Jul 3, 2012
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School children celebrating birthdays in Easton, Mass. could be blowing out candles on raisins if school officials implement a proposed ban on sugary treats.
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Easton Public Schools is considering a new wellness policy guideline that would ban cupcakes, frosted cookies and candy from any classroom celebration. The proposed policy would also forbid parents from sending homemade treats to school.
“We want to get the focus off junk food,” school committee and wellness policy member Lori Han told the Taunton Gazette. “You can celebrate a birthday without a cupcake.”
So instead of cupcakes and ice cream, the school district wants boys and girls to feast on fresh fruit, raisins and crackers.
The Taunton Gazette reports that a list of “safe foods” has been compiled so parents know what they can and cannot send to school.
Food Service Director Penny Spellberg told the newspaper that kids can also expect changes in their daily lunches.
“Our goal is to make our community healthy,” she said.
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In other words – don’t count on too many cheeseburgers.
“The focus (is) on less meat and more fruits and vegetables,” Spellberg told the newspaper. “The healthiest foods to eat are foods from the earth.”
Click here to read the entire story from The Taunton Gazette.
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Why don't we ask the weight of these libtards that proposed this policy. Are they and the teachers setting the example for the students to follow or are they sitting fat and happy to push other people around.
Maybe the schools should concentrate more on what goes into a student's mind rather than their stomach. And Howard Aubrey…guess your parents never taught you that you shouldn't call people names. And how exactly did you figure out that Joel was, in your words, a "mordibly obese pig"? You must have special powers because I couldn't tell you anything about Joel other than he has a bead, mustache and wears sunglasses.
I grew up when public schools offered wood shop, metal shop, plastic shop, music club, glee club, auto shop, photo shop, every sport but rugby, and all sorts of after school clubs like science club, Spanish club, German Club, cooking club, and on and on. All free. The books were free. The musical instruments were free. We used the cameras for free and they gave us free film. The only thing we paid for were pencils and paper. Cafeteria food cost $1.00 for as much as you could eat. My parents couldn't afford the dollar so I ate out of a bag. The school focused on education. We learned the sciences, math, and English. We learned history and "civics". We were encouraged to work at local churches and charities to help "poor" people. Our schools let us live our private lives. We could eat whatever we wanted. What happened? When did it change? When the teachers were unionized. Man! I'm glad I lived the good times. I wouldn't be a kid again for anything. Good luck to you guys. I'm going to give my grandkids an extra big cupcake in one hour in memory of the old days.
Umm… You guys do realize that the government isn't to blame for this, right? That it's a single school district that's making this decision? This isn't about "big government" or school officials trying to tell parents how they should feed their children at home. It's about creating an atmosphere that encourages healthy eating as a habit at school, where they spend the bulk of their days.
That said, I think they're over reaching and the compromise would be to have all the kids' birthdays (with baked goods) all on one Friday of every month. That way the kids learn that junk foods are "sometimes foods" and everyone still gets to celebrate their birthday with their friends at school.
In a round about way, it is the government. Our free summer breakfast/lunch program was paid for by a grant from the government (not sure if it was local or fed, I'll have to check). Summer school was also paid for by a grant. Along with the grant money, they make the rules. I believe the same applies for regular school food too. I believe the general rule of thumb is "the more we get on the dole, the better". Our government actually has been giving incentives to the branch of government that hands out these freebies. I just saw on the news that one area was rewarded for getting their food stamp distribution up by 10%.
Umm… You guys do realize that the government isn't to blame for this, right? That it's a single school district that's making this decision? This isn't about "big government" or school officials trying to tell parents how they should feed their children at home. It's about creating an atmosphere that encourages healthy eating as a habit at school, where they spend the bulk of their days.
That said, I think they're over reaching and the compromise would be to have all the kids' birthdays (with baked goods) all on one Friday of every month. That way the kids learn that junk foods are "sometimes foods" and everyone still gets to celebrate their birthday with their friends at school.
This just makes me hungry for chocolate cupcakes and milk… and a Wendy's triple cheeseburger with bacon.
The same idiots that support stuff like this also support the school systems providing free lunches 365 days a year whether school is in session or not. So do we have an obesity problem or do we have a hunger problem? Which is it?
The same idiots that support stuff like this also support the school systems providing free lunches 365 days a year whether school is in session or not. So do we have an obesity problem or do we have a hunger problem? Which is it?
Banning homemade treats isn't really gonna help. Like Zebra Cakes and Cosmic Brownies are any healthier.
The main point is; it's none of their "F" ing business. These food police need to be sent to jail for unlawful search and siezure as well as asault and battery by stealing kids lunches. Bullies do that kind of thing. I love the comments that school needs to teach school stuff not try and run our lives. The school is part of the community, not it's freaking boss. The community needs to come in and tear those board members a new one.
It is not my childs schools business what I pack for my child to eat at lunch….they are not paying for it…..and its not illegal…and they don't give to another child the food….then stay out of my business!
You know what gets under my skin? A lot of my students get free or reduced lunch. No problem there. But, I see those same students bringing a dollar or two every day to buy an ice cream or slush. My thinking is, if they have money to buy ice cream, then they can pay for their lunches! And the government has taken a heavy hand in school lunch–well, they need to cut out the sweet treats and stuff that are sold in school lunchrooms in just about every school in Wayne Co.!!!
You know what gets under my skin? A lot of my students get free or reduced lunch. No problem there. But, I see those same students bringing a dollar or two every day to buy an ice cream or slush. My thinking is, if they have money to buy ice cream, then they can pay for their lunches! And the government has taken a heavy hand in school lunch–well, they need to cut out the sweet treats and stuff that are sold in school lunchrooms in just about every school in Wayne Co.!!!
I agree with you there,…but do you as a teacher want another task added to your already full plate to monitor what kids bring from home to eat?
Your job is though enough already
I agree 100% with that fact! I won't be responsible for what they bring in their lunchboxes because I'm not with them when they eat lunch in the lunchroom. But I have to monitor anyway the times when parents want to bring cupcakes or such for the kids' birthdays. Most of my parents have always been pretty respectful about asking before sending. Unless my administration tells me I can't, then I will tell my parents to send what they like…it just gets my gall that they want to tell the school nutrition director what can or can't be served in a school lunchroom, then the lunchrooms get away with selling essentially junk to the students during their lunch time. (Shaking my head.)
It is not my childs schools business what I pack for my child to eat at lunch….they are not paying for it…..and its not illegal…and they don't give to another child the food….then stay out of my business!
The late comedian George Carlan had a comedy routine about the foods we were allowed to eat: "… the foods we can eat today, wax beans". Looks like he was ahead of his time.
how stupid, where would you stick the candles?
how stupid, where would you stick the candles?
I agree that the junk made with artificial additives, dyes, etc is bad, but there ARE ways to make healthier and tastier versions on treats. I do it for my kids, and even made things for the kids in their class as room mom, the kids always looked forward to my food!
I agree that the junk made with artificial additives, dyes, etc is bad, but there ARE ways to make healthier and tastier versions on treats. I do it for my kids, and even made things for the kids in their class as room mom, the kids always looked forward to my food!
My only concern with homemade treats is some people's kitchens are really dirty!!!
I'm not really sure why this posted to my page! FB is weird sometimes!! I do worry about other people's kitchens, but I'd hope that when cooking for others, especially kids maybe they would make a point to be extra clean!! And really, if they are going to ban homemade treats, they need to ban the CRAP that is in school lunches first!!!
oh, and my big pet peeve – they need to ditch the candy "rewards" in the classroom!!
ANOTHER NANNY STATE.
The school I work in implemented this policy this year, or the yesr before. I am not sure if it is a system policy, and I don't necessarily disagree with the principal of it, I am not sure it is the school's role to police what kids eat.
The school I work in implemented this policy this year, or the yesr before. I am not sure if it is a system policy, and I don't necessarily disagree with the principal of it, I am not sure it is the school's role to police what kids eat.
We instituted a school-wide snack time this past year at the start of 3rd period. Teachers are supposed to monitor each child's food and drink. Like I'm going to tell some kid that he can't eat what his mom packed him while everyone around him eats. I'm not fighting that battle.
Maybe it's crazy time consuming rules such as these that hinder a teacher from actually teaching. Too many rules and regs that have NOTHING to do with actual teaching.
Our school district in Oregon did this long ago. We can't even bring store-bought treats to celebrate birthdays.
Our school district in Oregon did this long ago. We can't even bring store-bought treats to celebrate birthdays.
Too bad the ignorant Taunton school officials wouldn't teach school instead of harassing parents and children about things that are nobodys business but parents, children. The numb teachers cant teach so they try to justify their existence by trying to run someone else, s life because they cant run their own!
if you parents allow this you are the fools not only are the school administrators YOU!
This is nothing new. Our school implemented a wellness policy two years ago as a condition of receiving federal monies, which in effect has meant no birthday, Christmas, or end of semester/year parties.
We really should have a walk-out day for public schools. I agree with Boortz: Sending your children to a public school is child abuse.
No, that would be church….
Naw, Howard. My church allows cupcakes. Heck, we even get very sinful around Christmas time with our annual home made candy sale. YUM!
I really loathe libtards!
In order to hate others, one must first hate themselves…..
Yeah, sure.
Schools need to start serving more nturious meals instead of the high carb trash they FDA is calling nutrious. Second they need to give the kids more time to play outside and be kids during the school day. Third they need to stop sending home extra school work. I homeschool my kids and when school is over it's over. No homework to do in the evening. That's my kids time to get out and be kids. If kids weren't sitting on their bottoms all day and all evening we would see the obsity rate among youth decrease. An occasional cupcake isn't going to hurt anyone, except a diabetic.
My daughter is 10 and has never been able to bring home-made treats to school. Too much of a liability, however, they are allowed to bring per-packaged treats, such as crackers, cookies, even cup cakes. What we need to realize as a society is it is not about banning sweets and treats. There needs to be a balance. Yes, go ahead and indulge on your birthday..you just can't do it every day. Maintain that attitude with physical activity and health will follow.
My daughter is 10 and has never been able to bring home-made treats to school. Too much of a liability, however, they are allowed to bring per-packaged treats, such as crackers, cookies, even cup cakes. What we need to realize as a society is it is not about banning sweets and treats. There needs to be a balance. Yes, go ahead and indulge on your birthday..you just can't do it every day. Maintain that attitude with physical activity and health will follow.
More freedom is lost by the gradual encroachment of government than the violent usurpation of a tyrant.
This is part of the indoctrination. We need to teach the next generation they NEED the government to tell them what to do, what to eat, etc. You can bet there is federal money behind these idiotic policies. "prove you are trying to improve the health of your students and you will receive "X" amount of money in the form of grants to further your plan. Schools would not come up with this on their own. They don't have time. The last generation was taught that the rich people are bad and should spread their money around, this generation is being taught they are too stupid to decide what to eat and how much. Do Not underestimate the plan to socialize this country.
Oh government, what would we do without you?
You all know that it's already this way in many, many school districts, right? I'm a teacher and a parent in CA, and it's been that way for years. I am actually ok with it. There's plenty of treats that fall within healthier guidelines, and I don't really want my kid eating cupcakes made in someone else's potentially nasty kitchen.
I agree about the home made stuff. And my kids can live without an extra cupcake. I draw the line with school districts that tell parents what they can or can not pack in their own child's lunch and even go so far as making them throw it away in favor of their crap lunches. I'm lucky that my girls' birthday falls in June and we don't have to deal with this argument. I did send in chocolate chip granola bars as a special treat for the girls' to share with their classes at the end of the year.
I agree about the home made stuff. And my kids can live without an extra cupcake. I draw the line with school districts that tell parents what they can or can not pack in their own child's lunch and even go so far as making them throw it away in favor of their crap lunches. I'm lucky that my girls' birthday falls in June and we don't have to deal with this argument. I did send in chocolate chip granola bars as a special treat for the girls' to share with their classes at the end of the year.
Why must the school systems put additional requirements/interests on their plate (no pun) when the basic educational requirements are not getting met. Cup Cakes. Treats really? Do math, reading, grammar, science, physical education. Americans are overweight but let us not be dumb too.
I agree that control of our lives should be in our hands, not the government's. But am I really in control of the massive bombardment my children are subjected to on a daily basis, surrounded by kids eating colorful and sugary junk, emblazoned with Disney characters, that looks infinitely more attractive than homemade granola snacks and dried apricots?
We parents are alone trying to protect ourkids who are being purposely targeted by an enormous marketing machine with infinite money and resources, and frankly, I wouldn't mind my school helping out a bit with some behavioral guidelines. Just like I wouldn't want to see kids in the school walking around in micro-minis and bikinis, even though I respect everyone's right to wear what they want in their own homes and communities.
That said, I think kids should be allowed to have birthday cake. But I think it's acceptable and even commendable that schools encourage and teach better values than society at large, for the few short years that our kids are there. Values that we agree upon as a community, not dictated by the government.
I agree that control of our lives should be in our hands, not the government's. But am I really in control of the massive bombardment my children are subjected to on a daily basis, surrounded by kids eating colorful and sugary junk, emblazoned with Disney characters, that looks infinitely more attractive than homemade granola snacks and dried apricots?
We parents are alone trying to protect ourkids who are being purposely targeted by an enormous marketing machine with infinite money and resources, and frankly, I wouldn't mind my school helping out a bit with some behavioral guidelines. Just like I wouldn't want to see kids in the school walking around in micro-minis and bikinis, even though I respect everyone's right to wear what they want in their own homes and communities.
That said, I think kids should be allowed to have birthday cake. But I think it's acceptable and even commendable that schools encourage and teach better values than society at large, for the few short years that our kids are there. Values that we agree upon as a community, not dictated by the government.
And the Food Police strike again! This is so utterly ridiculous! Surely children can enjoy a "special occasion" treat without it becoming a national issue! It's not like they are celebrating birthdays each and every day! I thought educators were supposed to be just that……………educators! Why aren't they teaching good dietary practices instead of trying to dietary dictators?
How about you worry about getting kids to exercise and eat a balanced lunch instead of vilifying sweets. Yes too many sweets will make a person fat but so does a lack of exercise which schools don't seem to realize and are cutting back on as well as almost eliminating recess. You shouldn't eat that cupcake little Johnny cause it will make you fat but don't worry we're not going to ensure you have the physical activity necessary to burn the calories you consume either; wouldn't want to expect something out of a human being. Total asshats.
I know people in which I wouldn't want to eat their food that they prepared themselves. Parents have the right to monitor what their kids eat. The school needs an "opt out" clause instead of a ban.
Wendy Greene Gallamore.
Hi Wendy,
What Karen Godard said is most of what I was going to say. As I read through all of these post only a couple hit on the correct problems with being fat… Parents today do not watch little Johnny like my parents did when I was a kid. Parents today do not want to be bothered by their kids. So mom and dad let them set in there rooms and play games all day instead of getting them outside and doing work around the yard and playing. It does not matter what you eat if you set there all day long playing games on X-Box or the computer. The schools do not have the right at all to tell you what you kids can and cannot bring to school to eat and Howard go screw yourself. To cleanup the schools you will have to remove the Education system out of the hands of the government and place it back in the parents and teachers hands at the local levels. It will not change as long as the government has control. Have a nice day Wendy…
The powers that be need to focus more on what the schools are selling to the students in the gist of "school fundraisers". As I mentioned below, students at my school can buy ice cream and slushes every day at their lunch time. The school also sells pickles, chips, and capri suns on Fridays for "treat time". It is my understanding that the lunchroom uses the ice cream money to subsidize shortfalls in funds, and the treat day money funded purchases for extra PE equipment. Something is seriously wrong there…don't be selective in what is allowed and not allowed!
But you idots.., raisins, crackers and fresh fruit have carbs that turn to sugar! Teach subjects that children need t learn to graduate and please start teaching them to read and be nice people along the way…leave the parents to feed and raise their children!
You better start counting carbs in pastas and bread products that turn to sugar, and stop just listing cheese burgers. If you take too many carbs from children they will get weak and sickly and then the parents will have plenty of money to start new schools when they all win their court cases! School officials are practicing and tampering in the medical field and deciding medical things for children when they are not trained in the medical field…parents sue them…they do not have the medical licenses they need to be making these decisions!
Wow, what a shame. I think the focus of the program should be on proper portions, proper preparations of foods, and healthy options. Why ban sweets? Send home lots of recipes for good, healthy cupcakes- blueberry muffins and oatmeal muffins are fabulous choices- and there are lots of healthy cookie recipes to share! Make sure school lunches are not 800-1000 calories and laden with carbs and fat in the first place, and it will go a long way to helping children learn about healthy eating, without banning anything.
One thing that needs to be understood here is beyond ''Big Brother'' all up in our business. There's a lack of common sense that's being used to push laws through. This is a bipartisan issue. These people don't realize what happens when you completely deprive a kid of something they would normally do. For instance, when I was growing up, and many like me, my mother wouldn't even hear of letting me eat McDonald's. You know what happened when I moved out of the house? I LIVED on fast food.
Birthdays are a special time and only happen once a year. By removing all potential for satisfying a little sweet tooth on these special occasions, these faculty members are not teaching self-control. It's like the abstinence concept. You tell them just don't do it, and what happens 9 times out of ten? It's completely ineffective. We have to teach our children why these things aren't healthy and that indulging on a special occasion won't kill them, but there are seriously negative consequences to over-indulgence. This is why our kids are so behind these days. They aren't given explanations and critical thinking skills anymore. Thank you, Bush/NCLBA. They are forecefed what to believe without really understanding why. I see it every day and it's quite scary for the future of this country.
And for those of you who think this is a Big Brother intrusion, can you also complain about the red bills being passed all over the country that determines some Republican tool-bag gets to tell me what to do with my uterus? Be careful about being hypocritical, folks.
Little kids were not fat 50 years ago and they ate "sweets" for their birthday celebrations at school. Look elsewhere for the answer – it ain't the birthday cupcake they share with the class. First try your own school cafeteria. Stop selling soda (which the school gets a cut of), pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, tacos, etc.
100% of food the schools serve kids for lunches contain huge quantities of high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, Hydrogenated fats, trans and saturated fats, bleached flour products, full of chemical flavorings, conditioners, preservatives, colorings, all of almost no nutritional value. It all stores as fat. This nation is as obese (including kids) as ever because of the rise of consumption of these products, fast foods etc. Much worse off than when we were kids. People need to boycott this crap. The Government totally supports big Agri-Bussiness creating these poison foods. Why you ask? Because many of these politicians own huge amounts of stock in these companies. The Government helps big Agri-businesses to promote these products and turn their backs on protecting the citizens. FDA = Failure and Deceit Alliance.
Little kids were not fat 50 years ago and they ate "sweets" for their birthday celebrations at school. Look elsewhere for the answer – it ain't the birthday cupcake they share with the class. First try your own school cafeteria. Stop selling soda (which the school gets a cut of), pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, tacos, etc.
100% of food the schools serve kids for lunches contain huge quantities of high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, Hydrogenated fats, trans and saturated fats, bleached flour products, full of chemical flavorings, conditioners, preservatives, colorings, all of almost no nutritional value. It all stores as fat. This nation is as obese (including kids) as ever because of the rise of consumption of these products, fast foods etc. Much worse off than when we were kids. People need to boycott this crap. The Government totally supports big Agri-Bussiness creating these poison foods. Why you ask? Because many of these politicians own huge amounts of stock in these companies. The Government helps big Agri-businesses to promote these products and turn their backs on protecting the citizens. FDA = Failure and Deceit Alliance.