Comments on: 12-Year-Old Boy Suspended for Selling Junk Food http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/12/14/12-year-old-boy-suspended-for-selling-junk-food/ Green and Natural Parenting for Eco-Friendly Families Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:34:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dad Who Writes http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/12/14/12-year-old-boy-suspended-for-selling-junk-food/#comment-15366 Dad Who Writes Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:19:15 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=6621#comment-15366 I remember that school from my own childhood - always been very strict, very disciplined and with a strong academic reputation. Note that 1) it wasn't his first offense so this is obviously something that's escalated and 2) his father clearly doesn't support the schools policy and has a grievance and is all but encouraging his son to break the rules. If he feels his son is somehow above the school rules - and the article at no point claims that they were anything other than clear as to what they expect from their students, he can take him elsewhere. I'm sure a lot of parents would be more than happy to take up the vacant place . I remember that school from my own childhood – always been very strict, very disciplined and with a strong academic reputation. Note that 1) it wasn’t his first offense so this is obviously something that’s escalated and 2) his father clearly doesn’t support the schools policy and has a grievance and is all but encouraging his son to break the rules. If he feels his son is somehow above the school rules – and the article at no point claims that they were anything other than clear as to what they expect from their students, he can take him elsewhere. I’m sure a lot of parents would be more than happy to take up the vacant place .

]]> By: gerti http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/12/14/12-year-old-boy-suspended-for-selling-junk-food/#comment-15362 gerti Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:56:31 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=6621#comment-15362 This is a good example that a school´s good intentions only work if the parents are behind it. Did you hear about Jamie Oliver (the English chef) who had a program for better food at schools in England. He showed schools how to provide healthy lunches and snacks for children but the parents were the ones who actually complained about it. Some mothers waited by the fence at lunchtime to bring their children hamburgers and other junk food. Children always do what they see at home so it´s just as important to change their parents way of thinking about healthy choices. And then those "junk food dealers" wouldn´t find customers anymore. This is a good example that a school´s good intentions only work if the parents are behind it. Did you hear about Jamie Oliver (the English chef) who had a program for better food at schools in England. He showed schools how to provide healthy lunches and snacks for children but the parents were the ones who actually complained about it. Some mothers waited by the fence at lunchtime to bring their children hamburgers and other junk food. Children always do what they see at home so it´s just as important to change their parents way of thinking about healthy choices. And then those “junk food dealers” wouldn´t find customers anymore.

]]> By: Alison Kerr http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/12/14/12-year-old-boy-suspended-for-selling-junk-food/#comment-15361 Alison Kerr Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:25:09 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=6621#comment-15361 I'm left wondering whether the school provide the kids with any snacks. Did they remove junk food and leave the kids to be hungry, or is there something else available for snacks, such as bananas. Surely if the kids are getting enough to eat there wouldn't be so much need for enforcement. I’m left wondering whether the school provide the kids with any snacks. Did they remove junk food and leave the kids to be hungry, or is there something else available for snacks, such as bananas. Surely if the kids are getting enough to eat there wouldn’t be so much need for enforcement.

]]> By: PureMothers http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/12/14/12-year-old-boy-suspended-for-selling-junk-food/#comment-15360 PureMothers Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:38:27 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=6621#comment-15360 and LOVE the new look of your site - congrats on joining Simple Earth Media! and LOVE the new look of your site – congrats on joining Simple Earth Media!

]]> By: PureMothers http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/12/14/12-year-old-boy-suspended-for-selling-junk-food/#comment-15359 PureMothers Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:37:43 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=6621#comment-15359 A one day suspension for selling junk food in a school where there is a ban on selling junk food is definitely appropriate, in my opinion. The child's fathers states that he is "being victimized for the enterprise.." He's not in school to earn money. He's there to learn - and in a private school his father is paying the tuition! Undermining a rule at the school is certainly breaking some code of conduct. A one day suspension for selling junk food in a school where there is a ban on selling junk food is definitely appropriate, in my opinion. The child’s fathers states that he is “being victimized for the enterprise..” He’s not in school to earn money. He’s there to learn – and in a private school his father is paying the tuition! Undermining a rule at the school is certainly breaking some code of conduct.

]]> By: Kimberly http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/12/14/12-year-old-boy-suspended-for-selling-junk-food/#comment-15358 Kimberly Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:22:56 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=6621#comment-15358 This was not a state school from my understanding - so the family probably signed some type of code of conduct and he was a repeat offender so yes it was appropriate. As a public school teacher in Texas - we can suspend for severe or repeated offences. So the kid you hear about that got suspended for selling a bag of chips or some other seemingly minor offense probably has a string of other offenses trailing behind him. We had an elementary student sent to the alternative campus for "talking back to a sub" but actually it was because he had a long history of offences including violence towards staff. Another consideration is that if the health department is in an enforcement mode they can potentially fine the school for things like this. During multi-cultural day we have a luncheon for parents and staff. We aren't allowed to serve the kids because of state and federal regulations + a massive food poisoning that happened a few years ago at a bake sale. The food can't be set up near the kids food line. (On the other hand the teachers can make food in the room with the limitations that come from that. Basically it has to be something eaten raw or baked.) This was not a state school from my understanding – so the family probably signed some type of code of conduct and he was a repeat offender so yes it was appropriate.

As a public school teacher in Texas – we can suspend for severe or repeated offences. So the kid you hear about that got suspended for selling a bag of chips or some other seemingly minor offense probably has a string of other offenses trailing behind him. We had an elementary student sent to the alternative campus for “talking back to a sub” but actually it was because he had a long history of offences including violence towards staff.

Another consideration is that if the health department is in an enforcement mode they can potentially fine the school for things like this. During multi-cultural day we have a luncheon for parents and staff. We aren’t allowed to serve the kids because of state and federal regulations + a massive food poisoning that happened a few years ago at a bake sale.

The food can’t be set up near the kids food line. (On the other hand the teachers can make food in the room with the limitations that come from that. Basically it has to be something eaten raw or baked.)

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