BE WARNED: This is NOT about Kathy Lee Gifford. It is NOT about NBC. It is most DEFINITELY NOT involved with the TODAY show. There is nothing here asking ANYONE to sign a petition. If you're looking for something about any of the above topics, I suggest you stop reading now.
Still with me? Good. THIS is the news article in question:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/education/22613...
Toddlers who dislike spicy food 'racist'
By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent
Last updated: 9:29 AM BST 08/07/2008
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."
Uhm...What in the nine Hells? WHY is this even an issue? Toddlers who are faced with unfamiliar foods will, more often than not, NOT EAT IT. It's been that way since we HAD a variety of foods to PRESENT to toddlers!
This makes no sense to me. A toddler doesn't psychically KNOW that Mexican food is Mexican. He just knows that the food is weird, and it burns his mouth, so he doesn't want to eat it!
Thoughts? Does anyone else here think that this study was done by people who are high?