writing, and math skills that high school students bring with them to college. I would hope these courses are not substituting for actual content-rich courses. Or are colleges only offering them to encourage kids to choose their universities (hence more money for them) and not about the more loftier goal of a more educated society?
Second (speaking of money), tuition keeps rising, making college less and less affordable to middle-class (or lower) families. This is what they are using their newly acquired income on? Paying salaries for these speciality teachers?
Third, there is a conspiracy by scientists to make obesity appear worse than it is? Really? What exactly is the pay-off for scientists to do this? Why wouldn't scientists and doctors want the populace to be healthier?
Finally, I have the same opinion as you, futuresurferchick. Having self-esteem at any size should be encouraged, as people shouldn't wait for their life to start once they are thin. However, I have a problem with encouraging obesity. I feel sorry for kids that are overweight, because I know the uphill battle and problems they face. I wouldn't endorse this behavior in kids, just like I wouldn't advocate for it in adults. And equating fat studies with women or ethnic studies is ludicrious.
Ahem. This article riled me up. I would love to hear other viewpoints on it.
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