is this inappropriate behaviour by a head teacher?

minimoneysaver

It sounds to me like a head who has a, "Hitler" complex. This head needs to be sorted. No-one should be going through your children's lunch boxes and lecturing the children on where they can or can't eat when they are out of schoool. This head teacher does not have parental rights and needs to be reminded of that fact. He is a disgrace to the teaching profession.

snugglepet20

So teachers are failing to teach children to read, write and do maths but they have time to rifle through lunchboxes?!! If someone put a note in my childs lunch the next day they would be taking 2 mars bars and a kitkat for lunch

Re the weight discussion upsetting parents: this is because the measurements are rigid and do not account for lifestyle or fitness levels, BMI measures only weight versus height not muscle mass etc. Therefore someone who is flabby and dangerously unfit can have a BMI of say 24 and be classed as ok whereas a serious athlete may have a BMI of 28 and be classed as overweight even though they are healthier.

Also computer-generated letters about obesity are not really likely to inspire parents to action, nobody likes a lecture. The school nurse should contact them personally if their child is obese and help to create a plan for weight loss that is a joint effort not just get their backs up by implying some sort of child abuse.

bestpud

Don't take this the wrong way, OP, but are you absolutely sure it is as bad as you think?

I ask as the playground grapevine is anything but reliable in my experience and I'm afraid I don't believe for one minute a letter was sent home saying a child was 1lb overweight! I'd be asking to see that letter, personally.

We supposedly had a system like this at dd's school a year or so ago, but funnily enough dd never reported having anything taken from her lunchbox and never seemed to know anyone else who did either.

Yet, to listen to some of the parents, you'd be convinced the children are interrogated every lunchtime!!

The problem is, some children will play to parental opinion and tell the parents anything to get a reaction - quite simply, many of them love to overhear their parent running down their school and/or teachers!

I don't know if this is the case for you or not, but I'd be wary.

For a start, I can't imagine they are allowed to remove a child's lunch, are they?

Just my thoughts, based on my experience...

creased-leach

Just wanted to bring a wry smile/groan to the frustrated parents on this thread...

Our local secondary played "host" recently to a bunch of "celebs" in town filming a commercial. They had role models such as Pamela Anderson etc in school, and JLS filmed a mini concert on school grounds. Many pupils featured in the background of the ads.

Of course, being a state school they have a complete ban on selling things such as...erm...crisps. And wholeheartedly discourage things such as...erm...crisps in pupils lunchboxes/snacks.

Anyone who hasn't figured out what the ad was for yet? *sigh*

mazinmouse

creased-leach wrote: »

Anyone who hasn't figured out what the ad was for yet? *sigh*

Yes, but it isn't a case of 'Do as I do' it is always a case of 'Do as I say...' and that is earning money for someone and that money can be used to continue to promote the a*se about face notions in education.

Such as selling off the school playing fields.. because if we had a playing field we'd have no excuse for not devoting more time to promoting games and exercise..

Cynical Aunty views here.

mum-of-two_2

Spendless wrote: »

It's the daily bag of crisps/mini cheddars that are the problem? I also think like someone else has said the school is going for Healthy Eating status and if they've been asked to knock down chips for the hot lunches down to once a week/fortnight, then they've probably been asked to do the same for the nearest equivalent item in a packed lunch.

Loz01 wrote: »

I do think its forced upon them too much, esp at a young age. SIL mentioned it at parents evening I think and they just said they were keeping in line with new recommendations about promoting a healthy lifestyle, which is fair enough but they need to be told sweets and crisps are ok as well IMO. Like I said, 99% of her class/year are all average height/weight/shape so its not like its a fat camp.

Hi
I appreciate that crisps/snacks (even the low fat varieties) can be quite high in fat & salt but surely when eaten in moderation, as variety in lunches, it's not a complete No-No.

A 25gm (multipack) bag of crisps does not contain anywhere near the recommended limit of fat & salt for children.
That MIGHT be an issue with other children but as I said in an earlier post, I see the whole picture of my kids' daily nutrition - but this Head teacher doesn't.

mum-of-two_2

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Mum-of-two as a schoolteacher and a governor of a primary school, I understand where this is coming from, since schools are under pressure to gain a healthy schools' award, and these activities form part of their efforts.

That said, I think I would write to the chair of the governors, expressing your disquiet, and asking teachers to be more circumspect in their nutrition advice.

For example: cheese is not an "unhealthy food". It is a valuable source of calcium, protein and is energy dense. Kids do not need a low-fat diet. It is hard to say that any food is unhealthy in moderation.

There are also the issues of eating disorders as has been mentioned.

So sorry that your school is causing you this hassle, we have addressed "Healthy Schools" by asking parents to send the child in with fruit in their packed lunch. Much simpler.

eta I have a degree in nutrition, if it matters.

gratefulforhelp
thanks for your post.
I too understand where this is coming from and, given the number of overweight children that you see, I can understand the reasoning behind it.

But, I'm unhappy about the message that certain food are 'unhealthy' being given - and in particular, the way it's being given.
I don't think it fair that my very slim 9 year old (who can wear trousers & tops for age 7 year olds) should be forced to think about whether what she's eating is healthy or not.

tessie_bear

i think that is so true...the school havent got the whole picture...not for the whole days food or the activity the kids do...my son does kick boxing 2 nights a week, does an hours swimming lesson one night,runs round at cubs another night so he needs a few calories to keep him going......i love the idea of healthy presents for teachers and perhaps a well placed note on the sarnies telling heads to mind their own....if the government want every child to have a healthy lunch why dont they pay for it ??...until they are prepared to im not interested in their opinions on my sandwiches

mum-of-two_2

mumOf2wonderfulkids wrote: »

i understand what they are doing as they are trying to tackle obesity, that being said they cannot single out specific children as this could be classed as discrimination.
it is really starting to annoy me, the schools are preaching about healthy diets etc. My DD has just turned 6, i have recently been to see doctors about her weight (she is the same weight as our 3 year old son!) she is absolutely tiny, size 2-3 fits her perfect in the waist. after lots of tests etc the dr's say she is fine, and that is just how she is meant to be and we have to give her 'healthy' fatty foods to try and fill her out.

what scared me the most was when we were eating sunday lunch a couple of weeks ago, DD loves the roast chicken skin (i can't stand it personally) that is until recently. When i asked her why she didn't it she said ''it's the fattiest part of the chicken and i'm on a diet'' 6 Years old can you believe it!! i don't diet, im fine with the way i am (not overweight not underweight) so i know she hasn't got this from me,

if she carries on like that i just know i am going to have trouble with her.[/QUOTE]

Mumoftwowonderfulkids

It's exactly this sort of potential obsession with weight at such a young age that I'm worried about.
It's bad enough coping with seeing skinny models and pop stars on TV and in magazines without this being drummed into them at school.

mum-of-two_2

bestpud wrote: »

Don't take this the wrong way, OP, but are you absolutely sure it is as bad as you think?

I ask as the playground grapevine is anything but reliable in my experience and I'm afraid I don't believe for one minute a letter was sent home saying a child was 1lb overweight! I'd be asking to see that letter, personally.

We supposedly had a system like this at dd's school a year or so ago, but funnily enough dd never reported having anything taken from her lunchbox and never seemed to know anyone else who did either.

Yet, to listen to some of the parents, you'd be convinced the children are interrogated every lunchtime!!

The problem is, some children will play to parental opinion and tell the parents anything to get a reaction - quite simply, many of them love to overhear their parent running down their school and/or teachers!

I don't know if this is the case for you or not, but I'd be wary.

For a start, I can't imagine they are allowed to remove a child's lunch, are they?

Just my thoughts, based on my experience...

Thanks, bestpud.

All I can go on is that I was stood with 2 Mums in the playground:
one mentioned the letter re 1 lb overweight
the other said about her daughter asking about blood pressure

My youngest daughter told me that the Head had taken her crisps away, folded them up and put them back in her lunchbox with the comment 'these aren't healthy'.
It was confirmed by my eldest daughter.

The annoying thing is that most (if not all) Mums are muttering about this but nobody is willing to 'stand up and be counted'.
So I guess that leaves me.