On Dave Warwak, Fox River Grove Middle School, Veganism & Milk

October 11, 2007

The vegan art teacher who was fired is countering:

“An art teacher removed from the classroom for encouraging pupils not to eat meat vowed Monday not to return to Fox River Grove Middle School until it eliminates milk and all other animal products from the lunch menu.”

“Dave Warwak, 44, also said he plans to ask the McHenry County state’s attorney to file child-endangerment charges against the school district because the school continues to promote milk and other animal products as part of a healthy diet.” (source)

I wrote about the guy already, twice.

So here’s the thing: he might have gone a little overboard, but the fact is that plenty of teachers try to “indoctrinate” their students into their religion or political philosophy. It may not be ethical in the strictest sense, but it’s hardly something a good teacher should be fired for doing. And it’s yet another example of how vegans are painted as ‘crazy’ and our ideas are not taken seriously.

Milk really is not good for you. It’s not necessary. The dairy industry lies. The vast majority of humans are lactose intolerant. Cow’s milk is not an important part of human nutrition.

“The recommendation to drink three glasses of low-fat milk or eat three servings of other dairy products per day to prevent osteoporosis is another step in the wrong direction. … Three glasses of low-fat milk add more than 300 calories a day. This is a real issue for the millions of Americans who are trying to control their weight. What’s more, millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomachaches, gas, or other problems. This recommendation ignores the lack of evidence for a link between consumption of dairy products and prevention of osteoporosis. It also ignores the possible increases in risk of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer associated with dairy products.” writes the Harvard School of Public Health.

The promotion of milk on school campuses is similar to a promotion of junk food, fast food, or sports drinks. In moderation it’s fine and may contain some nutritional value, but it should not be consumed on a regular basis and is certainly not necessary for a healthy diet.

More info:

And furthermore, kids are smart. They make their own decisions. They are hardly going to be swayed by a vegan art teacher into adopting a minority lifestyle that’s highly criticized by the general public without putting some serious thought and commitment into it. It’s not like it’s super easy to just go vegan. (It’s not super difficult either, but it takes some work given how meat and dairy centric our society is.)

It’s not like Mr. Warwak had some vegan cult he was recruiting for. We vegans tend to be individuals. In fact, there’s a wide divide amongst vegans in regards to the right way to convert others and the wrong way:

“There’s a way to win friends and influence people, Mr. Warwak, and that’s not it.” wrote SuperVegan.

It’s the standard critique: veganism is about peace and love, they say, so we shouldn’t be rude or obnoxious. Bull shit, I say. We should be rude and obnoxious. Needlessly killing millions of animals is far beyond rude and obnoxious. It’s downright wrong. And people who do it, people who promote it, and people who buy it deserve a little dose of the uncomfortable, rude reality.

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Family, Kids, & Friends, Health, Fitness, & Beauty, Lifestyle, People, Philosophy and Guidance, Politics, The Woman, The World, veganism

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Comments

7 Responses to “On Dave Warwak, Fox River Grove Middle School, Veganism & Milk”

Laura on October 12th, 2007 5:08 pm
Well, since you quoted my SuperVegan post, I guess I’ll respond. I could care less about “peace and love” and all that hippie crap. I’m a realist. I say don’t be rude and obnoxious because it thwarts our own goals.

When we’re rude and confrontational, people put up walls, respond by being rude and confrontational right back, and don’t actually *listen* to anything we say. Whereas if we come across as reasonable, sane, and non-judgmental, they might actually put down their guard and let some of our words sink in.

(We may very well be pissed off and judgmental inside–but if our larger goal is to change the hearts and minds of others, we need to behave in a way that is actually likely to generate change. It’s easy to dismiss a strident and emotional vegan stereotype; it’s much harder to dismiss a polite and thoughtful human being.)
Elaine Vigneault on October 12th, 2007 5:54 pm
“When we’re rude and confrontational, people put up walls, respond by being rude and confrontational right back, and don’t actually *listen* to anything we say.”

I disagree.

Not all people are the same. They are moved by different kinds of arguments, not just the content, but also the style. Think: marketing and advertising. You HAVE to get creative and try new and different things.

Moreover, confrontational stuff is more memorable. When people have an emotional or visceral response to something rather than a cold, logical one, they remember it and mull it over later.

Most people have to be exposed to new ideas multiple times in multiple ways before they truly THINK about them, particularly ideas that dislodge some of their assumptions about the way the world works. One rude person can plant a seed in someone’s mind and another polite person can nurture that seed and help it grow.
Lisa Renee on October 13th, 2007 1:55 pm
I got an email from Dave, so I was doing research and I came across your post. I have to say I find it very ironic that in the very same post you state that milk is not good for you and that the dairy industry lies - you have an advertisement on your blog for a milk product.

I realize when you opt for doing banner adds through places you have very little control over the ads as opposed to other forms of income opps through blogging but it does really send a mixed message.

I do however agree with you 100% as a parent of five that teachers do “indoctrinate” their students. It seems in this case Dave went just a bit too far in trying to get his message out to students and it’s not unrealistic for parents to expect that an Art Teacher would teach Art. If he were a teacher of Life Sciences or Home Economics or a related subject he would have had a bit more leeway in his message. The lunch options for children are frustrating, which is why I’ve always opted to pack a lunch for mine, it’s the only way to insure they are eating healthy, whether it’s one of mine who is a vegetarian or not.
Elaine Vigneault on October 13th, 2007 7:19 pm
Lisa,
The message here is really that ads for milk don’t belong in schools. Whether or not yogurt ads belong on my blog (which is specifically NOT for children) is not relevant to the discussion.

I agree that homemade lunches are the most nutritious. Unfortunately, many kids will still crave the junk food that’s so heavily marketed to them.

Art is about all kinds of things, including advertising and marketing. It makes sense that an art class would discuss the ads in the cafeteria.
warwak on October 17th, 2007 3:33 pm
Super Vegan wrote, “I could care less about “peace and love” and all that hippie crap”
This statement shows where your heart is at. Big problem in the world today is the large majority of backward thinking people who only care of themselves. If you think your circle of compassion is open to all, you are very sadly mistaken. there is time for you to reconsider your statement and change. We need more Vegans who are real Super Vegans that know of and believe in Humane Education+Vegan School Lunch=No more school shootings. Make the connections and go after the real bad boys who have aquired the tools to keep anyone from taking away their toys. THE CHILDREN. Starts young and is supported every step of the way in schools, from their Milk Mustache’ posters that promotes and endorses statutory rape http://www.notmilk.com/deb/squirt07.html , to the very offerings they serve up and call food. Doesn’t this bother you enough to recognize, the meat and dairy industries, our government, and public education. The same evil sorts who indoctrinated us into an apathetic, me, me ,me generation. The very same society that you are a product of and scream and defend their ideals of and as your own. You don’t need to whine about how much you care less of World peace than us, we can see and are disappointed. Join the me, me, me-meat-eating ranks Super me, me, me Me-gan
Peace, love, and understanding for all,
Warwak

262-245-6916
http://inslide.com/respect

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School refuses to surrender transcripts prior to hearing

Date: 10/17/2007
Source: http://inslide.com

Fox River Grove, IL: School District 3 officials have denied Dave Warwak’s appeal for transcripts.

Recently fired for telling his students to keep veganism a secret, Warwak claims to have never said the word secret. “I said the exact opposite. The last thing I want is for veganism to be a secret”.

Warwak is asking for time to review transcripts so he may prepare his defense. At particular issue with Warwak are records from the Sept. 24 closed-door meeting in which he was terminated.

District attorney, Robert Riley feels surrendering transcripts from past meetings is an issue for the hearing officer to address on the day of the hearing.

School officials and Warwak did manage to get together on one item of contention. Through a process of elimination, they agreed to allow Edward L. Suntrup PhD to hear the controversial case. Suntrup, known for his unwavering neutrality, was selected from a list of five potential hearing officers provided by the Illinois State Board of Education.

A tenured teacher of 10 years, Warwak has been at odds with his school over their lunch program since April.

The hearing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 19th.

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Dave Warwak, an Illinois tenured art teacher for some 10 years, was recently fired for his vegan views. Dave has managed to bring his case to national awareness through appeals and his use of the internet. Dave sees the urgent need to reform American education to include Humane Education coupled with a Vegan school lunch program. “Two simple changes and we end school shootings, heal the earth, and solve most of societies ills. These ideas were born in response to students torturing frogs down by the river. I wanted to instill in my students a high level of respect, responsibility, and love for all life. When the administrators prevented me at every step of the way, it became obvious; this was a well-protected killing machine. It also became obvious, this is the un-written history of our world!” Dave has a book coming out in a few weeks, “Peep Show for Children Only” and is taking his message to the road. Dave has a Bachelors of Science in Education and a Masters of Art in Painting. An accomplished artist, Dave is donating his entire art collection to the Animal Rights movement and has vowed on giving all of himself as well.

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Alan Eisenberg Radio Show
News-Talk WRJN AM 1400
http://inslide.com/716296.mp3
http://inslide.com/716304.mp3
Adama Speaks interviews Warwak
Nashville AM 1300 and 89.3 FM Atlanta
http://inslide.com/01AdamaWarwak.mp3
http://inslide.com/02AdamaWarwak.mp3
http://inslide.com/03AdamaWarwak.mp3
http://inslide.com/04AdamaWarwak.mp3
The Bob Rivers Show Seattle’s Classic Rock Station
CBS Radio in WA WKZOK 102.5
Starts about 37 minutes in. They try and gang up on me a bit!
http://inslide.com/BRSPodcast_410082007.mp3
Fox and Friends Interview
http://www.criticalmention.com/report/dave200709120156313434.htm
More Fox News
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=01A18E9507DE55175C1726990C8DF7C4?contentId=4450085&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
Martha Rosenberg
http://www.bestsyndication.com/?q=100207_teacher_fired_because_of_vegetarian_anti_meat_lesson_chicago_schools.htm
Rob Cohen’s Not Milk Newsletter
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/notmilk/message/2757
Frank and Mary of offer support!
http://tytt.org
Dill down south starting something
http://veganteachers.com
Area newspapers starting to change their tune
http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=50451
http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=51650

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Will be on Tina Volz’s “Wake Up America”
and Author of Fast Food Craze on the 29th
at 12:00 PM pacific time

and a small spot coming up on Bob Lindon’s Go Vegan on Air America

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“The moon cries in loneliness as today’s child chooses to stay inside glued to an electronic box, compartmentalized inside a temperature controlled façade, instead of going out in to the world, exploring caves, swimming with turtles, discovering nature’s beauty and perfection, caring a broken wing, feeding fish, finding real friends, friends who help the child as much or more than the other” Warwak

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Mark on December 15th, 2007 9:59 am
“join the me, me, me-meat-eating ranks Super me, me, me Me-gan” (quoting Dave in his comment above). Anyone able to parse that sentence?

In looking at his website (where you can be forcefed loud music without an option to turn it off so you can plow through the reams of unorganized text) and then seeing what he wrote above, it’s easy to understand why school officials might be a tad concerned.

IF his art class lessons were all on just vegan-related information, where children were not researching and then maybe “visualizing” in artistic and creative ways their views, it might have “gone down” better.

Personally, I think he may have given the school’s administrators ample ammo to question his methodology and more. But, not my call. I wish him the best. We all try to advance veganism in or own way. Who’s to say which is the best or most effective?

I don’t know Dave personally, and although I truly admire anyone who “walks their talk,” I tend to wonder if he isn’t wallowing in the publicity (especially in view of all the links in his comment above).

Like it or not, people tend to think we are all alike, in that the actions and apparent character or personality of a single vegan is representative of us all (who hasn’t heard the, “gee, you don’t look like a veg’n” comment?).

I would urge Dave to take the high road and not possibly come across as a one-man media circus. I would recommend that while he has the media’s and people’s attention, show a sense of self-assurance, higer morality, patience, and understanding.

Again, I’d admire and respect him for following his convictions, and any doubts I have as to the efficacy of his approach doesn’t matter in the scheme of things. He’s brought an issue out into the open that’s important, but, imho, I’ve doubt that linking diet to school shootings is going to help advance people’s comprehension of what a meat-based diet is doing to the environment, to animals, and to people’s health, as well as how children are being indoctrinated to be oblivious of this at an early age.
Elaine Vigneault on December 15th, 2007 1:41 pm
“We all try to advance veganism in or own way. Who’s to say which is the best or most effective?”

Indeed.

Like it or not, people tend to think we are all alike, in that the actions and apparent character or personality of a single vegan is representative of us all (who hasn’t heard the, “gee, you don’t look like a veg’n” comment?).

Stop for a second and think about what that means. That means you think all meat-eaters are alike in that they think one vegan represents all. But you know that isn’t true. In fact, most vegans were once meat-eaters. There are plenty of rational, caring meat-eaters who just need the right motivation to go vegan. They are not all the same.

Yes, all vegans have heard “you don’t look like a veg*n”, but that doesn’t mean all meat-eaters say it or think it.

Dave’s method isn’t my style, but I think he should do whatever he wants to do. And so long as we keep the focus on him and his methods, we’re ignoring the real issues:
1. The danger of milk and meat in moderate to high doses
2. The danger of milk and meat propaganda in schools and elsewhere
3. The free speech rights of vegans and others