Not offended. More bemused than anything --

As already identified, the nutrition (or lack thereof) does concern me. But I'm guessing that some where along the line a couple of the farm kids will be asked to 'take care' of some of the chickens, or maybe a goat (there were some little 'uns, no good for milk production) -- and let's not forget about the Great Wabbit Hunters.

I must wonder, however, just what kind of pre-production preparation the kids (and their parents) were given. We know that the Survior castaways get training on basic survivor techniques (identifying edible/poisionus plants, etc).

And (again) what about school? I believe this was filmed in April/May -- school still in session for most kids (not to mention prime Testing windows).

and let's not forget about the Great Wabbit Hunters

I've already given up on the Great Wabbit Hunters. It's nice to see the ambition, but homid vs. lapine when the homid is armed with a rock is a automatic victory for the lapine. If they get within four feet of a hit, it means the jackrabbit was in a teasing mood.

LAST EDITED ON 09-20-07 AT 10:54 AM (EST)

The previews for next week showed some controversy brewing over killing a chicken. So...I'm assuming protein will eventually be part of the picture.

I'm sure the kids got some preparation.

As for the school thing, I read that it occurred when they were out of school. Of course, that varies so widely from state to state and district to district that that could mean anything.

Regardless, don't you think this is pretty damn educational? If I had a kid, I'd rather he/she do this and actually learn something about life than the worthless learning how to take a multiple choice test that is pretty much all the students we get here know how to do once they graduate high school. NCLB = ECLB with no life, economic, verbal, written, or practical skills.

Edited because I left out a couple of the other necessary skills it seems NCLB would rather they not learn.

"And now the whole nation -- pulpit and all -- will take up the war-cry, and shout itself hoarse, and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception." Mark Twain

LAST EDITED ON 09-20-07 AT 11:00 AM (EST)

Not offended.

1) Even though there are no adults doing the cooking, etc., I am sure that all the medical and safety stuff the insurance company would have required were in place so there were adults to cover all the "if something happened" issues.

2) Kids get injured, I know as a society we seem to think we can childproof the world. We can't. As long as the neded safety issues were handled (and something I saw/read seemed to indicate they were taught enough to be able to use the wood stove my Mother learned to cook on when she was their ages) you've done what you need to do. I would bet adults (probably someone in addition to the camera person) was on hand for all cooking or other "dangerous" chores.

"Let the little one-eyed bastards play."

3) Diet, I did hear canned peaches mentioned and when they were messing with the cans I think I saw vegetables. I'm not sure what canning techniques are period, but a diet at that time when first settling a place would mostly be preserved food. They have protein available (chickens, goats, the eggs and the milk) and it seems at least one of the farm/ranch kids will figure out the rest. As long as they are available I think they are covered, and there may be something in that instruction book about scurvy or other such diet issues.

4) I'm not sure about child labor issues, it doesn't seem worse than any of the farm kids that age I knew with feed the animals/weed the garden, etc work schedules. Now the being filmed=work thing may be and issue, but with that many kids and the amount of work there is the actual chore/day time per kid should not be excessive.

5) Even with please stay peer pressure, that they are routinely offered the opportunity to leave is a good thing, IMO.

>LAST EDITED ON 09-20-07
>4) I'm not sure about child
>labor issues, it doesn't seem
>worse than any of the
>farm kids that age I
>knew with feed the animals/weed
>the garden, etc work schedules.
>Now the being filmed=work thing
>may be and issue, but
>with that many kids and
>the amount of work there
>is the actual chore/day time
>per kid should not be
>excessive.
>
I read somewhere that this was filmed in New Mexico where the child labor laws are a bit different. Also, it was called a "Documentary" instead of a contest to get around some of the legal issues.

Another point that has been making the rounds is that this was not an abandoned town, but a western tourist attraction that was modified for teh show.