My niece is in 6th grade in a public middle school. My sis just found out that the 6th graders aren't being allowed to use forks at lunch. They are only able to eat what they can eat with their hands. When questioned about it, the cafeteria workers said that the 6th graders throw too many forks away and will no longer be allowed to use them. The teachers are aware of the problem and have done nothing to stop it. My sis is on her way to buy 300 plastic forks to drop off at the school and then head over to the superintendent's office for a chat. She has had many problems with the school this year, but not allowing the student's to EAT is just crazy!!
What next? I'm actually surprised they even use regular forks. When dd was in ps they had plastic utensils for that reason.
Oh my! Yeah, you'd think they'd use plastic! Hello?! Oh, at moments like these, I am so grateful I homeschool my children!!!
I have kidded for years that sooner or later our local public school would require each child to bring their own toliet tissue but I never thought about forks! That school just won today's Dumbest School Award! They must be so proud.
My sis just called to let me know what the school said when she confronted them. She asked to speak to the principal and was told that she could not without an appt. So she explained to the secretary why she was there, that she would just leave the plastic forks she bought for the 6th graders and head over to the superintendent's office. That got results!! The guidance counselor had heard the conversation and stepped up and said she'd find a principal to talk to (only after the superintendent was mentioned). Finally, a principal talked with her and told her that she had not been aware of the situation. She was aware that the school had a shortage of forks, and had not made an attempt to remedy that. My sis offered to order the school more forks and pay for them herself. She also told them that it was very sad that the school would allow children who might only get one meal a day to not eat. She was assured that it would not happen again. Probably not...but what will happen next?
!!! This reminds me of the way schools have the children bring their own pencils, paper, erasers, folders, rulers, etc....now. When I was in elementary school, all we were required to bring was a paper, .25 folder with a few sheets of paper. Everything else was provided. Now the schools require the students to almost supply everything they need. In the higher grades, this seems more reasonable, but not in elementary. When Toni came home from her first day in 5th grade, which was also my first day sending a child to public school, I was amazed at the list the teacher gave her. Her back pack was loaded with supplies that she had to take and bring home from school everyday. In my elementary days, I remember walking home with a single paper folder that had my homework in it and that was it. It makes me wonder why we have to pay so much taxes. If they are taking the forks away, what are they doing with the money they use for the forks? Patty
The ps here doesn't let kids take textbooks home. I had no idea what my kids were learning. That's just outrageous about the forks. How would they expect these kids to eat spaghetti? That's treating them like animals. I wonder who thought of this terrible idea w/o consulting the principal. School is getting more and more like prison every day.
Last year mine were in public school and they were in 2nd and 7th grades. Besides the fees we had to send they each had to carry in huge Walmart bags full of kleenex, hand soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, zip lock bags and the list just went on and on! Where in the heck did my fees go?
So glad she got results. Sounds like a go-getter! Go for her! My sister's elementary school would not let them talk at lunch. Any talking. They said it was too loud and the kids might choke on their food while talking. So sad. That is the time I remember actually getting to visit with friends at school.
I'm so glad your sis stood her ground! I can't beleive the principal was not aware - there's some good communication! Here in our town we've had a rash of problems on the school bus - little kids falling asleep and being left on the bus after the driver returns at the end of the day! The poor little kiddos wake up and are locked in the bus all alone What's crazy - it's happend several times - why don't they get a clue?!?
Am I reading this all correctly that the kids had real forks? Silverware? There needed to be punishment for throwing those away, because that's just rude carelessness. You would think the school would use plastic cutlery, though.
When my dd was in ps for 4 years they never had plastic. They were given silverware in the lunch line. I never heard of a school not allwoing kids to use forks.
The boys had plastic at school. Everything was tossed after lunch. You could not save anything, even if you brought it in (aside from lunch boxes and thermos's). All food at to be trashed regardless if it was opened or not. Edit to add - This is all craziness - Cheers to your sister. Our list was similar to Pam's list. It was crazy. We spent about $200 also for the 2 boys.
All bus drivers are supposed to check every seat from the front all the way to the back of the bus when they park it for the day. If they do their job correctly no child will be left behind, in the way it really matters!
