Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s my understanding that sugar does not have an appreciable effect on human behavior, yet every teacher and parent I know believes fervently in the sugar “high” and the apparent wild effect on children. How did this nonfact get to be accepted as gospel by so many? –Michelle Murphy, Manhattan Beach, California
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I dunno. For that matter, now that I think about it, how did the Gospels get to be accepted as gospel? But we’ll tackle that another day. You’re absolutely right about sugar: judging from numerous studies, it doesn’t cause bad behavior in kids, but most parents and teachers think it does. A survey of 389 Canadian primary-school teachers found that 80 percent believed sugar made kids more active, and more than half had told parents of disruptive kids to cut down on the sweets.
PS: I tried out these jokes on my improv class this afternoon and after 2,000 years they still get laughs!
