This Bothers Me.

thejennigirl

Dear Mrs Jennigirl,

     Could you please provide 22 store bought cookies, cupcakes or doughnuts for next Friday, October 31st?  Just let me know.

                                                          Thanks, Xavian's teacher

The school board voted to no longer "allow" homemade snacks or party favors for school.  WTF?  I can't send cupcakes with my grandmother's signature icing?  I have to buy preservative filled sugar loaded craptactular treats?  Seriously.  Half the fun of taking a treat to school is helping your mom/grandma make it the night before.

I have half a mind to get a bakery box and put my own cookies in it.  Ugh.

pixy_stix

You have to wonder what precipitated that change in policy.

GladToBeMrs.SRS

These laws went into effect when I was in grade school back in California.  Boo. 

 

Joanie took cookies she made with her grandma to school the other day (little kiss-up...she only wanted to take them for her teacher, not the other students. )

tinamichelle

My neices school is like that to. No homemade goodies.

Lady Galadriel

I hate to say it but I have been in the kitchen of a mom that takes in homemade stuff monthy to the whole school. If they ever saw how nasty it is they would put a ban like that too into effect. sucks though for those of us that take the time to clean our homes and make special things.

Kickingboy

Really? Wow, thats nuts.

Lady Galadriel

We live in california and pp still bring homemade goodies in. I think it depends on each school/district.

GladToBeMrs.SRS

Lady Galadriel:

We live in california and pp still bring homemade goodies in. I think it depends on each school/district.

 

Highly possible, Lady G.  I just remember when they banned bake sales.  I was devastated.  

hollybabe

At the HS where I work, you may bring in homemade treats for bakesales if there is some kind of sign letting people know it is homemade. 

Dobie_Mama

That is so sad.  My entire life I've looked forward to having my kids make special treats with me to take to share with their classmates.

thejennigirl

LadyG- You know what's gross?  I've seen the inside of the 2 local bakeries.  Ew Ew Ew.  Neither has passed a health inspection in the past 6 months.  But because they are a small business, they just get scheduled inspections once a year that they have to pass.

Did I mention the preservatives used?  Ick!

PDX

My district did this when I was little too. It has since loosened the restrictions a bit (they allow homemade goodies for some events if it is disclosed). I really don't know what to think about it. I've seen some pretty nasty parent kitchens where they use some pretty harsh ingredients (not as bad as shelf-stable stuff but not like what you'd make).

Lady Galadriel

Think cps level of nasty...

julygal

I have to say while homemade is better tasting and often better for you without the preservatives, I use to cringe at the homemade treats brought to me as a teacher.  So many people's baking practices don't really speak to hygiene.  However, I am a bit of a germ-phobe.

I don't know exactly why the policies are there, but I know as a teacher dealing with all the food allergies I also preferred the store bought goodies because I could read the ingredients and tell what students couldn't have it, etc.  Sometimes looking at a baked good you can't tell and some families don't want their kid singled out as having to miss out on the treat or get something different.

thejennigirl

The whole thing bothers me.

Do people not get that they are NASTY?  Seriously.  I don't have the cleanest kitchen in the world (always a dish or 2 in the sink, the random peanut butter smear on the island), but that people would be okay with having roaches, fungus, mold, queastionable smears, ect BLOWS MY MIND.  Completely.

And the fact that people are so nasty that the school board feels the need to do this.

People who are nasty should have a label stamped on their forehead stating: "I am a nasty, dirty person".

Vanessa11

At dd's school it has to be store bought with an ingredients list. It is for children with food allergies and is district policy. We just stop by Trader Joes and I let her pick up something when it is her turn to bring snack. I am not sure what we will do for her birthday though, I was thinking about having us make a non snack item for al the kids to take home then they can just have normal snack that day. Oh well, it isn't until Jan. anyway.

hula_lula

That's too bad. But I can understand where they're coming from. People are weird out there- God knows what people could be putting in there

That's so sad that it's come to that

julygal

thejennigirl:

People who are nasty should have a label stamped on their forehead stating: "I am a nasty, dirty person".

Jenni you are too funny!  LOL

hula_lula

thejennigirl:

The whole thing bothers me.

Do people not get that they are NASTY?  Seriously.  I don't have the cleanest kitchen in the world (always a dish or 2 in the sink, the random peanut butter smear on the island), but that people would be okay with having roaches, fungus, mold, queastionable smears, ect BLOWS MY MIND.  Completely.

Gasp! When did you get into my house!?

 I'm kidding of course. Ew.

Alibean

I think it has to do with food allergies.  Some people may not realize that not just peanuts and peanut butter are dangerous to those with an allergy to peanuts.  As a mom of a child who could die from ingesting some form of peanuts, I think that's a reasonable rule.  (although I would never buy the stuff to eat at home)

Mrs.SaraSmiles1107

Most schools have a similar policy now.  The reason behind this is so if any child has an allergic reaction to something eaten while at school, all the ingredients can be traced.   I agree that it' seems like a ridiculous policy, but with so many allergies, like nuts and gluten, it's necessary in many places.

photo_nut

julygal:

but I know as a teacher dealing with all the food allergies I also preferred the store bought goodies because I could read the ingredients and tell what students couldn't have it, etc. 

That is probably one reason - I have to skip homemade food because when I ask people what is in it, they say vegetable oil (corn? soy? olive?) and they have no clue what the difference is and DD can't have soy. Plus, some people think they are good cooks, and yuck, not so much. I have had some pretty nasty tasting homemade food.

thejennigirl

No, I asked last week.  It has to do with cleanliness.  I'm snack mom once a week in Korra's class, and I had to attend a class to be made aware of allergies.  We have a sheet that references allergies and who has them.  Red coloring is a HUGE no no for a lot of kids now days.

I guess I can say that my feelings are hurt.  One of the best parts of being a mom is baking w/ my children, and them sharing with their classes.  It breaks my heart that Korra & Saxton won't get to take homemade cupcakes to school.  Or have the excitement of carrying in the tupperware full of homemade cookies.

yay for nasty people who have ruined it for everyone else and don't even have the brains to care.

sommerkaye

I had never heard of the ban on home made goods until my niece's bday celebration at her school.  My mom went and got Happy Meals for all the kids.  I thought that was just hilarious.  It totally makes sense when you think of it from an allergy and "nasty people" perspective though.  I never would have thought of it that way! 

It is a total bummer though, that is half the fun of have a bday or party at school -- making the treats!!

kdh818

this entire thread makes me sad. I was so looking forward to making treats with DD when she's old enough. but, we can still make them for friends and family.

however, I want to add that DS (who is now an "adult" haha) would, time and again, tell me at 6 pm the night before that he needed x amount of cupcakes in the morning for class. so, in some regard, stopping by whole foods to pick up a couple dozen in the morning sounds sorta nice. so, there's my take on the silver lining lol 

smurfetteinred

That does make me very sad. I remember to this day how cool I was for like a month after my mom made edible 'green slime' (in honor of You Can't Do That On Television - anyone remember that) for my kindergarten birthday. I'm thinking deli cupcakes don't garner that kind of fame

And bwahaha at the dirty nasty person stamp

ms_mellor

I'm a teacher, and we do not have that rule...yet.  I am very aware of allergies in foods because DH has a severe allergy to eggs.  I could see how it would be much easier to keep track of food if it's store bought.  Our school is supposed to be nut free, but our admin doesn't really get it, and we are far from it.  Luckily, my classes have usually been together for years, so they (and the parents) are all very well aware of the allergies, and I trust (some) of them completely to make nut free items for our class.  I will admit though, if DD was to have a severe allergy, I won't be letting her have any class treats...I'll be sending her own.  I think there are A LOT of people out there that don't really get allergies.

I never really thought of it from a cleanliness standpoint.  I bet they are worried about having their butts sued! 

AlbanyBride33

Yeah, it sucks.  I'm a teacher too and they have this policy in our district as well.  It's justified by concerns for food allergies (particularly nut and dairy allergies) and while it's a legitimate concern, it definitely sucks and sends a bad message.  Nevermind the fact that store bought cookies and cupcakes totally suck.  People are just so sue happy now a days schools are so fearful of lawsuits.  They are way over careful. 

hcassell

At the school I used to teach at, we couldn't have homemade treats.  At my current school. we can have homemade treats, but we cannot have cookies, cupcakes, sweets, etc.  We have a lot of fruit breads/muffins, yogurts, fruit/veggies, etc. 

MrsD_111106

In California, there is a law about what types of food can be given out at school.  It has to due with not only allergies but also nutrition.  We were told that we couldn't give out candy as treats or bring in homemade food. Things have to be store bought and individually packaged. There are also rules as to when foods for parties like pizza can be brought in, one hour after the end of school.  I think that has to do with the cafeteria wanting its cut of the profits from lunch.  Nice.