Lame - teacher takes away pre-K's lunch and replaces with Chicken Nuggets

[vta]

If some don't like the public schools, they can switch their children to private schools. If some don't like private or public schools, they have the option of home schooling.

It would help if parents cared more about how their kids are treated, taught and that someone actually cares for the welfare of their child when they are away from the house for a good portion of the day instead of getting butt sore about their own views on what the government should or should not do.

More caring about the kid, less ranting about the government. Some, it would seem, would rather bite their nose off to spite their face so to speak.

It is amazing to me that some get so upset with the idea that schools just want children to have a healthy and balanced meal option which in itself is a good bit of education value since health is a part of education...i mean most do go to health class and physical education.

But rant on if you must feed your need to be upset about something that actually helps the child. Just remember you do have other options like Private schools and home schooling.

Because a person replacing what you've provided for your child without your consent is not a wise practice for any parent to accept. Taking note and reaching out to the parent is. If it's deemed the family can't handle proper nutrition aid can probably be provided.

The notion of 'take it or get lost' is a crock as well. Taxpayers pay for school and have every right to observe, question or protest any act conducted concerning their kids.

 

[Vtwin]

My state is currently piloting a "Universal Free Meal" program in selected counties and schools. Students receive two meals a day, breakfast and lunch. Considering the poverty level in the state, in many of these counties, the two meals are most likely the only decent nutritious meals kids get to eat. The overwhelming majority of these kids have hard working parent/s who just can't make enough money to make ends meet.

When I was in elementary school in he 70's there was a "free lunch" program for low income families. I don't know for sure but it had to be state funded I assume.

I also remember the crap they served in the cafeteria was pretty much processed junk.

 

[Vtwin]

Seriously? smh

We aren't talking about junior high or high school kids here, this was specifically a preschool class. These kids cannot look out for themselves so the responsibility falls on the school while they are there. No one is asking the schools to go into the home to make sure the kids get three square meals a day. No harm is being done to the kids to make sure they are getting what they need from a meal and it makes the school day easier as well fed children are easier to handle. They could just fix it all by saying no lunches packed from home but they prefer to give parents an option to provide lunch themselves.

Ya know....

That's pretty easy for you say until it's YOU that is on CPS's radar because some overzealous savior of the world didn't like the turkey sandwich you packed for your kids lunch.

 

[vta]

When I was in elementary school in he 70's there was a "free lunch" program for low income families. I don't know for sure but it had to be state funded I assume.

I also remember the crap they served in the cafeteria was pretty much processed junk.

I do too, and the difference was it was done on a personal basis, where people applied for the program, without someone arbitrarily taking action on someone who was already provided a lunch.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Because a person replacing what you've provided for your child without your consent is not a wise practice for any parent to accept. Taking note and reaching out to the parent is. If it's deemed the family can't handle proper nutrition aid can probably be provided.

The notion of 'take it or get lost' is a crock as well. Taxpayers pay for school and have every right to observe, question or protest any act conducted concerning their kids.

If they took away the lunch bag all together and gave the kid the school lunch that might be different. They did not take away nor did they replace...they added.

Also not a problem imo if a parent questions, observes or protests. They have that right. They also have the right to read the regulations and decide they don't like them and try to remedy them. Just as some have the right to complain about it, I too have the right to disagree with their takes.

But again, at the end of the day the issue is only trying to do the best thing for the child as far as health and nutrition and I do find it funny that so many get upset when health and nutrition is brought up when talking about young kids that are growing. One would think they would want the best for their own child and not complain as much about it. Sometimes it is not about what they think is best for the child, the real issue many times is what they think is best for and their view point of government on a personal level and not the child's best interest.

Think about that for a moment. Should parents really complain because their child is having a balanced nutritional guideline to follow while in a state of life where they grow the most. Seems like most parents would be on board and want that for their child. But again, some don't like it because they don't like government ran a certain way and they also don't like being told what to do instead of really thinking about the child instead of their self.

 

[ethiostar]

When I was in elementary school in he 70's there was a "free lunch" program for low income families. I don't know for sure but it had to be state funded I assume.

I also remember the crap they served in the cafeteria was pretty much processed junk.

With the pilot project in my state, schools actually have to agree to serve healthy, school made meals and schools get reimbursed by the feds. What schools are expected to do is provide the "opportunity" for meals to students, not force them to eat it or force them not to eat what they brought from home. However, principals in one or two schools (out of approximately 80) are "requiring" kids to take the food they provide regardless of whether they brought food from home, have already eaten breakfast before coming to school, dislike certain foods, or are allergic to some food items. These school administrators are doing this to increase student participation in the pilot project and get reimbursed for it (more money). As a result some kids are taking the tray of food they are given and throwing a lot of it away, creating a lot of waste. Having said that, this is an easy fix and the state is handling it. Overall, the overwhelming majority of administrators, teachers, parents, and kids have nothing but good things to say about it and they are starting to see positive impacts, i.e., better focus and higher levels of energy, a more active engagement in class, fewer visits to the nurse office due to stomachaches and headaches, better attendance and fewer incidents of tardiness. Most are saying that this is finally a worthwhile project for the use of our tax dollars.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Ya know....

That's pretty easy for you say until it's YOU that is on CPS's radar because some overzealous savior of the world didn't like the turkey sandwich you packed for your kids lunch.

I could understand your point if the cps went so far as to jail the parent, make them spend an obscene amount of money on legal fees and took away the child.

Of course that is a gross exaggeration of what happened and I am joking but in the end let's realize they just gave the child some more food, did not charge the parent for the food and later apologized for their error.

 

[Vtwin]

If they took away the lunch bag all together and gave the kid the school lunch that might be different. They did not take away nor did they replace...they added.

Also not a problem imo if a parent questions, observes or protests. They have that right. They also have the right to read the regulations and decide they don't like them and try to remedy them. Just as some have the right to complain about it, I too have the right to disagree with their takes.

But again, at the end of the day the issue is only trying to do the best thing for the child as far as health and nutrition and I do find it funny that so many get upset when health and nutrition is brought up when talking about young kids that are growing. One would think they would want the best for their own child and not complain as much about it. Sometimes it is not about what they think is best for the child, the real issue many times is what they think is best for and their view point of government on a personal level and not the child's best interest.

Think about that for a moment. Should parents really complain because their child is having a balanced nutritional guideline to follow while in a state of life where they grow the most. Seems like most parents would be on board and want that for their child. But again, some don't like it because they don't like government ran a certain way and they also don't like being told what to do instead of really thinking about the child instead of their self.

That all sounds good on paper... but....

You have cases like this where an overzealous do-gooder felt the perfectly acceptable lunch wasn't good enough and felt compelled to take action.

This is a perfect example of the caretaker overstepping their bounds and dragging peoples names through the mud.

It is exactly this sort of thing that is becoming more and more prevalent and inspires the backlash the another posted mentioned and is cleary evident in this thread.

The pendulum has swung to far in the wrong direction.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

That all sounds good on paper... but....

You have cases like this where an overzealous do-gooder felt the perfectly acceptable lunch wasn't good enough and felt compelled to take action.

This is a perfect example of the caretaker overstepping their bounds and dragging peoples names through the mud.

It is exactly this sort of thing that is becoming more and more prevalent and inspires the backlash the another posted mentioned and is cleary evident in this thread.

The pendulum has swung to far in the wrong direction.

You will always have overzealous do gooders, or do badders, no matter if there are rules or not.

We sometimes judge the mass for the actions of a few and that is not always the right way to go about things.

I am sure you can think of many good organizations or groups of people that do great things but a few of them over do some things and it besmirches the organization or group as a whole when it should not.

That is when common sense and looking into the full issue needs to come into play. But we as humans get so hell bent on looking at things from a black and white standpoint instead of looking at the gray middle and taking things into account that we ruin things and divide ourselves. Sadly Most of us are guilty of this at one time or another.

For example...there was a thread or article recently about PETA suing over letting whales getting constitutional rights and being set free.

PETA does a lot of good work and helps out a great deal, but they have overzealous people within the organization that do amazingly stupid things that hurt the very cause they champion. In that respect they lose a good deal of money and sympathy from people that just don't like the mistreatment of animals but also don't want to be associated with the extreme views of some in the organization.

 

[Vtwin]

I could understand your point if the cps went so far as to jail the parent, make them spend an obscene amount of money on legal fees and took away the child.

Of course that is a gross exaggeration of what happened and I am joking but in the end let's realize they just gave the child some more food, did not charge the parent for the food and later apologized for their error.

After embarrasing the child and the parents in front of the school/community.

I'm not sure about you but I don't want my name in some enforcement agencys database just because some fruitcake had a bug up their butt. Charges or no charges.

 

[Vtwin]

You will always have overzealous do gooders, or do badders, no matter if there are rules or not.

We sometimes judge the mass for the actions of a few and that is not always the right way to go about things.

I am sure you can think of many good organizations or groups of people that do great things but a few of them over do some things and it besmirches the organization or group as a whole when it should not.

That is when common sense and looking into the full issue needs to come into play. But we as humans get so hell bent on looking at things from a black and white standpoint instead of looking at the gray middle and taking things into account that we ruin things and divide ourselves. Sadly Most of us are guilty of this at one time or another.

You are exactly right.

However, if an individual takes it as their resonsibility to police the actions of others they also take on a higher burden of responsibilty to make sure they have a legitimate reason for taking those actions.

It has been my experience that teachers as a group are more prone to go overboard pushing their values on others.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

After embarrasing the child and the parents in front of the school/community.

I'm not sure about you but I don't want my name in some enforcement agencys database just because some fruitcake had a bug up their butt. Charges or no charges.

Their names are in some enforcement agency's database now?

Their name is not already in the multiple enforcement agency's database?

Seeing as we fill out everything for anything with our SS#s, date of birth, name, address and such I am not sure they are in anymore data bases now.

Also it would seem the school was just as embarrassed with the mistake as they apologized for the error.

I know it is how things go now days but sometimes I just have a problem making mountains out of molehills for everything...although I do on occasion.

 

[vta]

If they took away the lunch bag all together and gave the kid the school lunch that might be different. They did not take away nor did they replace...they added.

Also not a problem imo if a parent questions, observes or protests. They have that right. They also have the right to read the regulations and decide they don't like them and try to remedy them. Just as some have the right to complain about it, I too have the right to disagree with their takes.

But again, at the end of the day the issue is only trying to do the best thing for the child as far as health and nutrition and I do find it funny that so many get upset when health and nutrition is brought up when talking about young kids that are growing. One would think they would want the best for their own child and not complain as much about it. Sometimes it is not about what they think is best for the child, the real issue many times is what they think is best for and their view point of government on a personal level and not the child's best interest.

Think about that for a moment. Should parents really complain because their child is having a balanced nutritional guideline to follow while in a state of life where they grow the most. Seems like most parents would be on board and want that for their child. But again, some don't like it because they don't like government ran a certain way and they also don't like being told what to do instead of really thinking about the child instead of their self.

Looking at this situation specifically, why would something universally agreed upon to really not be all that healthy be added to this kid's lunch? Chicken nuggets over a sandwich, banana, apple sauce and yes questionable potato chips. I wouldn't accept that either if it were my kid.

Objectively and not simply thinking it's a matter of unreasonable parents unreasonably not trusting government shows it makes zero sense. It makes better sense, when you consider that state aid is predicated on actual consumption, if what state aid provides is not used, state aid is lowered that it's probably not an issue of hyper-compassion.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

You are exactly right.

However, if an individual takes it as their resonsibility to police the actions of others they also take on a higher burden of responsibilty to make sure they have a legitimate reason for taking those actions.

It has been my experience that teachers as a group are more prone to go overboard pushing their values on others.

Even with that idea there are probably just as many teachers that don't care about anything. I am sure you will remember some teachers while you were in school that just did not seem to care about anything. Just seemed like soul vacant entities talking in monotone about a subject they lost interest and love for long ago.

You also have some teachers that do terrible things (recent terrible reports bout some things that happened to students in a small school in california) and other teachers that turned a blind eye to it.

You will have the good and the bad. Those that want to do too much vs those that do not want to do anything.

And of course there are many in the middle that gets besmirched by those complaining about those that do too much or too little. The ones that do a good job, that love to educate, that have a desire to be the best teacher and make an impact in the lives of children in a positive and respectable manner.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Looking at this situation specifically, why would something universally agreed upon to really not be all that healthy be added to this kid's lunch? Chicken nuggets over a sandwich, banana, apple sauce and yes questionable potato chips. I wouldn't accept that either if it were my kid.

Objectively and not simply thinking it's a matter of unreasonable parents unreasonably not trusting government shows it makes zero sense. It makes better sense, when you consider that state aid is predicated on actual consumption, if what state aid provides is not used, state aid is lowered that it's probably not an issue of hyper-compassion.

The idea of making money is a fair point to bring up. Just as we have seen schools falsify test scores to get better money and multitude of other things to make money.

I had not taken that into consideration.

 

[Cythim]

Ya know....

That's pretty easy for you say until it's YOU that is on CPS's radar because some overzealous savior of the world didn't like the turkey sandwich you packed for your kids lunch.

Your comment makes no sense. Read back and see where I advocate against getting CPS involved for such a trivial matter.

 

[Cythim]

That all sounds good on paper... but....

You have cases like this where an overzealous do-gooder felt the perfectly acceptable lunch wasn't good enough and felt compelled to take action.

This is a perfect example of the caretaker overstepping their bounds and dragging peoples names through the mud.

It is exactly this sort of thing that is becoming more and more prevalent and inspires the backlash the another posted mentioned and is cleary evident in this thread.

The pendulum has swung to far in the wrong direction.

This example can happen with or without providing kids with supplemental meals. The overzealous do-gooder will feel compelled to call CPS if they see a "bad lunch" whether they have the obligation to supplement the meal or not.

 

[Vtwin]

Their names are in some enforcement agency's database now?

Their name is not already in the multiple enforcement agency's database?

Seeing as we fill out everything for anything with our SS#s, date of birth, name, address and such I am not sure they are in anymore data bases now.

Also it would seem the school was just as embarrassed with the mistake as they apologized for the error.

I know it is how things go now days but sometimes I just have a problem making mountains out of molehills for everything...although I do on occasion.

Hey now. I thought the discussion had shifted more to a general discussion of the broader topic of teachers policing lunches etc.

Surely you can see or have even heard of situations that have escalated far beyond the point they should have.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough with my "name in the data base" reference. I should have said "on the top of the screen highlighted in red with a blinking "take action" icon next to it".

I get your point. I know that this incident didn't escalate to that point. I do believe that in this case that teacher stepped way over the line and I also believe that sort of behavior is becoming more and more common which is what creates the seemingly over the top backlash and the mountain out of the molehill. People get fired up over somewhat benign incidents like this because it is just another in a disturbing trend. Just like in the PETA example.

Unfortunately the court of public opinion doesn't always give the school's apology the weight it deserves when passing judgement on the parents of the child whose lunch made it to the news.

I don't mean to go on and on but this is a sore subject with me. :starspin

 

[Cythim]

After embarrasing the child and the parents in front of the school/community.

I'm not sure about you but I don't want my name in some enforcement agencys database just because some fruitcake had a bug up their butt. Charges or no charges.

I didn't see them mention the name of the child or parent in this story and I doubt a preschool classmate will be gossiping to their parents about it. How did this story make it into the media? The parent took it there but asked not to be named. There was no public embarrassment and the family was not reported to any agency for providing what the teacher thought was an inadequate lunch.

 

[Vtwin]

Your comment makes no sense. Read back and see where I advocate against getting CPS involved for such a trivial matter.

I could not begin to imagine this type of thing happening when I was in elementary school.

Fast forward to today and it seems many don't have a problem at all with this incident.

Fast forward another 35-40 years......