Teachers told to inspect lunchboxes for fatty foods

[buckthesystem]

Gee, talk about control-freak state, telling the people "you are too stupid to know what to feed your kids, so we have to check".

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayN...tentPK=16820344

TEACHERS TOLD TO INSPECT LUNCHBOXES FOR FATTY FOOD

BY ZENA HAWLEY

09:30 - 07 March 2007

Derby teachers are being asked to carry out random checks on pupils' lunchboxes as part of a healthy eating drive.

The advice is contained in guidelines on packed lunches issued to all primary schools by Derby City Council.

The authority suggests schools complete a random survey of lunchboxes twice a year and the information gathered will be analysed and shared with parents.

Teachers are being asked to check that lunchboxes do not contain foods deemed to be unhealthy, such as popcorn, chewing gum, fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate spread as a sandwich filling, or sweets.

Foods said to be acceptable are bread or other cereals and potatoes, fruit and vegetables, milk and dairy and meat, fish or vegetarian alternatives.

Chocolate bars, biscuits or lower fat variety of crisps "can be included on one day only during the week".

Inspections would be carried out either for one day or over the period of a week. It is unlikely schools will write to parents about individual pupils but will send a general letter listing their findings.

Some head teachers have welcomed the guidance, but said they would think twice before carrying out inspections, and parents have given the news a mixed reaction.

Simon Emsley, head at Lakeside Community Primary School, Alvaston, where about 50 per cent of the 350 pupils have packed lunches, said: "I'm quite happy to send out the guidance to parents on behalf of the council, but that's where my responsibility ends.

"There has to be a collective responsibility for ensuring healthy eating which involves parents. There is a limit to what we can do to change their attitudes."

Trevor Vaughan, head at Ash Croft Primary School, in Sinfin, felt the same. He said: "I don't think we'll be organising specific inspections."

Cathy Taylor, of Riddings Street, Derby, has two children, Lauren, six, and Kyle, eight, who take packed lunches to school.

She said: "I dare any teacher to tell me that the food my children take to school isn't suitable for them."

But parent Clare Boyle, of Spondon, who has a son, Joseph, six, thinks the monitoring and guidance will help educate parents.

She said: "It doesn't bother me but I understand how some parents might be offended."

(for rest of article go to link)

[Guest LadyC]

apparently there is no punishment to the children for having the 'wrong food' in their lunchbox. but i think i'm kinda like cathy taylor.... if anyone inspected my kids lunch, i'd be in their face saying 'it ain't none of your blankity blank business what i feed my kids.'

[GardenDove]

I'll bet the teachers are thrilled to have an extra duty of being the nutrition police...

[Gerioke]

Well there are a lot of parents out there who don't give a crap what their kids eat.

It's too bad that society in general is to stupid or complacent to look after themselves.

[MorningGlory]

This is a sad truth what is happening and it is just as sad to me to see a hundred pound 8 year old. This still appears to be over the top. I suppose that some people feel the need to be an advocate for the children who have not been taught to make good choices. We are the fattest country in the world and many of our heath issues come from our eating habits. I wonder if concerned parents will have the right to go into the school cafeteria and inspect how they prepare their food and how many years have schools had soda machines? Mixed messages for the kids. Tough for the parents. A lot of factors to consider.

I could see an attempt to educate parents and kids about proper nutrition but....and this is important....a child's lunchbox is personal property, much like a purse or wallet. I don't think I'd be too polite if some teacher was pawing through my child's food. Either schools are too lax or they're ridiculous. I can't help remembering the gym teacher in Minnesota (I think) a couple of years ago who was raising the girl's skirts to make sure they were wearing underwear as they entered the school dances. I would've given THAT teacher a most unChristian pummeling if one of those girls had been my daughter. (She was fired) Or the schools that took it upon themselves to give kids lessons in Islamic teachings in California. As someone pointed out, parents could have the right to scrutinize the lunches prepared by the school also. These are notoriously high fat/low nutrition. The stupidity marches on..........