Hunger Fast, Sugar and Screen Ban Over at Ellerhorst Elementary

An Ellerthorst Elementary School teacher and his fifth grade students have ended after 12 days a demonstration — and a lesson — about school funding, the teacher told Pinole Patch Tuesday.

As we reported in , teacher Frank Marrero began a liquid-only diet on March 18 to bring attention to potential West Contra Costa Unified School District funding cuts. The fast was part of a challenge to the students, who agreed in turn to give up sugar and limit their use of computer screens. Marrero bet the class that he could hold out longer.

We followed up with Marrero Tuesday to check the status of the challenge.

"We broke the fast on Friday," Marrero wrote in reply to a Pinole Patch email query. "We're trying to take the lessons forward. i.e. I'm eating lighter and better, the kids have cut back on their sugar and screens.... always (a) challenge to make permanent changes, but this is the opportunity to do so."

The challenge emerged out of ongoing lessons about nutrition and about heroes in history and what they did to foment change. The fasting idea began after the class saw the 1982 Oscar-winning film "Gandhi."

The students also wrote letters to elected officials, including President Barack Obama and Californiat Gov. Jerry Brown. The letters stated their concerns about school funding. Pinole Patch wrote about the letters in a .

The demonstration intended to address awareness to , a proposed extension of an existing parcel tax dedicated to schools. The extension is on the June ballot.