schools punishing with food

Sparrow, I asked the teachers why they didn't just let my son get a cafeteria lunch (he has a prepaid account) but they all said they forgot to check back to see if he ever got anything. I was pissed because I volunteer a ton of my time to this school and know every single personnel by name.

Kathy, there are some diabetic children at my kids' school and they are well taken care of. They periodically go to the nurse to be checked through the day plus they are allowed to eat whenever they want.

To all you incredible teachers, principals, and school personnel, thank you for your selfless work. These posts certainly aren't meant for you.
 
The one diabetic child in our school eats her lunch in the office where the nurse and secretaries can keep an eye on her. We have been told to buzz the office and the slightest hint of hunger/trouble, etc. She also wears a tummy thing that monitors her blood sugar. It beeps when her sugar level drops too low.
 
Sara - I did not read others posts so forgive me if I repeat someone. I work for an Elementary School and I can say that there is one thing that ALWAYS get's their attention. Bad press. If you do not get anywhere with the superintendant, and that would be my next step, a letter to the editor might do the trick.
 
Thanks for all the great replies!!! I love the support....I was starting to feel like I was in the Twilight Zone!!!

Well, come to find out, Tyler had to go to study hall for part of his 2nd recess. He was writing some of his letters backwards so the teacher took part of his recess to help him. I like that she is helping him, but I don't want this remediation during his recess. (this is a whole other issue...study hall for kindergarten is not developmentally appropriate IMO). Anyway, she did not tell him he could have his snack and just sent him to recess.

I spoke with the principal, again, and she claims that she agrees with me on the snack issue and is adding info to the handbook. I think she is adding that snack will be withheld if the students leave their trash on the playground.

To change the handbook, I think she has to present it to the school board. That is one meeting I won't miss!!!! I would love to let some dr's or nutritionists know about this meeting as well. All I can say to her is GOOD LUCK!!! I don't think the board will let this one slide. Ha! I can't wait. Sometimes justification is better than Christmas!!!!

Again, thanks for the replies. Sorry it took me so long to reply. My computer is out again. Now, I am borrowing my in-laws laptop.

Sara
 
Sara,

I have an idea. Why don't you print off this thread and bring it to your school board meeting just in case you need it. As the replies come from across the country, your opinion won't be passed off as just a few worried moms in town. Withholding food from a child will only make behavior issues worse as young children often melt down on empty stomachs. I know the warning signs in my son when he is in need of a little food. Many children go off to school in the morning without breakfast, or very little when they are so sleepy in the morning. If you read any nutritional info these days, it recommends eating a small amount every 2 to three hours. If these kids don't get their morning snack, they will be going 4 to 5 hours without food.

Tina
 
Sara,

I've seen your post before, but just now had time to respond. I am an elementary public school teacher and frankly, can't believe this at all! Yes, it's terrible that they withhold the snacks from the kids for punishments. I don't believe in punishments, but "consequences." If the playground was messy, the consequence should be that the students should clean it up. The consequence of keeping their snack from them is not only unhealthy, but illogical. What's more amazing is that the principal and teachers continue the practice after concerns expressed by a parent. Not to mention a note from the doctor! That's unbelievable! Please let us know how this turns out! I have never heard of this done before, but I've only worked in two schools and my sons go to another school. None of them would even consider doing this.
 
That is horrible, I agree with all the above...

I had a similar situation when I lived in northern Indiana... I guess I shouldn't name schools, but they did the same thing, except the teacher took my ds's lunch away because he was talking in the lunch line!!!


I tried everything under the sun to fight that, everything but file a police report...

It's so sad...We moved, but I think about the kids that had to stay, and how the school system has too much control...

Please let us know how it turns out...

Carrie

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar072/slider-but5/lb/209/145/191/.png[/image][/link]
 
Withheld his lunch......OMG!!!!!!! According to some at my son's school (we are in southern Indiana) snack is a priviledge. But lunch is necessary!!!! What did you do to fight it and how was the outcome?
I don't know that I would be able to remain calm if that happened to my son unless whatever idiot that did it was fired!!!!

Sara
http://www.picturetrail.com/saraburnham1
 
Hi Sara...

First I went to the teacher, and she told me the reason she did it and it wasn't uncommon...then I went to the principal, she said it wasn't against school policy under some law, something to do with capital punishment, and the waiver I had signed in the beginning of the school year...(it's hard for me to remember, it's been 6 years)...I remember going on-line and looking up state and federal laws...I couldn't find anything specific to what I thought was excessive punishment...and borderline abusive...I finally called a lawyer and he told me so much mumbo jumbo and that if I were serious in pursuing it, we might have a case, but it might take years...YEARS...I was screaming mad, I thought I'd combust...After some months later, my husband got a job opportunity, and we were able to get the #&@! out of there...

It was a nightmare...

Another thing I remember very clearly, is that my daughters teacher in 2nd grade refused to let my daughter go to the nurse when she said she didn't feel good, (my daughter spikes fevers dangerously, near scarelet fever, she had a doctors note, that if she began showing signs at all she would need immediate medical attention) with that said, my daughter came home on the bus one day, 1) the bus driver had to get her and wake her, 2) when she got off the bus she collasped...She had a fever of 105...OMG...After taking her to the hospital and containing the fever to a managable level, I took her home, meanwhile you can imagine how mad and frustrated I was...My daughter looked at me and started crying, and told my she was sorry that she worried me so much, and that she had tried to tell the teacher she didn't feel well, but the teacher bent down close to her face and yelled at her and said she was trying to get out of doing the work and for her to pay more attention...and focus...My daughter said it really scared her...so she just kept trying...

I called the school and demanded to talk to the teacher...the teacher apologized to me, although she did not sound sincere...

I haven't had any more problems like that since...Ohio is also a state you have to sign a waiver, (which is where we live now) for punishment reasons, but there have never been any incidences so far...I count my blessing everyday for that...

I wonder if school culture is state wide or if it's individual schools??? Regardless, children have a right to be and feel safe and healthy in school...It seems like schools feel like kids should be grateful to be there, where if it wasn't for the kids they wouldn't have jobs to begin with...Last time I checked we hire those school officials to provide a service to our children with the taxes we pay...They are the ones that should be grateful...

I'm not saying they are all that way, there are some really great teachers and principals out there, ones who went into the profession because they truly love kids, not just because they wanted the summers off, I just wish I knew where...

Good luck with everything, don't let it slide if you can help it...I hope you get farther than I did...

It'd would help if there were other parents who had the same concern...greater things can happen with bigger numbers...It be great to put an end to capital punishment in the school system...I mean geeesh...they take away the spirit of God and then administer punishment against the better interest of the child...What next?

I am so sorry I didn't mean to go on and on...

Yes, I agree that they should have made the kids clean up the playground instead of withholding food...Not only will it cause damage in the long term, it also will raise heck with their blood sugars making it hard to concentrate on anything...

Good Luck...


Carrie
 
Hi Sara,

I just wanted to say how shady it is to use food, or lack of food, as a way to punish kids. Talk about leading to problems later on in life. And to only be concerned that you aren't making more money selling snacks. Give me a break....

I was just wondering, though..... Is your son in full-day kindergarten? Do they get lunch, and how long do they go between the start of the school day and lunch? For that matter, how long between lunch and their snack?

The only reason I ask is because when I was a kid, we had half-day kindergarten. School started at 8am, and we were out of there by 1130 every day. We didn't get anything to eat until we got home from school.
Of course, no matter how long the school day is, there is no excuse to punish kids by withholding food. Have the teacher or principal perhaps informed the parents of the litterers that their kids need to learn to pick up their trash? My guess would be that that's too much darn work for them. Punishing all the kids when only a few are the problem isnt' such a hot idea either.

good luck reaming out your school board, hope all gets resolved.

cristina
 
Cristina,

Ds eats lunch starting at 11:15. His snack is at 2. He gets out of school at 3:20 and we usually get home around 3:40. I think that is way too long to go without food for a child at that age. Even if they just had some milk or juice at 2, it is better than nothing. My neighbor was fuming because her daughter had cross country practice after school. That lasts for an hour. Could you imagine running at 3:30 and the last time you ate was before noon??? Although, practice was cancelled that day due to bad weather.

Oh, and yes, it is full-day K.

Sara
http://www.picturetrail.com/saraburnham1
 
This is unbelievable! Go get 'em Sara!! What is wrong with these people! That is just plain wrong. Accumulate your research/support and call the superintendant!!
 
Although I don't agree with withholding food as a punishment, I don't really understand why it is necessary to have a designated snack time.

I doubt I am alone in that I never ate snacks in the morning or afternoon when I was in school and don't remember being "starved" by the end of the day.

Frankly I would hate to be a teacher or administrator in the schools today because every parent has their own opinion about how I should be doing my job. Then if I didn't conform or cave to their opinions, they would go straight to my boss.
 
Sara,

You are absolutely right to be angry. Withholding food as punishment is abuse. Enough said.

Since you have had two conversations with the principal, call the superintendant. Tell him/her that this is inappropriate and must be stopped. End by saying that, if this happens again, they will not hear from you, but from your attorney. (Even if it would take years to sue them, the mention of a lawsuit will freak them out.)

Follow up your conversation with a letter to the teacher, the principal, and the superintendant stating the above. If it happens, again, get a lawyer, preferably one who loves the media. School districts do not like lawsuits or negative publicity.

You may want to read "Protecting the Gift" by Gavin DeBecker. It covers abuse in schools, mostly sexual, but the advice should apply to this case.

Good luck!
 
Withholding snack as a punishment

I'm a concerned parent of a 1st Grader in a NYS public school where a teacher withholds classroom snack as a form of punishment. I have spoken to the teacher and principal and they do not want to change and believe it is an effective disciplinary measure. This tactic seems highly inappropriate and unethical. I guess I'm forced to go to the superintendent to get this matter resolved. I was hoping you had any guidelines for me.
Using food as a reward or punishment has so many negative effects on a child.

I hope your situation was resolved..good luck.
 
Food shouldn't be used as a punishment OR a reward (I'm against teaching giving out candy for correct answers, etc.).

What kind of "snack" do the children usually have? I'd be as concerned about the type of food (junk food? healthy snacks like fruits, veggies and nuts?) as about it being withheld as punishment.
 
OMG and WTF, Sara!! I TOTALLY am livid for you as well. I went through a similar thing with DS's 1st grade teacher. Same issue- some of the children were not picking up their snack stuff. She also withheld snacks. I took it to the teacher, principle and then the school Administrator when I had had enough. I also talked to some other parents and we kinda sort ganged up on her. She is still to this day my FAVORITE teacher. Oh and I also met with her in person and that REALLY seemed to make a difference.

In fact, there was recently an article I believe on the Parent Center web-site regarding the crucial importance of kiddos being nourished so their growing brains can function properly.

Seriously, I would take this to the absolute TOP of the "food chain" (sorry for the pun) and get this matter handled. Maybe even show up at snack time here and there just as a friendly reminder to this control freak teacher.

Best of luck to you and your grumbly tummies at school!

Hugs,
Pam
 
Unfortunately, this is the stupid stuff that some public schools (note I did not say all) have come to. These types of things and for other reasons, is why my girls go to private school and then will be homeschooled.

The sad reality is that when our kids are in public schools, we relinquish our control over our children during that time, as well as some of the accompanying rights.
 
OLD, OLD thread alert! ;)

I assume Sara's son's situation has been resolved since he is now about 10 years old!

That said, I competely agree that withholding snack is a bad idea for punishment.
 
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