No more Honors’ breakfasts? No more pizza parties? No more snacks during Maryland School Assessment tests?
It all depends on the meaning that will be assigned to the following statement, adopted as part of a revised Wellness Policy, by the Harford County Board of Education at their meeting Monday in Bel Air.
l. Schools/staff shall refrain from using food or beverages at any time as either reward or punishment for academic or instructional achievement, performance, effort or activity in any respect or for behavior modification or punishment.
Did you think that the words “shall refrain” meant “shall refrain” and “at any time” meant “at any time”? Ha!
School board counsel Patrick Spicer told the board prior their vote that the public had provided more input on the proposed Wellness Policy than on any other in recent memory, and that questions as to whether pizza parties and the like would be disallowed would “come down to procedures.”
So after the board voted in favor of the new policy language, Interim Superintendent Patricia Skebeck said a committee would be put together to develop procedures to clarify the policy. Hopefully, they will resolve a point made earlier by Spicer as to the conditions under which a water bottle would be considered “sustenance”, instead of a “reward”. Skebeck also said the procedures would be posted at some future date.
In the interest of full disclosure, I testified in opposition to the new language on behalf of my local PTA. We suggested that the Wellness Policy maintain the current language strongly discouraging food rewards, rather than banning them outright.
But it looks like the ban isn’t really going to be a ban. Or is it? Until the procedures are outlined, I “shall refrain” from making further policy interpretations “at any time.”
Is there anyone else out there who thinks that the school board is acting a little out of bounds? Is there anyone who has the right to control the school board? I am not saying that giving children pizza as a reward is exactly the right thing to do, but if it encourages some children to go beyond what they would normally do, what is it really hurting? I have two children in HCPS. I am disappointed with the majority of the actions of the board and feel that they in NO WAY have the interests of my children at heart.
You hit it right on this one. The BOE though tackles the really tough pressing issues like the “Pizza Problems” that are taking down our schools and corrupting our children. I know this is a much higher priority than say “overcrowding” or ‘”wasting money'” fighting with the county council or figuring out what elem. school to build
Simple rule in the real world:
YOU WORK AND YOU GET TO EAT.
IF YOUR LAZY AND DON’T WORK, YOU STARVE.
These are time tested lessons since antiquity. As a teacher myself, I use candy and food all the time to motivate kids to do their work.
Leave it to the flaming bleeding heart liberals of the world to F*ck up one of the last remaining tools teachers have to get kids to learn. I mean, seriously, we’re not allowed to yell at them, touch them, hurt their feelings, etc……and people wonder why kids are so dumb in todays world.
But wait!….I’m digressing, I forgot, we already live in a country where you don’t have to work and you get food, shelter, and utilities for free. So, I guess the BOE is just reflecting our society.
………liberals………:(
I find it extremely hypocritical that, due to the wellness policy, pizza isn’t allowed as a reward in schools, but the following items are in the typical school lunch rotation as entrees:
Elementary:
Nacho Grande/Sour Cream/Salsa
Corn Dog Bites
Mozzarella Sticks w/Marinara Sauce
Secondary: (In addition to everything from the elementary list)
Some sort of pizza EVERY DAY
I guess pizza parties are no good because of competition?
yeah, this has to be one of the biggest of BOE waste of time I have ever witness. I personally think this should be up to the principals of the the school, NOT BOE. I like how the Observer put it. I don’t think the kids are going to sit quietly on this one…
wow is all i can say about this post, first we are debating which school should be built, we have over crowding issues, re -districting issues, now kids having pizza for doing a good job. I am sure a lot of kids are thinking jail sound like a lot of fun right about now.
Thank you Observer. my sentiment exactly.
HCPS, like many other schools around the nation, are getting sucked into the moral panic over the so-called “child obesity epidemic”, and this is why they’re banning food rewards, despite the fact that weight levels for children and adults have not dramatically risen over the last several years.
If HCPS want to adopt a real wellness policy, they should focus on retooling their gym classes so teachers will stop treating them like major league competitions and make them more enjoyable and make sure kids have decent food to eat during the actual breakfast and lunch periods.
I am wistfully thinking about all the time I spent picking out the perfect cupcake design for my kids’ holiday parties….Oh the reindeer with pretzel antlers. What will the party moms do now?
It seems to me that the old wellness policy that “strongly encouraged refrain” from food rewards would require the administration to develop procedures, and rightly so.
The new policy terminology is “shall refrain”. There is no gray area in the new policy, therefore no need to develop procedures.
My dictionary says “shall” means “must, or is obliged to”. No means No, doesn’t it? I can’t wait for a committee to redefine the word.
I guess this means we shouldn’t send in food for “Teacher Appreciation Week” since that would be a food reward. Steve, your comment is the one I sent into the Board when this policy was being looked at. I’m sure an occasional Jolly Rancher is what’s making our kids overweight, not the daily pizza in the cafeterias. Another example of “Wag the dog.”
It’s really amazing. We let out kids buy lunch half the time, they pack the other half. But then when we ask them what they had to eat, they respond with “Nacho Grande”.
Seriously?
You had chips with processed cheese, sour cream, and ground beef smothered in and super-sodium bath of seasoning as a main entree for lunch.
Using food as a reward seems to be effective in my kids’ school, where each classroom has a broad mix of abilities and behavior. For instance, getting a class to have 30 straight days of perfect behavior in the cafeteria earns a pizza lunch for the entire class. I see no problem with this. Better class behavior leads to more effective learning.
I am frustrated by the board’s committee mentality. I am angered by the control-freak mentality to micro-manage the classroom. If something works to promote actual student success, ie pizza party, lollipops or m&ms, why would you stop? The kids that are overweight, and the hyper-active kids may or may not respond to the food, but the teachers are at a loss for finding a way to compete with the instant gratification many kids expect for the least amount of work. The parents and families of many students do not expect or demand that the students do chores, homework or help in any way shape or form and the teachers are at a loss to motivate the students to learn basic skills. The teachers have to teach basic skills, then re-enforce the basic skills, then re-teach the basic skills. The number of students that do not have the basic skills to progress is rising daily and the teachers are expected to continue teaching and promote students without any chance of enforcing minimum standards. I commend the teachers for their efforts, but am aggravated by the lack of support by the board for the indiviual classroom teacher. Teaching the “Test” is not working. The students are not being taught basic info. Ask some high school student how many states are in the US or how to spell window pane and the difference between pain and pane?Ask a 4th grader that believes it’s more important to recycle than to learn how to read. I am dumbfounded at the audacity of the BOE to micromanage the classes when they cannot even make a deliberate decision about which school to build or not build. I am angry at the lack of support for our teachers. I am angry about the teachers having to join the teacher’s union. I am angry about the constant complaining by staff for more money and the facts that the teachers deserve more money, but the administration, read BOE and staff, get the raises, but teachers in the class rooms do not. As a former teacher, and as a parent, as a taxpayer, if teachers are successful, they should be rewarded. If they are not, they should be fired. This should eliminate the need for the micromanagement that the BOE wants to do.
If you have a problem with school lunch quality then take that up with the federal govt. The BOE has no control over that as FARMS is a federal program. I can not believe some people are complaining about government subsidized lunches!
That said I see some advantages and disadvantages to this guidline. It standardizes vending machine policies which needs to be done. It clearly outlines recess requirements. I would hope a little common sense on group rewards is employed.
I am sure ppl understand the policy very well and in someway respect it but for Schools/staff refrain from using food or beverages at any time as either reward or punishment has to be the biggest waste time for BOE worry about at this present time. If I was a teacher, this is a rule I would most likely break no matter how much the it is in debated (unless the PARENT(s) had a problem with it). If they were to talk about types of foods like apples and oranges are only to be given as rewards, then it might make a little sense; but the verbiage I am reading, they are meaning all foods. BOE, today has MUCH BIGGER issues then to go thru this policy with a fine comb. These kids are getting kicked around left and right. I feel so bad for them. I can’t believe they found the time to actually get to this. I mean really, who is sticking up for these kids? Who is being a voice for these kids…I mean aren’t we talking about reward kids??? nothing more nothing less; government subsidized lunches and rewarding kids are 2 different subjects. lunches are everyday. rewards are not everyday…
If there was such vast public comment on this, why was it still implemented? If the comment here are anything like what most people think, then the policy should not have been changed. Once again, the HCPS lawyer is doing what he wants, not what the public wants. How could the school board go along with this foolishness?
Brace yourselves, the uniform grading policy is next!
Outsider the whole policy is a health and wellness policy. It is also worth noting it has been on the HCPS website for months for public comment and feedback. I also see that the verbage change from the previous policy of “strongly encouraged to refrain from” to “shall refrain from” was consistent will all the other verbage changes in the previous policy to the new policy.
PMS mom interesting point. did any of these people actually send there thoughts in during the months it was on the HCPS website in the section requesting public comment? Did they go to the meeting and speak? It is not the lawyer . The system had a anual review of a policy required by law.
Cdev,
I realize all the information is there; I just came from the site and read the verbiage…when people submit how the feel about a certain policies or what have you, it should be noted in a forum like this; not in an email format for certain individuals to read. I am sure the voices you see here on this site voice their options just like they are doing here and other subjects. For the community to email BOE and expect to get any push out of anything is a lost cause. here people are debating and voicing their options. Like PMS mom is stating people here seem so against the change of the policy, that is weird…. But now it is out in the open, we all can see and debate together. HCPS.ORG web needs a MAJOR upgrade. You and your momma would get lost trying to find a peace of information concerning a subject; that is important for today. If dagger never brought this to light, then it would be no big deal. BOE needs a forum… not a Data base for a website; then they will know how the people feel (if they care) and the people in the community will know how the rest of the community feels. Who are we emailing when we respond to that site, who is answering questions. The Dagger is taking over… just like the fed gov, it is hard to get answers or results. everything can’t go threw the fed government. this community already has a voice, BOE just need to listen and stop the power trip.
There were apparently many comments on this policy but the public isn’t privy to them. There were comments on the HCPS website and at the meeting.
There could have been thousands of comments against this policy and it wouldn’t have stopped the Board from changing it – this is how they always operate. They make a decision and say people can comment on it and then they do what they want anyway. If anyone can tell me a time in the past 10 years when they have done something differently, please speak up because I don’t think it has happened. They really don’t care what the public thinks PERIOD. Remember we are too stupid to vote for a school board and Robin Rich even said at the meeting the other night that the reason there were so many comments about this policy as that this was something the public actually understands (food). Watch the BOE tape from 4/20.
You are so right Elaine. I am very sure people voiced their how they felt with that site, and not just with this subject. You are to e mail you suggestions…. my question is to who, who reading and answering the concerns? But when you come here it is ALWAYS the opposite of what the community feels. This happens ALL THE TIME with BOE, this is not the first time. You can go to all the meeting you want, all they do is just sit there and look at you. They make up their minds long before the community voices their option.
wow, i can’t to see the 4/20 vid when Robin Rich calls everyone stupid; all we know understand is food???!!! wow so arrogant! I double dare them to start a forum base website; I double dare them!
Outsider that is why. A forum on HCPS would turn into namecalling and that would be unproductive. Additionally they would have to donate resources to regulating that.
That would waste instruction resources. We have one of the LOWEST per pupil spending rates in the state. in 2006 the last year I could find data for only Caroline and Queen Anne Spent less on education then Harford. We want tons of results but we are not willing to pay for those results. Honestly I think that is a testament to the staff at our schools who teach in an enviornment where we do not care enough to spend the money we should spend on public education but complain about it constantly. Why is it we spend so little on it….The County Council allocates the money. Why do we not ask them? Either way spending the money they do have regulating a forum is a waste of instructional money!
As for the kinds of personal attacks they would have to deal with try this one. When redistricting was the big issue a few years ago I was at the mall. I ran into a lady from a certian community getting a petition signed to have the board of ed change their mind about her neighborhood leaving Fallston. When I told her I would not sign the petition because the BOE was acting in the best interest of the kids in my opinion (in that case). She replied “Well at least sign it to keep Fallston from being ruined by that Joppatowne trash!” That is the kind of stuff you will get by adding a forum and it would be worse because no one would be saying it to peoples faces. Not to mention to have any value it would have to be not anonymous.
You might have a point with the public comments and maybe they should be included in the exhibits. Did you ever suggest that BTW?
My guess is the contact e-mails go through Terri Kranfield since I remember sending one once and Don Morrison replied for further clarification to send it on to the appropriate person.
I went back to my notes from the board meeting and aside from saying there had been more public input on the policy than most policies he could remember, I don’t see that Pat Spicer quantified the total input received or gave any indication as to whether most people were in favor or against or whether it was an even split.
I’m checking now on who sees the emails commenting on board policy proposals.
Check the board exhibits
http://www.hcps.org/boe/docs/exhibits/2008-2009/4-20-2009/Item%20C%20-%20Decision%20on%20Wellness%20Policy.pdf
It does not say evenly split but it indicated some of the comments were unfavoorable and some were favorable.
Cindy Check the exhibits from the meeting. One of them doesn’t quantify them it just says some were favorable and some unfavorable. It said the comments were given to board members.
Cdev
Getting the community involvement would be productive for the growth for our kids. This is more as a necessity in some form of communication, we all have a voice, we deserve more credit as parents. I do seem confused by what you mean they would have to donate resources for it to be regulated? How much more money would it cost to change a website to new format? Public comments included in the exhibits sound like an incredible idea; would they still have to be regulated and how would the collect data?
It’s not that the resources would have to be dedicated to the redesign. It is the moderating and regulating of the forum after it is created. We (collectively) complain about central office personel) It would require the addition of one more person to do this and collect the data into some useful format. That is another persons salary not going into the classroom. Not to mention if the workload is very high it could be more since it would need tro be moderated around the clock.
I think the article this morning concerning Janet Noone and the letter she wrote BOE will be a great way for the community start communicating with BOE; I have a deep curiosity to know if they are actually listening or if they are just making power moves without community involvement. maybe we can feed Ms. Rich some food for thought…
http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/04/22/noone-the-board-of-education-is-failing-our-students/
Yup, here’s what I got from Teri Kranefeld: comments sent through the board comment area on the web site (such as comments on policy) go to the board’s administrative clerk and then to board members.
That might be why Spicer didn’t quantify the results – board members already had the individual comments. But a summary would have been helpful to give an overview of how many were in favor of the policy change as written and how many were against it or had other suggestions or had concerns about specific activities that would presumably be banned under the new language.
very true, a summary would have been very helpful…
Does this mean no more lunches and snacks for teachers appreciation week??
No more food or treats given to staff for holidays or end of year gift? Are just the kids being punished or is it across the board? I sure hope we are not paying for any BOE lunches or snacks!! This is just stupid!!!!
Will the BOE be hiring security next to check each childs lunch box. What about the special needs children. I know that almost every school in the county uses treats to praise and/or encourage the special needs kids to complete their tasks.When does this ridiculios policy go into effect? Socialism is here!!!!!
Ever notice board members picking through bowls of grapes during meetings. Blatantly luxurious if you ask me–I’m suprised they don’t have HCEA members at their feet peeling and feeding them grapes.
good point mom… I am curious to know if BOE thought outside the box on this one or were they thinking of their own kids and the ones they favor. it is so dumb founding to look at the responses here on this subject and how this policy past the way it did. If thousands of comments went to the board concerning this or any other matter it seems this discussion should of been still on the table before making a final decision. I am starting to think this policy change is a distraction from BOE bowing down to the Campus Hill project because like usa stated, this is stupid!!!!
USA- the BOE cut food from all inservices and such in the first rounds of budget cuts. Principals are not even supposed to buy coffee for morning meetings. to act as if the teachers are driving this is ludicrous. Teachers do not make policy they implement it!
Outsider this policy was proposed in February (9th I believe) If you had not commented on it until now you were asleep.
If i did or did not make a comment on this is beside the point, the question is who at BOE is listening? You can make millions of comments and none of them would mean a thing if the people passing policy aren’t listening.
April 27 BOE meeting agenda item B — “Update on Communications Strategic Plan.”
Could be interesting in light of recent posts regarding stakeholder communication with HCPS.
Well where to begin. As someone who has studied nutrition and teaches patients in a clinical setting, I find this issue quite timely. First, lets clarify that there are more overweight and obese kids and adults today THAN there were 10 years ago, and 10 years before that etc. Lets face it folks we have an epidemic on our hands. Check out data here: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/
Now be that as it may, is it because of pizza parties and the occasional “reward” in school? Unequivocally NO!! Just take a step back and apply some common logic to our eating and exercise habits today. The French fries McDonald’s serves and sells today as SMALL (not the happy meal size), are the same size that the LARGE fries were in the 70’s! Our drinks are bigger…remember 8oz bottles of coca cola or 8oz of most beverages? Now most drinks are at least 16oz if not larger. Who buys a 20 oz bottle of coke and gets 2 ½ servings from it? So folks it is not what the schools and teachers are doing, although certainly I agree the school lunches are nutritionally a mess, but more importantly it is how MUCH we eat and drink and the limited physical activity we get today, that has contributed to this epidemic. And as follow up to cdev’s post #13 he is right, I am afraid as long as we have Government subsidies our hands are tied, which is why my three kids rarely bought school lunches.
Another small fix the schools could do is ask themselves how much whole milk (4%), and 2% milk do we sell versus 1% or skim? Hardening of the arteries starts at age 2, unless one’s child is significantly under weight all kids should be drinking fat free milk from then on. I haven’t been in a school cafeteria in a while, but I suspect they don’t sell a lot of skim or 1% milk. I know my kids tell me often times it is bad. (Although the chocolate milk may be 1%).
There are many important nutrition tips to teach our children but it has to start at home, so “refraining” from treats at school is not going to fix our childhood obesity problem. Certainly encouraging more activity and not always using food as a reward is part of it, but it has to start at home. I for one want to be the one teaching my kids about making smarter food choices and healthier decisions, so that if there is a pizza party they know to only eat 1 or 2 small pieces (thin crust ideally with lots of vegetables on it), versus 4 or 5 pieces which is what happens now and water to drink. No juice or soda, not even diet soda. Maybe offer popcorn, pretzels or fruit instead of candy, or even raw veggies and a low fat dip (which I remember my daughter’s 2nd grade teacher being thrilled with). We have supersized our portions and consequently we are a supersized nation as a result.
My experience as a parent has shown me most teachers use restraint and common sense when using food as a reward. They understand it is a balance here, and they also want to provide healthy options. (keep in mind there are a number of kids today with food allergies which presents an additional challenge in the classroom). But most frustrating of all is once again the BOE gives the teachers NO credit and assumes teachers can’t think for themselves and are making the decisions for them with a policy like this. I would much prefer the BOE be spending its time and energy on improving the curriculum and solving the over crowded schools.
RD, LDN,
Well said! I am very much like you in the way that I personally keep on top of my kids diet and exercise, I personal feel this is something that need to be hit on the home front; i applaud you for for stating this! it is very frustrating BOE gives the teachers or parents no credit; making the decisions for us with a policy like this. BOE needs to spend MUCH time a on improving the curriculum and solving the over crowded schools AND MTBE levels in existing schools! The occasional pizza party for students that work hard is a waste of energy and a distraction from the issues. THANKS FOR WRITING RD, LDN!!!!
Did you notice…… food can not be used for either rewards or punishment. How would one use food as punishment? Force the bad kids to eat cafeteria food? To have put something this stupid in the new policy shows the board has lost touch with reality.
Great point Paul!
Food as a reward doesn’t affect my son’s class since he is in a self-contained room and since the class size has to be low, they would never earn pizza or ice cream parties anyway!