I know there is new legislation re school food, but from what I have read it only applies to food supplied by the school. There is guidance on packed lunches but as far as I can see no statutory obligations for parents. Therefore does school have the right to remove or even question what a parent has included in their child's lunchbox ?
Thanks
Debbie
2007-09-26 07:08:14 · 24 answers · asked by debbie d 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
In the school where I work as a lunchtime supervisor, there is a "no sweets" policy. We ask the child to put any sweets or chocolate bars back into his/her lunchbox and not bring any more in. We do not confiscate them.
You wouldn't believe what some of them bring in, entire blocks of jelly etc. etc.
2007-09-26 08:56:26 · answer #1 · answered by isaulte 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legal or not. The legislation was passed for a reason. Kids are eating too many sweets and junk food. These bad habits carry on into outside of school. Obesity, early onset of diabetes, physical and mental developmental issue, etc.
So yes, they will not be doing searches of lunchboxes. But they figure that 95% of the parents will be smart enough to consider the guidelines and generally follow them. They also figure that most parents will realize that packing sodas, candybars and other sweets in a lunchbox would be sending the wrong message to their child. The school will be discussing why they don't have them anymore but the kid would be thinking "my mommy hooks me up so it's OK to break rules".
Kind of a bad example to set and a dangerous precedent.
2007-09-26 16:49:53 · answer #2 · answered by jackson 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The only obligation is not peanut products
if a teacher confiscated the chocolate during lunchtime or snacktime (and not during teaching time) you should speak to the teacher about this if you can because it doesn't make sense, they don't have that authority
don't take legal action until you've at least asked the school how they can have this policy and have assured you it won't happen again
2007-09-26 14:12:37 · answer #3 · answered by MrPotatoHead 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no legislation regarding school meals. There are only guidelines and individual schools policies
So it is not 'legal' to confiscate such. But it may be the schools policy. At the end of the day they may turn round and say if the parent does not oblidge to our policies then the child can go to another school.....but i dont think they would dare
2007-09-26 14:17:26 · answer #4 · answered by stormydays 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a disgrace. You should be disappointed with the school. A child is entitled to have whatever they fancy in their lunchbox, the school cannot go around looking in people's lunchboxes and taking chocolate. It is basically calling your child fat! I have chocolate all the time in mine. If the school did that, I would tell my Mum and she would be APPAULED. You wouldn't take a teachers chocolate bar would you? No. So why should they take yours?
That is totally sick.
Gd luck x
2007-09-26 17:23:32 · answer #5 · answered by Sophiiee 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the school was implementing a lunchbox policy, they should have informed the parents beforehand. What you put in your childs lunchbox is personal property and nothing to do with the school. I would visit the school and speak to the head.
2007-09-26 14:13:57 · answer #6 · answered by firebobby 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unless the lunchbox contained explosives or a gun or something, I think the school should butt-out, maybe if they were concerned for the childs health (i.e they were very overweight) they might speak to the parents but I would imagine any normal parent would tell them to go forth.
Everything in moderation people ! Stuff the nanny state !
2007-09-26 14:16:40 · answer #7 · answered by blan 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think that the school as any right to question or remove anything a parent has packed for their child for lunch. I know that you can't send candy for the parties or anything too unhealthy for the parties. They don't like your child to have soda at lunch, but if you send it I don't think they can take it from them. I have sent my son with a few starburst candies in his lunch and he ate them at lunch and no one questioned him. As far as I know you can send anything you want with your child in his/her lunch and they can't take it away. You may want to read through the handbook the school gave you at the begining of school they may have a section on that in there. Good luck and I hope this has helped!!
2007-09-26 14:14:58 · answer #8 · answered by Drea Z 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all schools think they are above the law..once a teacher tried to remove my daughters insulin pump from her body she had to scream and tell the teacher NO!! the "teacher" then sent my daughter to the office..I was livid mad...I put candy bars in my daughters lunch all the time DARE them try to remove it from her..I was not very well liked at my children's school..they have civil rights..What I put in my daughters lunch box is my business..especially if I am Paying for my daughter to go to that school...
2007-09-26 14:21:45 · answer #9 · answered by Crazy cat lady >^ ^< 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think we need more information. Can you give us the facts?
Why don't they want chocolate? What was their reason? What exactly did they take?
Some schools ban peanut butter due to the life threatening nature of some of the allergies. Maybe it was a peanutbutter/chocolate candy bar.
2007-09-26 14:12:06 · answer #10 · answered by buffytou 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋