School Breakfast Event in Baltimore, MD

                                              Release No. 0308.97


Remarks
                              of 
                     Secretary Dan Glickman
            School Breakfast Event in Baltimore, MD
                       September 9, 1997

     Thank you, Principal Cottrell. I'd like to thank everyone here at
McMechan for the invitation to breakfast this morning. It really is the most
important meal of the day. It gets you off to a good start whether you're in
school or at work, and it's important that it's a healthy start like we're all
getting this morning thanks to the fine work of your food service staff.

     President Clinton's asked everyone in his Cabinet to visit a school this
week to focus attention on the importance of education, and of communities and
parents taking an active role in our children's learning. I chose to come here
because -- as Secretary of Agriculture -- I run the school lunch and breakfast
programs, and your school is sort of like the Orioles right now: You're first
in your league -- the best in Maryland. 
     
     I came to McMechan to get a real taste for how a winning school
breakfast program works.

     I'm sure your parents tell you how much times have changed since they
were in school. One thing's for sure: Everyone's a lot more busy these days.
Parents work very hard, and it's difficult sometimes to manage a sit-down
dinner together, let alone breakfast.

     The School Breakfast Program is America's way of ensuring that all kids
have a place to come to start their day off right. It's important. Like your
school creed says,  All that I learn today leads to what I become tomorrow.'
The education you receive every day matters. We want to make sure that each
day you are able to learn to the best of your abilities. 

     You can't do that on an empty stomach. I got my start in government
serving on the school board in my home town of Wichita, Kansas. There I
learned that a good teacher can spot a hungry child right away -- they're
tired, they have a harder time paying attention, they're distracted. Who
wouldn't be? That's when I knew: If we want our kids to show up to class ready
to learn, then we need to ensure that all our kids show up to class having
eaten a healthy morning meal. 

You may not know this, but the School Lunch Program was started right after
World War II, when the Army noticed that young men were showing up for
military service undernourished. 
They weren't getting enough food, and they weren't eating the right kinds of
food. School lunches were America's way of ensuring that all children got at
least one square meal a day. 

But as anyone who's ever eaten just one meal a day knows: That just doesn't
cut it. So we started school breakfasts. Today, we serve more than 6.9 million
breakfasts in schools across the country, mostly to children who otherwise
might go hungry. I'd like to see the program in even more schools, reaching
out to every child in need.

World War II may be history, but school meals are still vital to our national
security. In the next century, the power of our minds will largely determine
the power of our nation. We must commit ourselves as individuals and as a
country to building healthy minds and healthy bodies. 

     That starts with healthy eating. I'd like to commend Principal Cottrell
for taking a stand, and only allowing healthy food -- whether it's lunches or
snacks -- in her school. I'd also like to thank McMechan for being one of the
original Team Nutrition schools. You were one of the first to embrace the idea
that the cafeteria could also be a classroom ... one that feeds children not
just nutritious meals, but nutrition knowledge -- encouraging a lifetime of
healthy eating.

     We see the fruits of this effort all around us in the nutrition
education material decorating the cafetorium. I'm told this was done mostly by
the students. They did a great job, and I understand this kind of hands-on
involvement really helps bring the lesson home. One theme I'd love to see
would be about where food comes from, and why it's important -- even if you
live in a big city like Baltimore -- to support America's farmers who grow the
food we eat.

     Without taking any more of your time, I'd like to congratulate McMechan
for being such an inspiration and a role model for schools that want to give
their kids a truly well-rounded education. I also want to thank the community
here -- Principal Cottrell, the teachers, parents and food service staff, Gov.
Glendening and the state education folks -- for leading this effort ...
Maryland's children are healthier for it.

     I also want you to know that your work has not gone unnoticed.  I'd like
to take this opportunity to present a check for $300,000. We hope these funds
can boost Maryland's efforts to provide nutritious meals that kids actually
like -- we all know that's important ... a healthy meal uneaten, isn't a
healthy meal at all. 

     This Team Nutrition Training Grant is one of 19 that's being awarded
nationwide. We had a $4 million funding pool, and it's no coincidence that
Maryland is receiving the largest grant. Programs like McMechan's are pioneers
in fighting hunger, promoting nutrition, and strengthening America's future.
On behalf of President Clinton, thank you all for the work you do every day to
make it a strong one. 

                                #

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