Did You Know?

Martha Chandler (1894-1984), an early childhood educator, played a prominent role in establishing the Eliot-Pearson School on Tufts' Medford campus. Chandler graduated from Smith College in 1917 and received a Master of Education degree from Harvard. She also obtained a certificate from the Ruggles Street Nursery School and Training Center, beginning her career in early childhood education. From 1940 to 1944, she served as director of the Ruggles Street Nursery School in Boston. When the school transformed into the Nursery Training School of Boston, Chandler held the position of Supervisor of Student Teaching. When the school moved to Tufts' campus, she remained as a member of the faculty. From 1957 to 1959, Chandler was acting director of the program, which was by then known as the Eliot-Pearson School. Her specialization was in literature for young children and she was instrumental in assembling a valuable library for the Eliot-Pearson Department.

While many people rush to blame the fast food chains of the world for obesity in the United States, one Tufts nutrition expert points out that more than just the food industry has played a role in Americans’ weight gain. The medical community was slow in addressing obesity and nutrition, the government supported agribusiness and consumers exercise less and eat more, he says.

You don't have the collusion or the cover-up you had in smoking. We want to blame somebody, but the thing is, we're all a part of it.

James Tillotson, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Professor
Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Tufts University
Associated Press
March 19, 2006