Harlem School Introduces Children to Swiss Chard

Harlem School Introduces Children to Swiss Chard
Ebony Richards, a confirmed hamburger and Tater Tots girl, knows the rules of the lunch line at her school, the Promise Academy in Harlem.

When confronted with whole-wheat penne covered with sautéed peppers and local squash, she does not blurt out "That's nasty." If she does, she goes to the end of the line.

Although seconds on main courses are not allowed - someone has to show children what a reasonable portion is - Ebony can fill her tray with a dozen helpings of vegetables or bowls of Romaine lettuce from the salad bar. Any time in the school day, she can wander into the cafeteria for a New York apple.

Ebony, 12, had never seen Swiss chard until a month ago. She ate three helpings. "I was like, 'I don't want to eat that,' " she said of her first few months of meals at the Promise Academy. "But I had to, because there was nothing else. Then it was like, 'This is good.' "
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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/nyregion/09promise.html

high school brawl breaks out between houston and new orleans students

Teens face charges due to brawl
KTRK By Cynthia Cisneros

(9/13/05 - HOUSTON) - HISD officials say a fight broke out at Jones High School between Houston students and New Orleans evacuees. Some were taken by ambulance and others were arrested.
Parents and students tell Eyewitness News it's a powder keg of a situation in southeast Houston. HISD police have regained control of the campus.

A fight erupted around 8:45am Tuesday. Students say the problem began last week Students from New Orleans and Houston agree things escalated when a soda can was thrown into a group of New Orleans students as they arrived on campus. A very physical fight then broke out, involving punching and kicking. Students were crying and screaming.

Police were able to break up the fight. When it was all over, three students were taken to area hospitals by ambulance. Five students were arrested. Authorities say of the five arrested, two students are from Louisiana.

The five students arrested Tuesday morning all face a charge of a Class C misdemeanor. They also face the possibility of suspension.

There are 3,000 students who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina and relocated into Houston schools. HISD officials are making it very clear that inappropriate behavior by any students will not be tolerated on campus.
(Copyright © 2005, KTRK-TV)
Cynthia Cisneros

ABC13 News Team

Cynthia Cisneros, Reporter

RELATED: Cynthia's BIO

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bill maher

Bill Maher's closing remarks from his show on HBO

"Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's speaking to you. Mission accomplished.

"Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or space man? Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in. Please don't. I know, I know. There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote.

"But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a @#%$ president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes.

"On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans. Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.

"So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "