Homework assignment for kids in Tennessee: take pictures of your food and how much you spend weekly

This is information from a blog, that possibly is written by a member of ATS, Questioningall

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My daughter's Social Studies Assignment this week - She HAD to take a picture of what food we had in the Pantry, Freezer and Fridge along with a picture of her family!

Proof the Assignment page of Social Studies on her school's website (you can see my name on the side)

My daughter is in middle school. 2 days ago she had a Social Studies assignment that she HAD TO DO! She had no choice as she would get an F if she did not do the required assignment!

What was that assignment?

She had to take a picture of our food pantry and the food in it and she had to take a picture of our Freezer and Fridge with what amount of food we had, how much was spent on food per week and she had to bring in a picture of her family!

It really bothered me and I did not want her to do it, but she got upset and said she had to do it and that is was just for comparing to food people eat in other countries!

This happened in Knoxville area.

I can't believe this is happening in American schools. This is a clear invasion of privacy!!!
Food is a weapon, as history shows!

reply to post by Zagari


They probably have the system set up so that if you question the teacher about this, they will report you as a bad parent. This is getting out of hand.

Oh my I totally agree- that is a horrible invasion of big brother into our family lives, regardless of the cause such as child welfare. I would be appalled if my son was sent home with that assignment.

For lulz, I'd empty everything out save for a bottle of ketchup or something before taking a photo. Then I guess I'd have to explain it was a joke as my son gets carted off to foster care.

How disgusting. The state is nothing but intrusive bureaucrats from the politicians down to the teachers today. I can understand the idea of taking a picture of your food to compare it to foods eaten elsewhere around the world, no big deal, but to require a picture be taken of your refrigerator, which is very intrusive and possibly uncomfortable for lower-class kids that could be embarrassed of the lack of food, and which I believe could be used as a disguise for the state to check how much food is in there which could lead to a social services visit if it is not up to par. Not to mention a required photograph of your family, what if they did not want to be photographed, is that an immediate ‘F’?

If that were my kid I would make it clear, none of that was going to happen. He can take a picture of the food on his plate if he wants but that is where I would draw the line. Plus there would be a little phone call to the school inquiring why they are invading the privacy of students and their families. They want to see what is in my refrigerator I will gladly let them, if they have a warrant.

I am opened minded and will entertain the possibility that the assignment is a gross violation of personal privacy, but I would be willing to wager that a more likely story is that the Social Studies teacher is fairly progressive and is trying to broaden the students horizons. My son is in middle school and lessons that can be anchored to his life resonate far more than rote examples.

I wouldn't be surprised if this photo essay from TIME magazine was the inspiration for the assignment.

Regardless of your take on this teacher's assignment, take a look at the photos, it really is illuminating.

Wow, looking through that Time photo gallery It clearly points out how horrible the west's eating habits are....The further west you go the more high sugar/prepackaged junk is on the table and the scarcity of fresh fruits/veggies. Cost's are higher too....

nothing says it better than photos.

I remember doing a project like that...but I didn't need photos. Just a basic list like (bread...cereal...etc) and a guessed cost. That does seem way over reaching. If My child neeed to do that I would do like said above and take out all the stock and just leave the weekly consumables. and then Photoshop the photo so there's no faces.

Originally posted by Vardoger

nothing says it better than photos.

I remember doing a project like that...but I didn't need photos. Just a basic list like (bread...cereal...etc) and a guessed cost. That does seem way over reaching. If My child neeed to do that I would do like said above and take out all the stock and just leave the weekly consumables. and then Photoshop the photo so there's no faces.

edit on 9-12-2011 by Vardoger because: (no reason given)

I am not arguing whether the assignment was appropriate or not, but as you stated, nothing says it better than photos, which was probably the teacher's thoughts.

reply to post by Zagari


Just reading your headline, I thought I would totally disagree with you. I'm glad the schools are teaching life skills like budgeting and grocery shopping.

But then, after reading your OP, it is definitely an invasion of privacy, and what if the teacher sees something there that they disagree with? WIll they call the authorities? I think you have a legitimate beef, and I would call the school and complain if I were you.

Originally posted by LordOfArcadia
I am opened minded and will entertain the possibility that the assignment is a gross violation of personal privacy, but I would be willing to wager that a more likely story is that the Social Studies teacher is fairly progressive and is trying to broaden the students horizons. My son is in middle school and lessons that can be anchored to his life resonate far more than rote examples.

I wouldn't be surprised if this photo essay from TIME magazine was the inspiration for the assignment.

Regardless of your take on this teacher's assignment, take a look at the photos, it really is illuminating.

edit on 9-12-2011 by LordOfArcadia because: (no reason given)

I agree with your take on it, as a teacher. When I read about the assignment in the OP, the first thing I thought about was the book (the same authors as highlighted in the TIME photo essay.) I have the book, and it is a fascinating glimpse into the world's differences related to food. I know that in GA, 7th graders study cultures of the world. Learning about cultures based upon what they eat is an interesting thing to do.

Admittedly, I am not in TN, but I doubt that the teachers there are part of a conspiracy to monitor what you are doing in your home. Although I do see why you would initially freak out, since we have been reading about how the government doesn't want us to hoard food or we might be a "terrorist".

it is even more disturbing if you read of her encounter with cps dec 1 2010. so almost exactly a year after being interrogated about such things as stored food, there is an interesting homework assighnment to get info another way.

sherriequestioningall.blogspot.com...

My child said, these are the questions they asked " Does your mother have SOLAR PANELS? Where Exactly does your mother take you camping? Where exactly have you gone hiking? Do you hike and then camp? Does anyone else go with you camping? What do you do when you go camping? Does your mother have alternative energy? Does your mother have stored food? Does your mother have any guns? Does your mother saying anything about "The end of the world"? What kind of remodeling has your mother done to your home? Do you have a "safe room", like a bomb shelter in your home?

it would seem that for some reason they seem rather concerned about survival prepardness. not realy something that i can see holds much relivance for an inquirey about possible abuse. in all honesty i would almost suspect that it was not the cps at all but another nosy gov agency at work. i almost wonder if they had interviewed all the kids in the school and targeted her due to the child's answers. i mean we all know that camping is a sign of being ant-establishment right. then add in haveing food must be some sort of nut. after reading her side of the cps interview i can only form the opinion that they are looking at her being involved in some militia group. the fact that she is apparently a christian is also seeming to be a major factor for the visit.

erily reminded of the way that the natzis indoctornated the children to inform on their parrents. nothing like useing kids as pawns against thier parrents.

I would have gotten one of the river rats around here that are readily available, had my cat kill it skin it and hung it in the cupboard lol. Just like that issue of Time in like 1980 something from China's food store windows lol. Then I would have had my mexican neighbors posed with my child for our "family photo" LMAO...serves them right!

What surprised me about the Time Photo Gallery was the fact that roughly only 6 out of the 16 families profiled in the pictured DID NOT have a Coca-Cola/Pepsi product on display showing their weekly food consumption.

I never realized how many people worldwide drink soda pop on a daily/weekly basis ?!

reply to post by CranialSponge


I noticed that, too. Lots of soda. So bad for you. lol

But mostly, I just want to move in with the German family so I could have some of their beer and wine.

Originally posted by AshleyD
reply to post by CranialSponge

 

I noticed that, too. Lots of soda. So bad for you. lol

But mostly, I just want to move in with the German family so I could have some of their beer and wine.

Yeah no kidding... I think they had more booze on the table than food.

Oktoberfest every day !

Click here for more information.

reply to post by Zagari


Well, if she has to. then you should limit what she takes pictures of. remove some items and make it look as if you do not have much. Get the system? It's an invasion of privacy

I would be that mother who's always calling the school making a fuss... I wouldn't allow this assignment and I would call the school and tell them why. Surely there's another way to teach this lesson, complete with pictures, that wouldn't involve a government institution demanding to see pictures inside people's homes... I have no doubt the exercise is innocent, but they need to think of another way.

My daughter had a similar assignment. Hers was to look in the fridge and pull out anything that was spoiled. She did not find anything in my fridge, but I understand the results in class were pretty gross. I sseriously doubt this assignment was "goverment sponsored" or intended to invade your privacy.

I wondered how long before it would take big-brother to catch up! Now they're resorting to our children in their quest to gather evidence for those that don't eat the mind-controlled-laced garbage currently being passed off as "food".

For years now my wife and I regularly don wigs, makeup, fake scars and prosthetics along with various accents before going to the "underground store" (aka - Farmer's Market) to buy homegrown vegetables, fruits and meats. Occasionally we think we see government agents (read: mailmen) who I'm sure are there to report on who's buying these goods. We can only hope that they'll never figure out how to simply tap into store-receipt data to figure out exactly who's buying what because apparently now - it's much easier to send your kids on assignment with a camera.

Good grief, hysteria much?

Sounds like a more interesting assignment than whatever I had to do in Social Studies and certainly more useful and informative.