No Valentine candy in school

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm all for it, and I'm a teacher.

I'm not trying to parent the kids, just trying to set a good example in my classroom for them. For those of you who think that taking away candy is "sucking out the fun" as a PP said, why must fun always equal bad food? In my classroom, we have tons of fun at holiday parties without eating garbage. If parents want to feed their kids the garbage at home, let them. But in my classroom, I'll skip it.

I'm tired of our culture celebrating, commiserating, and rewarding with junk food. You all say that you grew up celebrating this way......well look at our nation's problem with obesity! Isn't time for a change??

BTW, I'm in no way a health food nut. I've struggled with my own sugar addiction and have worked very hard to make sure that my own children eat better than I do. And it's working pretty well.......my girls will usually choose an apple as a snack (over cookies or another sweet treat). We do have sweets in the house, but we have them in moderation, and not as rewards or celebrations.

When they ban jello, pudding, ice cream, fried foods and the rest of the crap served in the school cafeteria--I will be inclined to agree a bit with your viewpoint.

Until then--it seems the school board would be better of practicing what it preaches to ban. B/c they truly are setting a horrific example.

 

[pigletgirl]

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.

and you trust a bakery more? i had a friend who worked in one. it was amazing how nasty it was...

also, how are we supposed to keep kids motivated? if you read x many books = a pizza party. big deal!

when i was in school, if we got the 'prize pencil' out of the pencil machine you got to take a friend with you to mcdonalds, and the principal would drive. those were the best!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Could you return the candy? If you have the receipt and didn't open the bag, our Target allows us to return it if it's before the holiday.

Our elementary school has the No Valentines after 4th grade and no candy with the Valentines at all.
It's been in effect for years and every year it's in the paperwork the parents get at the beginning and in January the teachers mention it in their newsletter and again in February.

Some parents have been putting pencils or erasers with the Valentine but I don't bother.

This is the last year my DD has to mess with Valentines Cards and I'm sure glad about it.

No Valentine Cards in Middle School either. Yay!

 

[kpm76]

Our school does this and we're told it's a state law--however my niece attends another school in our town (same ages) and they don't abide by these rules. For the "holiday" party we could provide fresh fruit and veggies a bottle of water, one Capri Sun Roarin' Water, and there were a couple of spcific 100 calorie snacks that we could give out. No candy for the treat bags. For the Valentine Party our PTO is providing snacks for the whole school--popcorn and diet hot chocolate. Parents are not to send in any food or any Valentines that have candy attached. I think a few years ago it got to be too much--some homeroom moms were putting out complete buffets--most of it unhealthy--and most of it was getting tossed out because there was just too much food for the kids to eat.

I'm not picking on you specifically, but I would be furious if I found our DD was served a Capri Sun Roaring Water or diet hot chocolate. Both contain artificial sweetener (i.e. Splenda) and are NOT healthy. Seems to me if schools want to serve healthy foods, they need to educate themselves. Diet anything is not a good choice for kids. I would much rather DD have a homemade cupcake with real sugar once in a while than anything with artificial sweetener......

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Yes but have you seen what a kid brings home in Valentine's candy these days. Last year my dd got good bags made up and given to her with the Valentine. Which of course made her feel bad for only giving a card.

Plus this year I saw those litte bags to fill with a little box with princesses etc on them. I caved this year and got the ones with the pencils and the Jonas Brothers.

Why are all the holidays getting out of control. That been said a sucker is not going to hurt anyone.

Yea, people go nuts with the candy Valentine's. I guess I'm too old, because I remember everyone giving out Valentine cards. Cards and only cards. No one attached candy, and I don't think they even made the little Fun Dips, lollipops and Nerds that you just write the names on. And we still enjoyed our Valentine's parties. Imagine that! When did everyone decide we had to give out candy with every Valentine at school?

Now, I'm all for fun in school. I'm bringing cupcakes to my 6th grader's Valentine party and I let my kids eat all that candy. My kids get plenty of exercise and I'm not worried about their weight, but I really think it's excessive, how much junk they get between all the different activities. It's not just "a cupcake once a month".

24-32 kids in a class, so the birthday treats are 2-3 times a month. Class parties for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's and End-of-year (this year, throw in one more - a Super Bowl party last Friday). Small candies (like Tootsie rolls or Smarties) given out on nearly a daily basis as rewards in the classroom. Bus driver gives out lollipops on Fridays. Girl Scouts twice a month, immediately after school at 4:00, so they do snacks, and everyone brings junk. Soccer, softball or basketball games on Saturdays, always a junky snack and sugary drink handed out.

It's a lot of junk. I don't mind my kids having it, but really, doing away with some of it would not suck the fun out of anything.

In fact, my 6th grader's class this year did away with the birthday treats and they choose an activity, instead. They will take 15 minutes out of class and go outside to play soccer or whatever the birthday kid wants to do to celebrate his/her birthday. The kids absolutely love it, better than the treats even, and it's healthier for them. Maybe some of you whose schools insist on broccoli cups instead of cupcakes should make this suggestion. It's a lot more fun!

 

[aprilgail2]

In the district that I teach in, this "no candy" policy would have been made by the school board, not the schools or administrators. When the school board makes a policy we must inforce the policy, even if we think it is ridiculous. There are many rules that I think over-step our bounds as educators; however, my job discription says I must follow school board policies.

If this is the case, has anyone talked to the school board members about policies such as these, or just complained about the no candy rules? Maybe the school board was doing what a small group of parents requested, thinking that was how the majority of the parents felt about candy/snacks/ etc in the classroom.

Our was made by the school board for sure- and the funny thing was that it was made over many many protests by parents- the ones against the policy outnumbered the ones for the policy 10-1 (many petitions were submitted) but they went ahead and did what they wanted to- which will be remembered in May when it is time to vote new members in!!

For the Valentine Party our PTO is providing snacks for the whole school--popcorn and diet hot chocolate. Parents are not to send in any food or any Valentines that have candy attached. I think a few years ago it got to be too much--some homeroom moms were putting out complete buffets--most of it unhealthy--and most of it was getting tossed out because there was just too much food for the kids to eat.

We have a specific policy- down to the amount of calories/sugar/fat and sat fat that can be in a product---well my daughter is bring in Fun Dip for each kid---THAT meets the policy but a chocolate pop does not. Personally I would prefer my child had a small chocolate pop than a bag of sugar but the school board seems to think a bag of sugar would be best. Fruit snacks also meets their guidelines and I would like to find one dentist that says anything good about fruitsnacks!
I would be having major issues if the PTA or school served my child diet hot chocolate- we do NOT do artificial sweeteners, I would not want them served to my child.

 

[golfgal]

Our was made by the school board for sure- and the funny thing was that it was made over many many protests by parents- the ones against the policy outnumbered the ones for the policy 10-1 (many petitions were submitted) but they went ahead and did what they wanted to- which will be remembered in May when it is time to vote new members in!!



We have a specific policy- down to the amount of calories/sugar/fat and sat fat that can be in a product---well my daughter is bring in Fun Dip for each kid---THAT meets the policy but a chocolate pop does not. Personally I would prefer my child had a small chocolate pop than a bag of sugar but the school board seems to think a bag of sugar would be best. Fruit snacks also meets their guidelines and I would like to find one dentist that says anything good about fruitsnacks!
I would be having major issues if the PTA or school served my child diet hot chocolate- we do NOT do artificial sweeteners, I would not want them served to my child.

You have GOT to be kidding me

I am waiting for the day when common sense takes over political correctness again

 

[mhsjax]

Our was made by the school board for sure- and the funny thing was that it was made over many many protests by parents- the ones against the policy outnumbered the ones for the policy 10-1 (many petitions were submitted) but they went ahead and did what they wanted to- which will be remembered in May when it is time to vote new members in!!



We have a specific policy- down to the amount of calories/sugar/fat and sat fat that can be in a product---well my daughter is bring in Fun Dip for each kid---THAT meets the policy but a chocolate pop does not. Personally I would prefer my child had a small chocolate pop than a bag of sugar but the school board seems to think a bag of sugar would be best. Fruit snacks also meets their guidelines and I would like to find one dentist that says anything good about fruitsnacks!
I would be having major issues if the PTA or school served my child diet hot chocolate- we do NOT do artificial sweeteners, I would not want them served to my child.

I am a mom the gives her kids artificial sweeteners, I don't have a problem with them and neither do my kids HOWEVER, I would also be livid if a school gave the kids artificial sweeteners. I do understand that a lot of parents don't want their kids having them and I can understand and respect that. Also a lot of people do have reactions to certain artificial sweeteners. I think some of these school have gone way over the edge.

 

[padams]

Welcome to the nanny state.

 

[castleview]

Job growth alert: School Nutrition Administrators.

Description: Get as many kids on free/reduced breakfast and lunch as possible. Make sure kids take milk and foods they don't want to satisfy quotas set by dairy and agriculture lobbies. Don't worry that the meals offered themselves aren't healthy. Nachos, mozzarella sticks, bread sticks, are acceptable entrees. Ban homemade foods from school parties - anything with five ingredients kids can pronounce (eggs, milk, flour, sugar, salt) NOT allowed. Only Chips Ahoy and Hostess donuts, please. Encourage whole foods but NO products with nuts, seeds, dairy, or citrus allowed because school has been notified that three kids are allergic (documentation not necessary, don't care whether the allergy is airborne). Encourage vegetables for snack, but nothing from the home garden or local organic farm. Food must be pre-wrapped and sprayed with pesticides. Develop evening meal plan and summer feed programs to keep job responsibilities growing, schools getting grant money, and people dependent on school for another non-education related thing.

Sorry, I'm so nutty on this one. Anyone whose seen my cafeteria threads knows I have it out for the "nutrition" program. I never thought I'd be so paranoid. But our school has gotten so ridiculous and is confusing wellness with cover-your-butt food safety. If the kids were actually learning about proper nutrition, I'd be thrilled. But popcorn chicken isn't proper nutrition. Tastes good, but not that healthy