When should a school intervene? Never? (school lunch issue)

I have a student (2nd grader) who usually comes to school eating from a gigantic bag of Doritos and drinking a brightly colored energy drink. That's her breakfast. Sometimes she has Cheetos instead.

I don't intervene. Would you?

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unknown

jorinya wrote: »

JoRocka wrote: »

do you find the wind messes up your hair at that altitude?

You don't have to have a personal attack. Hello but this is about nutrition for children and last I checked this is MFP not Facebook!!!!

wasn't a personal attack- just pointing out how high you be riding on that horse over there.

unknown

jorinya wrote: »

Sorry I didn't know it was pick on people and try tear them apart day. Oh my God. What so people cannot have an opinion. Please check my previous post before you try to condemn me. I did give advise to the OP if you care to read through the thread. Sorry for breathing!!

Who is condemning you?

I actually did read through your previous posts and am confused about your position on this, because one of your earlier posts said this:

jorinya wrote: »

Don't they teach about healthy eating in the school curriculum? I studies Childcare Learning and Development in UK and healthy eating and exercise were definitely in the curriculum. Perhaps having a healthy eating, healthy lifestyle talk in the school for parents might be an idea. You can ask the child how they feel about having the food they are bringing to school or find out from them during a class conversation the reason why they take it as breakfast. It could be the parents are intending the food as a snack for lunch but the child has other ideas. Don't pry too much and don't offend the parents. Good luck!!!

How is "don't pry and don't offend the parents" consistent with your later comments?

unknown

jorinya wrote: »

draznyth wrote: »

The amount of nanny state replies in this thread is alarming. Apparently Doritos = throwing your kid down a flight of stairs.

Do you have any kids? If so, wouldn't you like them to be healthy? If not, wait till you do and then answer the questions.
I have four kids and try my best to teach them from a young age about healthy food and healthy lifestyle. Its never too early to start eating healthy and can prevent later health issues. I give them snacks too but in moderation.
Not having a go at you, just asking cos of what you commented.

Great job - You were able to raise your kids and give them insight into a healthy lifestyle. That's wonderful and as a former high school teacher in an urban environment, I wish even 10% of my parents were able to be that involved.

Unfortunately, in many areas, children aren't as lucky. My students' parents were too busy working 2-3 jobs, often not at home in the morning when the kids went off to school, or not at home when they came home to make sure the kids were eating properly.

For a good many of my students, they weren't raised by their parents - they were raised by aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, etc. Students who had adequate food in their houses were a minority.

Hell, some of my students were working jobs themselves to help support their family and pay rent. Or were parents themselves and would spend their money on food for their own children.

For many of those raising kids, it's not a necessarily matter of knowing healthy vs. unhealthy and what they should send with their kids to school. There are so many more factors at play.

unknown

jorinya wrote: »

Sorry I didn't know it was pick on people and try tear them apart day. Oh my God. What so people cannot have an opinion. Please check my previous post before you try to condemn me. I did give advise to the OP if you care to read through the thread. Sorry for breathing!!

And here we have what we like to call an "over reaction" kids... very soon we may even see the rage quit!!!

unknown

Kruggeri wrote: »

How is whether or not he has kids of his own and whether or not he wants those children, or his yet to be born children to be healthy, relevant to whether or not the OP should intervene with the child in question?

Btw if you read carefully the same person you are running to defend did tell me to take care of my own kids so please read the thread carefully.

unknown

jorinya wrote: »

Kruggeri wrote: »

How is whether or not he has kids of his own and whether or not he wants those children, or his yet to be born children to be healthy, relevant to whether or not the OP should intervene with the child in question?

Btw if you read carefully the same person you are running to defend did tell me to take care of my own kids so please read the thread carefully.

I did. He said:

draznyth wrote: »

jorinya wrote: »

draznyth wrote: »

The amount of nanny state replies in this thread is alarming. Apparently Doritos = throwing your kid down a flight of stairs.

Do you have any kids? If so, wouldn't you like them to be healthy? If not, wait till you do and then answer the questions.
I have four kids and try my best to teach them from a young age about healthy food and healthy lifestyle. Its never too early to start eating healthy and can prevent later health issues. I give them snacks too but in moderation.
Not having a go at you, just asking cos of what you commented.

I don't need to have children to have an opinion on this. If and when I have children, I would want them to be healthy, and would provide for that as much as possible.

However, none of the above has anything to do with someone stepping in and parenting other people's children for them. It's nunya. Take care of your own kids.

I think the point you are missing is that it doesn't matter how you raise your kids, or how he would raise his kids. What matters is that you would be responsible for your own children's health and well being and defining those terms for your own family. That is different than saying that someone whose child is coming to school with Doritos and RedBull should be reported to CPS (which I realize that you didn't say that - but it was the prevailing sentiment from the first couple pages of this thread).

unknown

jorinya wrote: »

Mr_Knight wrote: »

That has nothing to do with the conversation.

Not directed at you and ah I am entitled to defend myself and to my opinion. Thanks for your comment but nutrition is nutrition.

You are entitled to whatever opinion you like - but you're off topic for this thread.

But hey...let's bring "suspicious bruises" back into it, too...

unknown

MikaMojito wrote: »

And to the guy who said teachers should stop trying to be a doctor, therapist or social worker. We would love to! Trust me. But if we don't reach out, nobody will. We owe it to the kids to try to help them, even if it's not strictly our line of work.

I never really gave much thought to teachers until someone I know began their career and began telling me their stories.

It's such a complex, underrespected, and underappreciated profession. Thank you for being able to handle everything.

unknown

I'm a teacher in the UK and we have a legal responsibility to report this. I would then have to call the parents in for a meeting and explain the detrimental impact, not only on their health, but also on their learning. But again, that's the legal requirement of the child protection laws in the UK, so I would suggest you find out what your local authority's policies are an act accordingly. All the other great ideas above about doing some whole-class health lessons definitely wouldn't go amis either, and they usually hit home when kids realise they aren't doing the 'normal' thing, when they hear others are disgusted by what they have to say. This happened when we learnt about how to care for your teeth, and one of my kids (who does have the worst teeth I have ever seen on a 7-year-old) ended up upset in the lesson, only to come in the next morning and show me her new toothbrush Mummy let her buy last night. She was so proud of it, so I would highly recommend a few sessions

unknown

I'm with the people that say a "Did you know that xxx is eating this for breakfast?" Since the student is late to school breakfast, the parent may not even realize that the kid is eating something not provided by the school.

I also wouldn't be too concerned about her overall health since she is getting school lunch.

unknown

louubelle16 wrote: »

I'm a teacher in the UK and we have a legal responsibility to report this. I would then have to call the parents in for a meeting and explain the detrimental impact, not only on their health, but also on their learning. But again, that's the legal requirement of the child protection laws in the UK, so I would suggest you find out what your local authority's policies are an act accordingly. All the other great ideas above about doing some whole-class health lessons definitely wouldn't go amis either, and they usually hit home when kids realise they aren't doing the 'normal' thing, when they hear others are disgusted by what they have to say. This happened when we learnt about how to care for your teeth, and one of my kids (who does have the worst teeth I have ever seen on a 7-year-old) ended up upset in the lesson, only to come in the next morning and show me her new toothbrush Mummy let her buy last night. She was so proud of it, so I would highly recommend a few sessions

This reasonableness and foresight and intelligence and complete do-the-right-thing set of principles is not welcome here!!

unknown

If the kid is eating the same crap (it's not food) every day, there's a problem.
Unless there are obvious signs of malnutrition, though, it's not an immediate one.

Maybe it's something that can be solved by educating the kid(s) as a class exercise,
maybe it's something the school / district social worker should address with the parents,
maybe CPS needs to be involved for more in-depth / drawn-out education of the family, plus monitoring for
improvement, plus helping them connect with the resources they might need (SNAP, for example).

How about getting the kid into the school breakfast / lunch program?

Other than educating every kid in your class, check out the district policies about reporting child neglect. Maybe
check with the school / district social worker about if this constitutes something which needs to be reported.
You're a mandated reporter.

Is there any way to provide a bowl of fruit in the room? Let kids have a piece when they want. Maybe there's a
community group which could fund it? Probably wouldn't take much, I'd guess less than $20/month. Or see if the
cafeteria (or school budget) could help.

unknown

BinkyBonk wrote: »

People like you are the ones who have obviously found your calling as a teacher. It's a tough job, one I could never do. Thanks for caring so much!

Thank you but I'd like to stress that I work in a rural area at a school with kids from fairly affluent families. There are no hard drugs, hardly any crime.

Your thanks need to go to those teachers who work in underpriviledged areas where parents honestly can't afford to feed their kids. Once or twice I've bought kids lunch because they'd forgotten theirs and were hungry. There are so many schools in so many countries where there are teachers standing in front of classes where not a single child has had breakfast. Where teachers don't know how many kids have got guns at home or drugs in their bags.

I love what I do but I'd never dare compare my work to theirs. And to the friendly person who thanked us teachers for being able "to handle everything". We can't. We try, we fail. And at some point many of us give up because we can't take it anymore. But feeling appreciated by society sure helps.

For those who want to help more: ask at your local school if they need volunteers or if they take donations.

unknown

MKEgal wrote: »

If the kid is eating the same crap (it's not food) every day, there's a problem.
Unless there are obvious signs of malnutrition, though, it's not an immediate one.

Maybe it's something that can be solved by educating the kid(s) as a class exercise,
maybe it's something the school / district social worker should address with the parents,
maybe CPS needs to be involved for more in-depth / drawn-out education of the family, plus monitoring for
improvement, plus helping them connect with the resources they might need (SNAP, for example).

Other than educating every kid in your class, check out the district policies about reporting child neglect. Maybe
check with the school / district social worker about if this constitutes something which needs to be reported.
You're a mandated reporter.

Is there any way to provide a bowl of fruit in the room? Let kids have a piece when they want. Maybe there's a
community group which could fund it? Probably wouldn't take much, I'd guess less than $20/month. Or see if the
cafeteria (or school budget) could help.

how are doritos "crap"???- the two main ingredients are corn and oil.

and how does the home grown version of a candy bar help the situation?

unknown

rainbowbow wrote:

in the breakfast situation i would collect the redbull and cheetos and give them an apple and a milk. Or a banana and a yogurt. something to that effect.

rainbowbow wrote:

generally the parents of these children are obese individuals themselves.
You can't expect the education of the child (who doesn't purchase or prepare their food) to make
those choices them self. The responsibility falls on the parent. If they aren't having that brought to
their attention, they have little motivation to make the changes.

I don't know why this just came to mind, but one day I was having lunch in a restaurant with my
son and his adopter (the woman; both she & her husband are obese) and she couldn't come up with
one thing on the menu he'd accept (he was maybe 3?).
I looked at the salads / appetizers and asked if he'd like to have a plate of fruit... which he
immediately accepted!
She looked astonished. Obviously had never considered healthy food.
One meal of fruit isn't going to offset all the crap they usually bought (at that point they were heavily
into fast food), but hopefully it changed both their minds a little.

unknown

Mr_Knight wrote: »

BinkyBonk wrote: »

chrisskellinton wrote: »

It's not your business........I wish teachers would stop trying to be doctors, therapist and social workers.

They barely have control of their class.

Hardly any wonder if kids are allowed to consume energy drinks. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Then establish an official school policy. Inform the parents of the policy. Enforce the policy.

That's the right way to do it.

Onesie, twosie ad hoc "enforcement" is a recipe for disaster.

I don't disagree with you on that.

unknown

jorinya wrote: »

draznyth wrote: »

However, none of the above has anything to do with someone stepping in and parenting other people's children for them. It's nunya. Take care of your own kids.

Excuse me but I do take care of my kids and some that don't have food to eat. I take care of their parents too. Where I am the people still believe that it takes a community to raise a child. I share my food with the less privileged so as not to waste it. I give water to those I see nearby who are thirsty and don't have any money to buy for themselves. I am no Mother Theresa but I try my best to help out especially with the kids in the school my kids attend. Sometimes other parents need a hand sometime and helping is not illegal, that's why there are social workers and councillors.

Yes, well, keep taking care of your kids. It's not your responsibility or your right to take care of everyone else's, or to condemn them for what you perceive as a lack of care, unless there is real abuse or neglect occurring. Doritos are not neglect. They are delicious.

unknown

louubelle16 wrote: »

I'm a teacher in the UK and we have a legal responsibility to report this. I would then have to call the parents in for a meeting and explain the detrimental impact, not only on their health, but also on their learning. But again, that's the legal requirement of the child protection laws in the UK, so I would suggest you find out what your local authority's policies are an act accordingly. All the other great ideas above about doing some whole-class health lessons definitely wouldn't go amis either, and they usually hit home when kids realise they aren't doing the 'normal' thing, when they hear others are disgusted by what they have to say. This happened when we learnt about how to care for your teeth, and one of my kids (who does have the worst teeth I have ever seen on a 7-year-old) ended up upset in the lesson, only to come in the next morning and show me her new toothbrush Mummy let her buy last night. She was so proud of it, so I would highly recommend a few sessions

I'm interested.....on what grounds. What makes this something you are by law bound to report? The energy drink?

unknown

JoRocka wrote: »

MKEgal wrote: »

If the kid is eating the same crap (it's not food) every day, there's a problem.
Unless there are obvious signs of malnutrition, though, it's not an immediate one.

Maybe it's something that can be solved by educating the kid(s) as a class exercise,
maybe it's something the school / district social worker should address with the parents,
maybe CPS needs to be involved for more in-depth / drawn-out education of the family, plus monitoring for
improvement, plus helping them connect with the resources they might need (SNAP, for example).

Other than educating every kid in your class, check out the district policies about reporting child neglect. Maybe
check with the school / district social worker about if this constitutes something which needs to be reported.
You're a mandated reporter.

Is there any way to provide a bowl of fruit in the room? Let kids have a piece when they want. Maybe there's a
community group which could fund it? Probably wouldn't take much, I'd guess less than $20/month. Or see if the
cafeteria (or school budget) could help.

how are doritos "crap"???- the two main ingredients are corn and oil.

and how does the home grown version of a candy bar help the situation?

Why do people keep ignoring the red bull and pretend the only thing that matters are the doritos?

unknown

JoRocka wrote: »

jorinya wrote: »

draznyth wrote: »

However, none of the above has anything to do with someone stepping in and parenting other people's children for them. It's nunya. Take care of your own kids.

Excuse me but I do take care of my kids and some that don't have food to eat. I take care of their parents too. Where I am the people still believe that it takes a community to raise a child. I share my food with the less privileged so as not to waste it. I give water to those I see nearby who are thirsty and don't have any money to buy for themselves. I am no Mother Theresa but I try my best to help out especially with the kids in the school my kids attend. Sometimes other parents need a hand sometime and helping is not illegal, that's why there are social workers and councillors.

do you find the wind messes up your hair at that altitude?

I am stealing this for a future situation. Love it.