Now in some school districts they are banning teachers from rewarding students with sweets because of overweight teenagers. Now some school districts are severly punishing teachers that give out candy or other junk food as a reward to students who do good on a test, or answer a question right. They say that we as teenagers need to be encouraged to eat more healthy, and that some teachers were encouraging unhealthy eating habits. What do you think? But then again if you think about it, look at some of the food we are being served at lunch time. Burritos smothered in condiments high in fat, fries and chicken fingers that are fried as well...I don't get there connection there, not allowing to give a "reward" but still feeding us fried food everyday? What do you think about the new rule school districts are trying to implement?
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It's important to encourage health, but it's not as if the majority of the weight gain comes from the treats that teachers hand out in class.
Of course they won't get rid of the greasy and disgusting cafeteria food, because that brings money to the school or affiliated business.
Basically, they're trying to act as if they care when they really don't.
If anything, teach about the benefits and methods to nutrition .. and let the kids and parents handle it from there.
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We're talking elementary schools, right? Unfortunately, positive/negative reinforcement doesn't work as well in high school, and that's the time when overweightness actually becomes an issue.
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If a society is willing to give freedom for temporary security, they deserve neither.
we're talking all grades, hs included, it was in yesterdays paper in my city.
It's unfair to punish teachers for rewarding candy. Seriously, do you really think banning candy is gonna promote healthy eating habits. Parents are the first ones to promote this kind of eating habit...not teachers.
Well they're hoping it will help, i mean you have to start somewhere, and not all parents do, but i see where you're coming from.
It's also been proven that a healthy diet will actually improve a school's academic scores as well as cut down on bad behavior.
I know first hand. I have a sister who is hypoglocemic -- she is more sensative to sugars and bad eating habits than the normal person. Throughout childhood my mother tried to force her to eat well, yet my sister always found ways around it. Emotionally my sister was a wreck - low self esteem, misconstruing comments as insults, uncontrollable crying at times, depression. Her treatment of others was horrible. She was unfriendly and many times outright rude! By the time she was 18, my mother gave up on trying to force feed her the foods that could control her condition. Eventually she began to pay attention to what foods she ate. Within a matter of weeks, her entire attitude began to change. She was social, friendly, and her depression induced outbreaks slowly faded. She can feel the difference in the way her brain works when she eats foods she isn't supposed to have versus when she eats right. The change is drastic!!
Feeding children nutricious foods costs no more than feeding them processed, frozen and fried foods during lunchtime. It also takes no more time to prepare. In most cases, the food tastes better as well. I just don't understand why this hasn't become a common change in schools. It's the logical next step in bettering our education system.
Finally someone agrees with me!
Teacher's should not be penalized for doign this. Sometimes it's the only way to get the children to listen. I teach 5th grade French once a week and that's their motivation when we're playing a game. It's not like teachers give then an excessive amount of candy. The parents are just trying to find someone to blame other than themselves.
First off, it wasn't the parents doing the blaming. And second of all, I'm not saying its all bad, its just you shouldn't have to bribe kids with cand yall the time to do well, you should find other alternatives some of the time instead of taking the easiest route.
You are right, you shouldn't bribe kids all the time, but a treat once in a while is nice for them and makes it more fun. I'm not saying give then candy every time they answer a question. Maybe teachers should just be told to not do it as much rather than banned.
If it is not one thing it is another... i dont think that teachers should get punished for it... but they should use some discretion when giving out junk food... if it is obvious that the class is overweight maybe take the kids bowling or some place fun... but i dont think that theyshould get punished.
Thoase are my views exactly.
and what i posted are mine, and im sticking with them as im sure you are sticking with yours!
I understand the point behind using candy to encourage children to complete a task. But this method shouldn't need to continue throughout all grades. I used gummy bears to potty train toddlers at a daycare. This method was also used as a last resort because the kids couldn't move up in the age groups until they mastered potty training and our class had become overcrowded while the next age group had low numbers. The most a child got in a day were 3 gummy bears. Even in a such a small amount, one proper restroom use = one gummy bear, the children picked up quickly. Eventually when the whole class mastered toilet time and the gummy bears were removed.
As for high school students, at that age there should be no need to bribe children with sweets. I never received candy from a teacher in high school or junior high for that matter. It's ridiculous to think that teenagers can't motivate themselves without sweets! I agree with the cut down. Although, banning candy as a reward isn't going to greatly help the situation. I think more administrators should be reworking lunch meals and physical education classes to decrease our high obesity rates.
Finally someone who agrees with me!