OT - Vent - Teacher's Version of School Wellness Policy

[rock_doctor]

I would not worry about it. She can only enforce what is stated in the districts handbook. I would send back the contract with a note that states you and your child will abide by the written and accepted district policy. If you son comes back and states that she has made comments directly, indirectly or tried to enforce her policy over the districts then it may be time to have a meeting with her and the principal. In the end don't sign it but try to work with in her requirements so you don't put your son under unnecessary stress. I teach high school in a very conservative district but some of the things i see being done in neighboring districts sends shivers down my spine and in some cases i find just flat out offensive. good luck.

 

[sharlon]

Our school has a "policy" that basically just says a healthy snack, but doesn't elaborate. I would never send fruits or veggies because it would be a huge waste of money. My son has some hereditary taste/texture issues. Now, for my DD11 (now homeschooled) a healthy snack for her is completely different. She has some medical issues that have her on a high fat diet. Basically, per her dietician and her doctors, if she wants it, she can have it, whenever. It would be best for her to have cake for snack every day. No school would let that happen.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

I am a teacher and as much as I understand your frustration, on the reverse side, it really is tough when parents send in a cookie cake as a snack that is eaten at 10:00 (snack time) and lunch is at 12:30. (And they know about the healthy eating guidlines )

Our district (and the one my children attend) also requires parents to sign contracts for various reasons. Our contracts in elementary school are not such a big deal if they are not returned. However, the good sportsmanship contracts in high school need to be signed or my sons cannot play their sport (and I personally think this is great).

Anyway, JMO, not sure if this is the footing you want to start the school year off with. Perhaps call the teacher and explain your position. I would hope that he/she would be reasonable since what you state as a healthy snack (yogurt) is not that bad. I hope it all works out for you ... and sorry this made your first day ... not so great.

 

[eeyoremommy]

As a former teacher, I say do not sign. Do as a PP stated and say that you will adhere to the district's guidelines. Although I understand both sides of the argument, I should be trusted to make good decisions for my child. In my DS' situation, he is 47 inches and 41 pounds. He turns 7 in December. He loves fruit and vegetables, but those things do not help him gain the weight he needs to gain. He stays in constant motion when he is not in school. He is at the 10the percentile for weight and the 50% for height. I am okay with that because it is better than being overweight but still. In his situation in OP's school district/ teacher's classroom, I couldn't send items that will help with his weight. The stupid blanket policies just do not work.

 

[shoney]

While I have never had a contract, we have had teachers that stressed the healthy snack. Some required water only...that was a tough one for my son. My son's 1st grade teacher only did veggie platters for holiday parties...yummm...needless to say they were rarely touched! I always thought it was funny because she was not a "sk inny minnie"!

I would sign the contract, send it back and then do whatever you feel is best for the child.

 

[ccgirl]

When my DD was in K we got a note sent home that said no gogurt. Again, I didn't see a problem. When I volunteered, I told her I was curious why she stated no gogurt. She said because the kids squeeze the yogurt all over the place and it gets in the rug then the rugs need to be steamed and yada...yada....Seemed like a simple request to me so I complied. OP - did the school state your child could not bring in yogurt either?

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

I think the teacher should have defined healthy snacks ie. I encourage healthy snacks such as fruits, muffins, cereals, yogurts, etc. When DD was in 3rd grade they implemented a policy in her school that we had to have healthy snacks and they gave lots of suggestions which was helpful ....also one child was the snack leader for that day which meant they brought the snacks for the whole class. At first I thought they were crazy but then when you think that each childs bday was celebrated with cupcakes and there are 25-30 kids that is a lot of cupcakes! Plus, my DD did not mind at all! After I got used to it I was really glad they did this. Good luck with your situation! By the way all the things you said you sent where on our snack list, even chips, whole grain of course! Blueberry muffins was one of the kids favorites!!

 

[Irin997]

This is kind of OT, but I never remember having snacks in the classroom in grade school, unless it was someone's birthday & their parent sent in a treat for the class. Is morning snack in grade schools a new thing? As far as I can remember, we ate at lunch & that was it.

In our school, snacks stopped at 1st grade. The only time DD had a snack was in kindergarten and mainly due to the time that they ate lunch.

This "contract" is ridiculous. Who is the parent? Until the teacher starts paying for your snacks, it's your choice.

 

[shoney]

In our school, snacks stopped at 1st grade. The only time DD had a snack was in kindergarten and mainly due to the time that they ate lunch.

In our district, classroom snack is done k-5th. Starting in 3rd grade, they bring in a water bottle that stays on the desk all day. My older son is starting middle school (6th gr) and the kids still bring snack, but eat it whenever they have time.

 

[Tiger926]

In our school, snacks stopped at 1st grade. The only time DD had a snack was in kindergarten and mainly due to the time that they ate lunch.

This "contract" is ridiculous. Who is the parent? Until the teacher starts paying for your snacks, it's your choice.

It's a known fact that good nutrition fuels brains, so snacks are important in school, as is staying hydrated. Many kids also have low blood sugar, and that would be my daughter, if she doesn't eat every hour, you can watch a demon take shape, along with shaking and becoming very pale.

Once we started the breakfast program in my highschool, as well as foods class serving snacks, our behaviour issues have dropped, and our students are doing better academically and socially. There is a huge connection between fueling the body and its success on the brain.

Tiger

 

[Irin997]

In our school, snacks stopped at 1st grade. The only time DD had a snack was in kindergarten and mainly due to the time that they ate lunch.

In our district, classroom snack is done k-5th. Starting in 3rd grade, they bring in a water bottle that stays on the desk all day. My older son is starting middle school (6th gr) and the kids still bring snack, but eat it whenever they have time.

DD9 brings a water bottle daily as it is required due to the water quality (well water). However like I said, they don't have and haven't for years, had a scheduled snack time in school. At her before & after care she has snacks but not in school.

It's a known fact that good nutrition fuels brains, so snacks are important in school, as is staying hydrated. Many kids also have low blood sugar, and that would be my daughter, if she doesn't eat every hour, you can watch a demon take shape, along with shaking and becoming very pale.

Once we started the breakfast program in my highschool, as well as foods class serving snacks, our behaviour issues have dropped, and our students are doing better academically and socially. There is a huge connection between fueling the body and its success on the brain.

Tiger

That may be, but I survived without a snack during the day in school - and I'm sure you did too.

 

[jodifla]

They are still having snacks in 3rd grade in my son's school. We do have a "healthy snack" policy, but it has lots of options. I normally send in crackers, or pretzels, or popcorn. My son would never eat fruit of veggies as a snack, so I'm not sending those in.

I also remember having snacks at least up until 3rd grade in elementary. I went to school in Auburndale Fla. And you could buy either O.J. or milk out of the machine, and eat whatever snack you brought. And this was back in the ancient 60s!

 

[Colleen27]

I think you're likely overreacting, honestly. Our school "suggests" fruit & vegetables for snacks too, but they don't call parents out if they send cheese & crackers or string cheese or fruit leather or flavored yogurt or anything else at least somewhat healthy/not pure junk food. The policy is just there to send a message to those parents who would send cookies or candy or chips for snack.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

We had snack in k. Really if someone eats a good protein and complex carb they should be fine for several hours. It is the simple carbs that wreak havoc on the system.

 

[cglaura]

This is kind of OT, but I never remember having snacks in the classroom in grade school, unless it was someone's birthday & their parent sent in a treat for the class. Is morning snack in grade schools a new thing? As far as I can remember, we ate at lunch & that was it.

It probably depends on where you grew up. We had snack time in grade school (I'm 41 now ). You could bring whatever you wanted, or buy a soft pretzel or italian water ice. No "healthy" options offered.

Funny thing is there was no problem with weight, etc. because we went outside for recess for 10 minutes after snack and after lunch for 20 or so minutes, and ran off alot of that sugar high. Then when we got home, we did our homework, went outside to play...walking or biking to where we wanted to be...came home for dinner...then went back out until the streetlights came on. In winter when it got dark earlier, we got to do our homework after dinner instead, so would could get right to playing.

Alot of the issues now adays are related to activity as well as food. I don't think many kids just go out and play anymore.

OP, I would ask the teacher to give you a list of all foods offered at the school, and agree that if it is on that list then it is ok for you to send in as well.

I think the teacher is trying to do a good thing, just going about it in the wrong way.

 

[Tiger926]

DD9 brings a water bottle daily as it is required due to the water quality (well water). However like I said, they don't have and haven't for years, had a scheduled snack time in school. At her before & after care she has snacks but not in school.

That may be, but I survived without a snack during the day in school - and I'm sure you did too.

Not really...very low blood sugar, that went undiagnosed, so I was having issues. Once we got that dealt with, and was allowed to get my snacks, I was better. DD must have snacks as well - medical note on file and everything.

Also, kids who are on antipsychotics/antidepressants also need to drink, or they can dehydrate.

Snacks really aren't that big of a deal, if parents, teachers and students work together in a positive manner.

Tiger

 

[Irin997]

Not really...very low blood sugar, that went undiagnosed, so I was having issues. Once we got that death with, and was allowed to get my snacks, I was better. DD must have snacks as well - medical note on file and everything.

Also, kids who are on antipsychotics/antidepressants also need to drink, or they can dehydrate.

Snacks really aren't that big of a deal, if parents, teachers and students work together in a positive manner.

Tiger

Those are isolated incidents - meaning not all kids fall under those restrictions, so that is understandable.

I just feel that snacking has gotten completely out of hand. A PP above said something about the fact that the level of activity these days has decreased and I'm in complete agreement. Driving through neighborhoods looking at houses the past month or so, there are NO kids outside. It's truly sad. When I think back to being my DD9's age (20 years ago, not that long ago) we were outside ALL THE TIME. Kid's today are not. It's just sad. And unfortunately my poor daughter loves to play outside but like I said, there are no kids outside in our neighborhood.

Here is a pretty interesting article I found about the overabundance of snacks today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/dining/20gusti.html

 

[bonoriffic]

25 years ago when I was elementary school they started a "fruit break". It was grand in vision, with the whole school stopping work at 10am to eat a healthy snack. The reality was you had a whole school at 10am eating Fruit Roll Ups and granola bars.

 

[TxRabbit]

This is kind of OT, but I never remember having snacks in the classroom in grade school, unless it was someone's birthday & their parent sent in a treat for the class. Is morning snack in grade schools a new thing? As far as I can remember, we ate at lunch & that was it.

I didn't either. But then, in my school, all grades ate lunch at the same time and all grades played on the playground at the same time. This was generally in the middle of the school day.

In Texas, (at least where we have lived), each grade eats lunch independently in the cafeteria (which is a much smaller room than my old school's cafeteria) and they have their own time on the playground.

Kindergarten generally gets a morning snack, even with lunch in the middle of the day. Whichever grade has the first lunch of the day: 10:30 AM (my son had it in second grade) gets to take a snack to have in the afternoon. Whichever grade has last lunch: 1:00 PM gets to take a snack to have in the morning.

The contract for the OP is rather odd.

We just had rules about what could and could not be a snack and how it was to be packaged. If you brought a snack outside the rules, then you couldn't have snack. The rules were like no candy, no gum, no soda, etc etc.

 

[eatatmidnight]

I guess my problem with this is who determines what is healthy. For my family, we try our best not to eat foods with artificial colors, flavors, BHT, TBHQ and other non food additives. Other people think healthy is vegetarian. Still others think healthy is low sugar or carb. So while I'd rather have my child eat a Payday bar because it has no artificial ingredients, the teacher may think it's terrible because it has peanuts and corn syrup. Who gets to choose?