Girls Entering Puberty Younger and Younger...

Recently I have seen a few articles that speak of how girls as young as 7 years old are entering puberty.  I'm sure that all conscientious parents would want to delay their child's entering puberty as long as possible so as to avoid their child having to deal with the emotional and physical challenges that accompany it.  But not only that...early puberty is being linked to increased chances of breast cancer.

I bring this to your attention...so you can keep your eyes out for those things that are speculated to trigger the early development...and to keep your child away from them!

So what is causing this?  Most of the articles have "experts" saying something similar to the following...

"He speculates that its primary driver may be overweight and obesity, because estrogen is sequestered in fat tissue.  But environmental exposures to chemicals - including pesticides and endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol A, commonly found in plastics, and phthalates, which are contained in many personal-care products - could also play a role."

Many in the Waldorf community already believe that those things are poor for your health...and have adjusted their lifestyles.  Using metals and glasses instead of plastics.  Avoiding growth hormones in foods and other pesticides and herbicides by eating organic.  Watching the things that come into our bodies by eating and even what we absorb through our skin.

Here is some good advice...

"Until we know what the cause is, the best way to slow puberty may be to “start living green,” says Biro. “It may help for families eat together and to consume well-balanced diets. Regular physical activity may help, too.”

The Childcare Industry Struggles...

Here is an article from a recent edition of the Sacramento Bee about the state of the childcare industry in our region. While it is not our intent to close our doors anytime soon...I thought it would be good for you to see how this business (like many other industries) can be a fragile one...and what is taking place in our area. When the parents lose their jobs...move...etc...childcares take a hit in their income as well. If it is substantial enough of a hit...and the childcare is unable to keep up with expenses...they ultimately close down. While we have lost some families to losing employment...under employment...and other reasons...we have continued to increase our enrollment with the word of mouth from happy parents.

We hope that you will continue to spread the good word!...and thank you for doing so in the past.

Is More School Better?

Schools across the nation are trying to figure out how they are going to be able to stay open. Daily the news tells the stories of districts sending out mass pink slips to their teachers...of schools getting rid of things like their art classes and sports programs and cutting their custodial crews...and of other ways that they are drastically cutting back on their expenses.

Earlier this year Arnold Schwarzenegger...looking for ways to cut expenses for the state proposed having 5 fewer school days each year.

In direct contrast to that statement Barak Obama and his Education Secretary are publicly advocating that the US have more school days per year...and longer days. Their statements do not mention any legislation towards that end...just that it is what they want to have happen.

So does it sound like a good idea to you? Here is an article discussing some of the pro's and con's. Personally I do not want more school. I want higher quality schooling...and stronger families to support that education. Frankly...I also want the disbanding of the board of education and the federal governments role in our children's education.

A fair question ask is..."If we can't afford to run our schools right now on the days and hours that we currently do...how will we afford it if we increase the days and hours?" It is like a family that is deeply in debt...on the verge of bankruptcy...about to be on the street...planning on how they can spend more money on shoes. While shoes are important...if you have no money to buy them...you may have to make do with what you've got...or take money from another expense to pay for the shoes.

Anyways...this is an issue that we need to decide where we stand on it...so that if it tries to become a law...we can make our voices heard.