120 Rich NYC Parents Of The World School Held A Quinoa Crisis Assembly
In The New York Times Magazine‘s investigative look at The World School, we’re treated to a scene worthy of an Amy Sohn novel: parents –surely caricatures of parents — fussing over quinoa flour for their little ones:
Ever since the $85 million for-profit start-up opened its doors in September, food had been a divisive issue. After the first week of classes, a group of parents sent a seven-page e-mail detailing concerns: there were not enough snacks, not enough ”worldly” snacks like seaweed, zucchini bread with quinoa flour and bean quesadillas (so long as the beans came from BPA-free tin cans). Unlike other New York City private schools, with their decades of institutional wisdom, Avenues was founded on the premise that its parents were partners in building a new community. So it was ready to hear them out.
In the black-box theater, Avenues’ chief administrative officer helped assure parents that their kids’ diet was sufficiently organic, local and healthful. The regional director of its food-service contractor was on hand to address any fears about carbohydrates. A doctor from Mount Sinai Hospital was ready to answer questions about allergies. A 25-page PowerPoint was presented.
Considering that these parents are shelling out $43,000 a year, I’m surprised these kiddies aren’t having that quinoa flour freshly ground from the school’s all organic garden. Prepared in BPA-free kitchens, of course.
(photo: Brooke Becker / Shutterstock)