my kids love spicy west african food, but won't touch collard greens. what does that make them? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...ho-dislike-spicy-food-racist,-say-report.html [rquoter]Toddlers who turn their noses up at spicy food from overseas could be branded racists by a Government-sponsored agency. The National Children's Bureau, which receives £12 million a year, mainly from Government funded organisations, has issued guidance to play leaders and nursery teachers advising them to be alert for racist incidents among youngsters in their care. This could include a child of as young as three who says "yuk" in response to being served unfamiliar foreign food. The guidance by the NCB is designed to draw attention to potentially-racist attitudes in youngsters from a young age. It alerts playgroup leaders that even babies can not be ignored in the drive to root out prejudice as they can "recognise different people in their lives". The 366-page guide for staff in charge of pre-school children, called Young Children and Racial Justice, warns: "Racist incidents among children in early years settings tend to be around name-calling, casual thoughtless comments and peer group relationships." It advises nursery teachers to be on the alert for childish abuse such as: "blackie", "Pakis", "those people" or "they smell". The guide goes on to warn that children might also "react negatively to a culinary tradition other than their own by saying 'yuk'". Staff are told: "No racist incident should be ignored. When there is a clear racist incident, it is necessary to be specific in condemning the action." Warning that failing to pick children up on their racist attitudes could instil prejudice, the NCB adds that if children "reveal negative attitudes, the lack of censure may indicate to the child that there is nothing unacceptable about such attitudes". Nurseries are encouraged to report as many incidents as possible to their local council. The guide added: "Some people think that if a large number of racist incidents are reported, this will reflect badly on the institution. In fact, the opposite is the case."[/rquoter]
Actually that's not what the article is saying. It's saying if they say yuk to another cultures tradition. So if they see someone saying yuk to a kid eating west african food. Not that they can't say yuk if they don't like the taste of it. They aren't even trying it. I don't think this is as much PC as about trying to teach kids not to be prejudice. Certainly it's not saying they have to like spicey foods.
Rereading the article it does say that kids who say "yuk" when they are fed the foreign food and not just at seeing another kid eating it. [rquoter]Toddlers who turn their noses up at spicy food from overseas could be branded racists by a Government-sponsored agency. The National Children's Bureau, which receives £12 million a year, mainly from Government funded organisations, has issued guidance to play leaders and nursery teachers advising them to be alert for racist incidents among youngsters in their care. This could include a child of as young as three who says "yuk" in response to being served unfamiliar foreign food. [/rquoter]
It seems to me that it is the interpretation of the writer of the article, but there isn't a guideline quoted or a clear source to actually back that conclusion up by the writer of the article. I mean, c'mon, doesn't it just seem to be a bit too over the top to be true?
I hear ya, but I'd bet a dollar that this is a case of someone misinterpreting the guidelines in order to make a story out of it.
I think the article is pretty clear that teaching kids that other people's food is "gross" is setting up roots for racism. from article "The guide goes on to warn that children might also "react negatively to a culinary tradition other than their own by saying 'yuk'". "
I sympathize. My toddler has started being critical of people who are dark or fat. I don't let it slide and I hope her teachers don't either. Her pickiness about food doesn't make me too happy either.
I'm no expert but I've seen kids not like or be disgusted by domestic food as well, tell us beaurocrats of England, does that make them self loathing?
I can't eat anything more than the mildly spicy, it makes my head itch. and really - I just cannot see the point? How can you enjoy the taste of food when its hot hot hot? Im 25 and obviously going to hell based on the article.
british food sucks but seriously, its not the dislike of the food as much as it is the disdain for something different and therefore looking down upon people who eat it. i might be crazy but i totally agree with the concept even though this particular piece on the subject might not be that well written.
