Government to subsidize fruit-and-vegs for schools

The Czech government on Monday approved a scheme to co-subsidize fruits and vegetables for primary school children within a broader effort to combat problems with obesity. According to the results of a European survey Czech children are the ninth fattest on the continent. Experts blame this on below-standard-nutrition in schools and a lack of physical activity. The free fruit-and-veg scheme for school children is voluntary and will be financed in part from EU funds, in part from a 20 million government subsidy. The government is also subsidizing milk for school children, but only about half of the country’s primary schools have requested it.

Teachers at a loss over some kids view that communism was “fine” A team of specialists from the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes which cooperates with schools on projects and lectures relating to the country’s communist history said that many teachers they had worked with were at a loss over how to deal with some kids’ belief that communism was “ok” or “fine”. The head of the team, Jaroslav Pinkas said schoolchildren picked up this view from their parents and admitted that teachers were in a difficult position correcting it. He said the team’s advice was to deliver the facts and call on specialists for help. Some schools are inviting communist prisoners to visit classrooms and talk about their past.