No Valentine candy in school

[rileyroosmom]

I hardly ever vent about this kind of stuff, but this has really made me mad!
I need to start by saying that I'm a mom of 3 (16, 12, 9) so I've been in the schools a while. I'm also a substitute teacher at the elementary school so I "get" a lot of their policies.

I didn't complain when we stopped celebrating birthdays in school, when any food brought in could not be homemade, store bought only. Didn't complain when they recently removed all the vending machines from the high school or when they replaced all the soda in said vending machines with diet soda only.

However, Friday dd teacher sends out an email that the children can bring in Valentines for all and that it will be low key. Fine. While shopping in grocery store over weekend I pick up lollipops with a place on the wrapper for the to/from. My dd fills them out. Monday another email gets sends out as a class list with a note on the bottom saying, "We have been reminded to pass along that per the xxxxx County Wellness Policy: no candy treats permitted on the schoolbus. THanks for understanding. "
I'm a little puzzled what that means but ignore it. DD comes home Monday and says we wasted our money on the lollipops we can't pass them out. I send an email to teacher asking her to clairify. I understand they can't eat on the bus, but can they not bring the candy on the bus to school. She replies, "that is my understanding". I ask the bus driver this morning and he says as long as it stays in the bag it's ok. I reply back to the teacher what the driver has said and ask is it a problem if the lollipops come to school. Haven't heard back.

I'm just so annoyed that all innocent fun has been taken away and that schools control what my child may or may not eat. Why can't candy go home and for those parents that want to eliminate it, throw it out?

I know there are much bigger problems in the world, but this was the "straw that broke the camel's back" for me. If I could, I pull my kids out and home school, that's how angry I am!

Thanks for listening

 

[SaraJayne]

I can understand why you're frustrated.

I'm so glad our school doesn't have those ridiculous policies.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I'm just so annoyed that all innocent fun has been taken away and that schools control what my child may or may not eat. Why can't candy go home and for those parents that want to eliminate it, throw it out?

I feel your pain, but I wanted to point out that schools don't just wake up and say they're going to do these things. It starts with the parents who are unable or unwilling to police their own children and expect the schools to do it for them. From there on it goes downhill and everyone gets policed.

It sounds like your school has some kind of sugar-clause to protect the overweight children from eating candy and sugar when they were told not to by their parents. Unfortunately, said parents are the ones responsible for the schools having to take this kind of stance - not the schools themselves.

I know how you feel. I've been feeling this way for decades and, unfortunately, not enough civil liberties have been removed from the average American citizen yet for redress. But eventually enough people will be policed by the government (who are only acting at the behest of the few citizens who entreat them) that a revolution will occur and maybe we'll win back some of our lost rights.

 

[marcyinPA]

I truly feel that the school district policies like this do more harm than good. Any time something (like sweets or whatever) is "taboo", it makes kids want them more. I am a believer in moderation. I just don't see what the big deal is about having a cookie or a cupcake for a holiday party.

 

[Minnie321]

I am a teacher and I agree - that is rediculous. I am way down south and we haven't even started with no homemade treats. We do have to sell only state approved treats for snack. You are correct when you say all of the innocent fun is being taken out of school - and the educational powers that be are wondering why children are not doing as well in school - well frankly it is just not fun anymore. It is not fun for kids or teachers! Things have to provide at least a little enjoyment or nothing will come of it. I don't know about where you are, but for us Louisiana is trying to turn the teachers into some sort of clone - from what I hear they may even start handing out exact lesson plans which must be taught word for word - now how is that for individual teaching styles!
I see how you would be frustrated - my own children attend a Catholic school which is the most uptight school I have ever encountered and they can even bring candy for Valentines Day.
Well I hope your DD has a Happy Valentines Day and the school learns to lighten up a little!

 

[dislaney]

I guess they are trying with all these rules about healthy snacks but I am tired of it too. When you see what some of these kids eat for lunch (brought from home) and then your going to worry about a lollipop. (In case your wondering how I know what the kids eat, I volunteer one day a week at my child's school so I see what some of the kids eat for lunch.)

 

[rileyroosmom]

I am a teacher and I agree - that is rediculous. I am way down south and we haven't even started with no homemade treats. We do have to sell only state approved treats for snack. You are correct when you say all of the innocent fun is being taken out of school - and the educational powers that be are wondering why children are not doing as well in school - well frankly it is just not fun anymore. It is not fun for kids or teachers! Things have to provide at least a little enjoyment or nothing will come of it. I don't know about where you are, but for us Louisiana is trying to turn the teachers into some sort of clone - from what I hear they may even start handing out exact lesson plans which must be taught word for word - now how is that for individual teaching styles!
I see how you would be frustrated - my own children attend a Catholic school which is the most uptight school I have ever encountered and they can even bring candy for Valentines Day.
Well I hope your DD has a Happy Valentines Day and the school learns to lighten up a little!

Exact lesson plans? That is crazy! I'm in Northern Georgia and here they are pushing to be the "best". One of those districts where we are about a year ahead of everyone else. My dd is in 3rd grade and she started multiplication around October. Yesterday it was word problems with fractions. I'm showing her how to multiply and how to deal with an improper fraction. Yeah, I'm pretty sick of the school right now.

 

[mefordis]

Question: what does everyone think would happen if those parents of overweight children were to have their child only eat the sweets they give you at parties at school, and maybe at home on holidays and birthdays? Think their children would have a weight problem? I'm thinking they would be better off with that approach than to complain to the school to remove all sweets.

 

[mamacatnv]

I for one do not think that some of these insane policies are driven by parents. Our district has done a lot of the same things as the OP's and IMO it is because our district and many like it across the country feel that they can or should do a better job than parents.

The districts treat parents like idiots, they don't necessarily care what we think or have to say, they are all mighty and all knowing and we sheep are supposed to bend over and agree. I don't agree and I buck the system as often as I possibly can. I have the attitude that I am the parent and the schools work for me. (Not quite that cut and dry, but I do not view the school as a replacement for me and my job as a parent).

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Way to suck the fun out of school. I think many of these new "policies" are out of control. It's MY kid, it's MY choice to give her candy or not. Not the school system. I just don't feel it's the school's job to make kids healthy-- it's the parents. Sure, teach them about healthy choices, but don't try to take over my job!

Homeschooling is looking more appealing with every day that goes by.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I feel your pain, but I wanted to point out that schools don't just wake up and say they're going to do these things. It starts with the parents who are unable or unwilling to police their own children and expect the schools to do it for them. From there on it goes downhill and everyone gets policed.

It sounds like your school has some kind of sugar-clause to protect the overweight children from eating candy and sugar when they were told not to by their parents. Unfortunately, said parents are the ones responsible for the schools having to take this kind of stance - not the schools themselves.

I know how you feel. I've been feeling this way for decades and, unfortunately, not enough civil liberties have been removed from the average American citizen yet for redress. But eventually enough people will be policed by the government (who are only acting at the behest of the few citizens who entreat them) that a revolution will occur and maybe we'll win back some of our lost rights.

I agree. We have a teacher at the school whose husband returned recently from a tour in Iraq. The room mom thought it would be nice to invite the man to the class to listen to some poems and things that the kids wrote about him and his troop and at the end have a cake. Principal put a stop to that and after A LOT of discussion, decided that yogurt parfaits with blueberries and strawberries would be better. Well after a lot of money was spent buying the supplies (more than a cake for sure) can you guess where the majority of those parfaits ended up?

 

[minniebeth]

I see how you would be frustrated - my own children attend a Catholic school which is the most uptight school I have ever encountered and they can even bring candy for Valentines Day.
Well I hope your DD has a Happy Valentines Day and the school learns to lighten up a little!

You haven't experienced our kids' Catholic School...
At least I wish the whole school would get on board...my DD1's 7th grade class is able to bring candy with Valentines. DD2's 2nd grade class cannot. Why? There is a peanut allergy in the 2nd grade. Guess what? DD1, the 7th grader, has a peanut allergy. Go figure.

OP, I understand that you are disappointed, my irritation with it all would be that they should have made the policy clear in advance, so that families who were well prepared in advance, like yours, did not waste their time or money with candy treats for Valentines.

 

[rileyroosmom]

Are parents really asking the school to remove treats? I could care less if my kids ate a cupcake once a month for a school birthday. Now my kids don't have weight problems (if only I were to be so lucky!), but still, are there that many parents complaining about this that this ban needs to take place?
When my son was in 1st grade his teacher wanted only "healthy" snacks brought in. For every healthy snack you brought in you got a sticker and some type of reward for x amount of stickers. I remember I went to the teacher and told her that she should worry about teaching my son and I would worry about feeding my son. Never heard about the stickers again.

 

[rileyroosmom]

OP, I understand that you are disappointed, my irritation with it all would be that they should have made the policy clear in advance, so that families who were well prepared in advance, like yours, did not waste their time or money with candy treats for Valentines.[/QUOTE]


You are right, this is playing a big role in my anger. I'm a single mom not working full timeand the pops were only $4, but that's $4 that could have bought 2 gallons of milk. Annoys me that money is tight for me and that I wasted money.

 

[hedgehog2owl]

Homeschooling is looking more appealing with every day that goes by.

We chose Catholic school for these reasons.

 

[kathie859]

My flamesuit is on:

Really....who cares if Sallie Sue doesn't get candy on Valentine's Day (or a cupcake on her birthday, ice cream for an "A" or a pizza party because it's Friday)?

As an "ahem" older mother (and now grandmother of 3) isn't it more important that the school maintains a high level of education INCLUDING encouraging children to make good choices (and to provide healthy choices) for food? Frankly, I don't WANT to eat food prepared by people that I don't know. AND we all know that unfortunately there are a lot of folks out there who have different hygiene standards.

 

[mefordis]

If you are going to worry about that, you shouldn't eat out at restaurants either. The Board of Health isn't there looking over their shoulder 24/7. Trust me, I've worked in restaurants. If you worry about things like that you'll drive yourself crazy.

My flamesuit is on:

Frankly, I don't WANT to eat food prepared by people that I don't know. AND we all know that unfortunately there are a lot of folks out there who have different hygiene standards.

 

[freckles and boo]

My flamesuit is on:

Really....who cares if Sallie Sue doesn't get candy on Valentine's Day (or a cupcake on her birthday, ice cream for an "A" or a pizza party because it's Friday)?

As an "ahem" older mother (and now grandmother of 3) isn't it more important that the school maintains a high level of education INCLUDING encouraging children to make good choices (and to provide healthy choices) for food? Frankly, I don't WANT to eat food prepared by people that I don't know. AND we all know that unfortunately there are a lot of folks out there who have different hygiene standards.

I guess I will put mine on, too. Someone would really chose to homeschool over a candy policy? Come on, people, that is just ridiculous.

 

[MIGrandma]

I'm thankful I live in a small, rural community where such things aren't an issue, and I hope they never will be.

My grandson's 5th birthday was yesterday, he took Monster cookies to his classmates that his Mom had made the day before for him.

 

[KAMLEM]

As an "ahem" older mother (and now grandmother of 3) isn't it more important that the school maintains a high level of education INCLUDING encouraging children to make good choices (and to provide healthy choices) for food?

How are they teaching them to make good choices when they take the choice away?