Is it okay for a teacher to take away your food?

Question

I wasnt even eating my lunchbag of food, i looked inside of the lunchbag it to see what my mom had packed., and she took it up and said she wasnt giving it back

Answer 1

Okay, I'm a teacher, so I'll take a crack at this. There are a few possibilities for her reasoning, and quite possibly none are right since I can't claim to be inside her head. I'll do her side of the problem first.
Food in the classroom can be a distraction:
1. You're eating and not listening (or could have intended to not just have looked in the bag - she didn't know, and it possibly would have been more of a disruption to ask.)
2. Other students in the class may be honestly hungry. Not just, "I only had one pop tart for breakfast" hungry, but below the poverty line and "I haven't eaten for 2 days" hungry. The simple insinuation of food being around is a HUGE distraction to them - whether you eat it or not.
3. Food spills and crumbs are an annoyance too.
4. If you can appear to have food in class, others will assume they can, and her whole disiplinary system could be at risk.

This particular instance was rather innocent, you weren't even eating:
1. The teacher definitely should have given it back at lunch time if she didn't. Teachers are not legally allowed (at least in the state of PA) to deprive minors of food or drink. They MAY hold it until such a time as is an appropriate meal time, however, if they deem it is the best interest of the student and her other charges.
2. Some students have medical needs that require them to eat and drink at regular intervals - sometimes falling within class time. I, for instance, have hypoglycemia and need to eat something little at least once every two hours or my blood sugar crashes.

So she may have had her reasons for taking it from you temporarily, but I really hope she did give it back - even if she said she wasn't - because there's no reason to keep it forever.

Answer 2

You didn't say what grade you are in or what the class is about. That can make a lot of differences.

I teach chemistry in a lab classroom. Eating is totally prohibited in the classroom and, yes, I take food (including candy, etc.) from kids in that class and put it in the trash. The reason is that the food can be accidentally contaminated with chemicals. I have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect my students. So they don't eat. Period. And if they do I take it away and put them on detention. The rules are very clear.

The teacher has no way of determining if you were eating or not if you had your lunchbag open. The implication was that you were eating. Appearences can work against you.

Also, your behavior in the past may have some influence on what the teacher did. Have you ever eaten in that class? Were you not paying attention to the lesson? Were you talking?

I don't know the full story and the teacher is not here to present their side of the story. To be on the safe side don't take your lunch out of your book bag or locker until lunch time.

Most schools do allow bottled water however in the classroom as long as it is not poured on the desks or thrown at other students.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I' m not sure how old you are but if i was your mom i would take it to the school board. NO teacher has that right to take any food away Not even gum they can ask you to throw it away. Teacher now days are going crazy they think they are god or they the kids mothers. I hate when they Call and try to tell you what you need to do with your child. But then ask what more do i think she the (teacher) can do in the classroom lol They just plane nosie, so watch out, your trouble's have just started. Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Well, you should not have been looking at it during class. Your teacher has the right to take it away if you are looking at it when you are supposed to have your attention on what the teacher is doing; however I do not believe that a teacher has the right to keep it . You should have gotten it back at lunchtime. I would tell my parents and the principal and lodge a complaint if the teacher kept it.

Answer 5

Maybe you should be paying more attention to class. She made her point, I bet you remember that next time you wonder what you are eating for lunch. You don't have time to look in the bag on the way to school? Ask you mother before you leave the house. (She should have given it back when it was time for lunch, but you shouldn't have disrespected her by not paying attention either.)

Answer 6

you are in class and should be paying attention to the teacher and not what mommy packed for your lunch. The teacher was correct in taking away your food.

Answer 7

That is not right a teacher has no business in your personal area taking away things that belong to you without permission. I am so shocked

Answer 8

She needs to get laid. Who does she think she is?? your mum???
You give some responsibilities to some people, and they take it for granted and over use it.
You should tell this to yor mum, or the director of the school.
Good luck!

Answer 9

**** no
she has no legal right to steal your food
if she didnt give it back then talk to your headmaster/principal and get her in loadsa trouble cos she cant steal stuff off ya
is she fat?

Answer 10

No, that's wrong. Go talk to the people in the office. It's ok for her to take it away in class, but it is very wrong for her to keep it.