Vending machines in Schools?

[pammypooh]

Our school principal thought it might be a good idea to have vending machines in our school.

This was mentioned in her weeking newsletter that came home last Tuesday. Guess what was at school this Monday morning.

I should state here that this is an elementary school - K-8. The first day was like a free for all. Everyone wanted something from the vending machines. You have to walk past them to get into where the kids eat their lunch.

By Wednesday, our Principal decided that the vending machines would only be permitted for use by the upper grades - 5-8. My kids in 1st and 2nd are upset by this of course.

I have seen the upper grades not eating their lunch and just getting junk from the machines.

I am trying to come up with a tactful way to discuss with the principal that, although this might bring in need revenue to school - at what cost.....

Sooooo (sorry for length,) but does your school have vending machines and if so - what are they stocked with? Any restrictions on their use?

Thanks for any input.

Pam

 

[Cindy B]

It is a revenue center, and for that I understand the purpose.

I work at a middle school. Not only do we have vending machines but we also have a snack line in the lunch room. I cant tell you how many 6th graders lunch is starbust and a slushie! (too many to count)

They did at least replace the soda vending machines with juice and gatorade vending machines. There is an ice cream vending machine as well, but actually, not many people use it. (They must be too busy eating Starbursts)

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Our high school has vending machines but they are not turned on until either after lunch or after school. It is mostly for afterschool activites. I think haveing them available during school hours at the elementarty level is unnecessary.

What bugs us is how they took Snapple out of the snack line saying there was too much caffeine but leave the sugar laden fruit drinks.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yep, it's a revenue thing. Coke has giving a lot of money to schools to put their machines in them. Around here, they are not turning them on during class hours, and are only available after school for activity time etc.

 

[momm2four]

We don't have vending machines for the kids at our elementary school, but I almost wish we had that instead of having snacks available for the kids to buy on the lunchline. At least with a machine, the kids would actually have to have cash to purchase something. With the snacks being on the line, they can pick up a bag of fruit chews or ice cream and charge it to their lunch account. We, parents, have to rely on the honor system with our children as far as limiting snack purchases.

Lori P.

 

[tkd lisa]

Our elementary doesn't have machines in the general area (I think there's one in the teachers lounge).

Middle school has a drink machine, which does have soda. One of the reasons my DD has a check for lunch, is so I know she doesn't buy soda for a drink. She doesn't need the sugar or the caffiene!

 

[Sonya]

I can't believe you are starting out so young! With all the backlash against junk food and fast food, your principal must not be watching the news. Nothing like selling your soul...


Sorry for the rant, we have them here where I teach high school and I hate them. I don't let the kids bring it into my room. I've done lunch duty for many years and their eating choices is gross and unhealthy for teens. Not that they won't do it anyway at home but at least they can have something somewhat good for them at school. We have the junk food machines of death and pop machines everywhere. And a snack line in the cafe. And a lot of overwieght kids.

Sorry if this offends, it's what I see every day.

 

[disykat]

We have a juice machine at our elementary school and I'm really bothered by it. $1 for a bottle of juice thats first ingredient is sugar.

As a teacher what bothers me most is that the kids that seem to buy juice come from the free and reduced lunch families.

IMO there should be no reason for young kids to have money at school. (Other than money for lunches, field trips, etc. that gets turned in first thing in the morning.)

 

[suzannen]

DD's school has it for after-school only.

 

[MICKEY88]

check out these news stories..

print them out and share them with the principal

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca23_capps/pr030603vendingbill.html


http://www.freep.com/news/health/vend29_20020429.htm





http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA011029Junk_food_kids.html

http://www.midwestdairy.com/content.cfm?contentalias=df_news_vending

http://www.cspinet.org/new/soda_10_21_98.htm

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/vending.htm


http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/09/15/cnna.jacobson/


http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/editorial/5498229.htm