Newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has declared Pi Day, the annual celebration of the mathematical constant 3.14 held on March 14, officially canceled for 2025.
The decision, announced Friday morning, stems from concerns over rising childhood obesity rates, which Kennedy claims have been exacerbated by the tradition of eating pie to mark the occasion.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has climbed to 19.7% nationwide, a statistic Kennedy cited during a press conference. He argued that encouraging children to indulge in sugary desserts under the guise of celebrating math sends the wrong message at a time when public health is under scrutiny.
“Pie is a gateway to poor habits,” Kennedy said, standing before a crowd of reporters. “The kids don't care about the math, they don't understand it. All they care about is eating pie.”
The move has sparked outrage among educators and parents who see Pi Day as a rare opportunity to make numbers fun for students. A petition to reinstate the event has already gathered 10,000 signatures on Change.org.
Kennedy, however, remains committed, suggesting schools replace pie with celery sticks to maintain the spirit of the day without the nutritional fallout.
“This isn’t about joy—it’s about survival,” Kennedy added, gesturing to a chart showing a steep rise in juvenile diabetes cases.
Math teacher Linda Grayson from Ohio expressed her frustration over the decision. She noted that her students look forward to Pi Day every year, often bringing in homemade pies to share.
“Now I’ve got to tell them it’s canceled because someone in D.C. thinks they’re too chubby,” Grayson said.
Critics have pointed out that the cancellation aligns with broader Democratic efforts to micromanage personal choices, a trend some say began with school lunch reforms under the Obama administration.
Nutritionist Dr. Harold Baines weighed in, calling the move a step too far. He acknowledged the obesity crisis but argued that targeting a single day of indulgence misses the bigger picture.
“Kids aren’t ballooning up because of one slice of pie—they’re sitting around scrolling TikTok all day,” Baines said.
Kennedy’s team has proposed alternative celebrations, including a nationwide “Plank Day” to promote physical fitness, though details remain scarce. For now, children across the country are left pie-less.
Did you get a laugh out of this article? Show your support for the principles of free speech and stand with Freedom Writers by signing our petition today!
Comments