Should junk food should be banned from primary and secondary schools ?

This speech was delivered as part of the Macra Na Feirme regional debating heat held on the 17th of January in Carrigtwohill, Community Centre County Cork. Our motion was "that junk food should be banned from primary and secondary schools"

Chairman, members of the adjudicating panel, members of the proposition, ladies and gentlemen of the audience. I stand here this evening with some of my colleagues from Tullow Macra Na Feirme to defend the right of our young people to be allowed junk food in moderation in our country primary and secondary schools. As part of my contribution to the arguments being put forward by this side of the house, I discuss and how my own personal experiences with junk food had lead me to express the views  that I am articulating this evening. My colleague Susan Willis will be articulating the view point how the banning of junk food in society can lead us to developing a negative attitude towards it. Hannah Driver will be strenuously arguing the point we should concentrate on educating our school going population on the value of a balanced diet instead of banning junk food. While Ricky Oliver will talk about the economic draw back if such a ban was to take place. He will also provide us with an example that will illustrate his point.

When I started secondary school in September 2006 I was overwhelmed by the variety of junk that I could access. To the effect that I totally ignored the need for healthy food in a balanced diet. Mr/Madame Chairperson, I think it is important to make the point if junk food was allowed in moderation in my primary school. I would have learned the through value of a balanced diet and not have been so overwhelmed when I first entered secondary school. I have since asked myself would an outright ban on junk food in my secondary or indeed any other school in the country would have prevented me from consuming junk food. The answer to that question is absolutely not because the only thing that would have happened in that instance is we would have gone down the town and purchased the food elsewhere.

In Social Psychology terms an attitude is defined as “an inclination to perceive interpret and evaluate people events and issues in a certain manner”. The question I wish to put to the members of the proposition how can a young person perceive interpret and evaluate junk food if it is strictly forbidden and not allowed in moderation in our schools.

I know from studying Social Psychology that I was not born with the attitude I have towards junk food instead I learned it from society in general. I ask you to reflect I learned this attitude from society, am I the only person that ever had this problem. I believe the question must be asked in fact the question should be asked how can we teach future generations the value of the food pyramid if the top of is strictly forbidden?

In conclusion, I hope the arguments that I have put forward will encourage all those present here this evening to support our call to prevent junk food from being banned in our secondary schools and instead allowing it to be consumed in moderation

Chairman, members of adjudicating, panel, ladies and gentlemen of the audience, I thank you