Pizza Hut Reading Program Protest?

Question

Here's the link to the story on CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/02/reading.for.pizza.ap/index.html

Is this just stupid or what?! I remember this program when I was in school. Whenever you read a certain amount of books you got a free personal pan pizza (one of those small pizzas). Personally, I think that it is a good program that gets kids that wouldn't normally read, to actually read books. It's not like everyone in our school became obese because of this program! What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Susan Linn, a Harvard psychologist and co-founder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood:

"In the name of education, it promotes junk food consumption to a captive audience ... and undermines parents by positioning family visits to Pizza Hut as an integral component of raising literate children,"

So Ms. Linn (or is it doctor?), as a parent--father of three healthy children who read--it is your professional opinion that I do not have the intellect or fortitude to discuss correct eating habit with my children as I treat them to an occasional personal pan pizza?

Would you (in your Harvard-educated opinion) posit that we must protect mindless, brainless parents like me from making poor decisions and allowing their children to develop unhealthy eating habits because every few months Pizza Hut decides to integrate their marketing program with my parenting?

Do you think perhaps I am irresponsible enough to allow Pizza Hut to dig deeply into my childrens' psyche--making them into pizza gluttons who feed the corporate giant without any ability to stop themselves?

Well Ma'am, I beg to differ. I would submit that I (and millions of American parents like me) are capable of managing to teach our children correct eating habits. We'll take the Pepperoni please! Thanks Pizza Hut for helping us promote literacy and a lifelong love of learning!

TEACHME

Answer 2

An easy compromise is for Pizza Hut to limit the Free Pizza to Vegetable Pizza - a healthy food!!!

But somebody would come up and start complaining about murdering vegetables - so ya cant win for losing.

Its a sure bet - children are not going to read books for an apple or an orange. Give a child an incentive to read, just long enough for the child to find that reading is actually fun, then ween them off the prize as a reward.

Answer 3

I also was a participant in the book it program. It is a great program because it encourages children to read. Sure they get a personal pan pizza and that is not healthy but they can't get that pizza without the parents so the parents have accountability. I am not and never was overweight. I think blaming pizza hut for encouraging bad eating habits is a copout. Parents should be held accountable for their childrens eating habits and eating a pan pizza once a week is not going to make your child fat unless you do not make them be active. It sickens me that our society paly the blame game. Take some responsibility for you own actions.

Answer 4

Remember the Age of Reason? We have now entered the Age of Insanity. Every nut job with a microphone, or an anchor desk, or newspaper column, or even a touch of fame, can summon Outrage and stir controversy.

The Pizza Hut reading program has been around for years. My son, a natural reader, participated. He got quite the thrill out of the manager coming to our table and congratulating him.

After NYC banned restaurants using transfats, I thought we had bottomed out. But there seems to be no limit to silliness.

Answer 5

I think it is the best program going in schools today,if ya want a good prize like pizza then read,read,read.A child will not become obese from 4 slices of pizza a month,if they are active will burn it off in one hour.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I agree with you.