DS was excluded from snack today

[memory maker]

I was very upset today when ds came home and said that he was not allowed to eat snack with the rest of his class. He said that his hands were not down by his side when they were passing out cookies, so he didnt get one. What is up with this? I didnt know they were allowed to withhold food from kids as punishment?

[Ruthla]

I would speak to the teacher about this.

[shelbean91]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I would speak to the teacher about this.

:

[Neldavi]

What?! Is it military school or something? (sarcasm, I'm assuming it's not.

I have no experience with school at all (I have one toddler) but that sounds WRONG to me.

[DreamsInDigital]

I would be FURIOUS.

[umefey]

What a bizzare situation! Definatley talk to the teacher!

[LiamnEmma]

Looking at your kid's ages, I'm assuming kindergarten?? Yeah, no can do that one. Sounds to me like a quick trip to the classroom is in order here. It might be something different (although still completely unacceptable to exclude him from anck) though--I've found my dcs' versions of things are sometimes different than mine. Definitely follow up on that. Poor little guy.

[angelpie545]

Um, yeah I second that if that happened to my kid I would be LIVID!!!! Time for a run to the principal's office. :

[Jennisee]

Reading your post makes me want to cry for your son. I can't imagine excluding a child like that.

[jannan]

teachers cannot with hold snack for any reason. we can , however, isolate children for misbehavior at the snack table. why are cookies being served? is this a public school? is this k or pre school.............? it is actually illegal and you can file a complaint with who ever runs the school. i would be livid.........

[applejuice]

That is just what a little six year old needs for punishment - low blood sugar induced by his teacher.

Poor thing; I suggest you pack him his own snack and tell the teacher he NEEDS it no matter where his little hands are.

[DahliaRW]

When I was student teaching in kindergarten, the teacher I taught with always told the parents on "curriculum night" that she won't believe 80% of what their child says goes on at home if they won't believe 80% of what their child says goes on in school. Tongue in cheek of course. But the point is, sometimes children, especially young ones, see things differently than adults do. I know you're upset, and I would be to, but please verify with the teacher what happened before jumping to conclusions. Maybe she doesn't know he didn't get one? Of course, she could have purposely withheld it to. But it's good to know what the teacher says before going over her head to the principal. If it is a misunderstanding you'd feel awful silly going to the principal and it would be embarassing for the teacher.

Cookies for a snack though? That is a poor choice, imo.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by DahliaRW

When I was student teaching in kindergarten, the teacher I taught with always told the parents on "curriculum night" that she won't believe 80% of what their child says goes on at home if they won't believe 80% of what their child says goes on in school.

i was going to say this too!

it's really awful the things my students have told their parents that I have done to them! My goodness, I don't ever raise my voice, and to hear them tell it, I'm a raving screaming lunatic all day!

I had a child tell his mom I scream at him all day long. Not even close.
:LOL

Another one told her mom I was an old, mean witch lady. Her mom came in and started laughing when she saw my young face and big smile.

Ha.

The funny thing is, my students and I love each other so much and 99% of the things that go home are positive, but if a kid experiences a consequence s/he didn't want, or just in general is mad at me.... the imagination works wonders!


I would check with the teacher first to see what happened. He could have misunderstood the situation.

Do you know what their snack policy is in general? Does the school serve snack, or does the teacher just buy her own to bring in?

[memory maker]

I sent the teacher an email since that is the easiest way to contact her. She said that my ds and 2 other boys were not listening as they were coming in from recess. At one point they had to stop the line from going in because all 3 boys were down on the ground. She told them if they didnt stop they would not get snack. they kept it up, so they didnt get the cookies. They were still allowed to drink their milk, so they at least had something.
the school does not provide the snack. As parents we have to pay for the milk and then we take turns bringing the snack once a month.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by memory maker

I sent the teacher an email since that is the easiest way to contact her. She said that my ds and 2 other boys were not listening as they were coming in from recess. At one point they had to stop the line from going in because all 3 boys were down on the ground. She told them if they didnt stop they would not get snack. they kept it up, so they didnt get the cookies. They were still allowed to drink their milk, so they at least had something.
the school does not provide the snack. As parents we have to pay for the milk and then we take turns bringing the snack once a month.

Yuck. I can't say on a desperate day sometime in the past I might have made a similar mistake, but hopefully the school has some sort of policy? I'm curious why kindergarten kids are getting cookies for a snack.... is that what the parents brought in? I don't think I'd be allowed to bring that to my students for snack (public school).

Is she a new teacher? I did some stupid things like that I'm sure before I really knew better and had good strategies. Bringing little kids new to school in from recess is a pretty horrible task! Threatening clearly isn't the right way to go about it, of course, but just like moms, teachers can make stupid mistakes and learn from them. If she's a newish teacher, I'd go gentle on her and explain that in situations where your son isn't listening YOU want to be contacted so that the two of you can figure out how to respond together. Most of the time, the simple act of the child seeing the mom and teacher discuss the problem and both agree it WAS a problem is enough to make it stop. If she's a very experienced teacher, I'd ask her what her reasoning is and let her know you do not agree and want to be contacted instead.

I'd also ask the school why cookies were a good snack for little kids, but that's just me.

[meemee]

hope the teacher at least learnt that her ploy is not going to work and doesnt repeat herself. probably ur son didnt even maybe want the cookies!!

[petersons2554]

This DOES happen in my son's class.

Yep, I can affirm that my son's kindergarten teacher DOES do this.
Take what your children tell you to heart.
I volunteer in the class so I have seen them threaten to withhold a child's snack. My son started as 1/2 day, so if he was "good" they gave him his snack as he left for home. Now I have him full day and he is going 4 hours with no food or drink. Little boys have a hard time sitting for an hour at carpet time, so they get moved to "yellow" on discipline chart (green, yellow, red) and yellow means NO snack. Funny enough, we parents have to provide the snack for the class (we each provide one day per month).
I have emailed the principal but haven't heard back yet.
This isn't the only problem I've witnessed.
I'm on the verge of pulling him out and putting him in private school!

[veganf]

I'd go to the principal with it, and if he/she thinks it's okay to withhold food, then I'd contact some local newspapers.

[Zach'smom]

They can't withhold food. I taught preschool for years. It was right in our written policy and brought up during training. Withholding food for any reason is simply unacceptable. Now ds is in ps and I know that withholding food is against policy also. It is time to make a huge fuss and make sure that never happens again to any kid. I'd also start sending his own snack.

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

I would be FURIOUS.

ditto. That's just.well.wrong. It doesn't matter what your child's age or grade level is, it's just wrong.