DCPS food as a reward policy? (Wellness Policy?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dislike both candy-as-reward and screen-time-as-reward but have found they are both really common at our DCPS. I do try to give the teachers some slack -- I know they are doing their best and often have limited resources, and these can be easy ways to motivate a broad range of kids.

I agree I'd rather see more outdoor or free play time given as a reward, but I know why it doesn't happen -- DCPS schedules these kids to within an inch of their lives, sets ridiculous curriculum requirements, and pushes hard on raising test scores. That really limits the ability of teachers to flex their schedule for these things. I will say that teachers we've had have found ways to do it, but I know it's a lot harder for them than just passing out some candy or letting the kids watch a movie during lunch (this one drives me nuts because the kids are not allowed to talk at lunch in order to encourage them to eat, and then they will put on a screen as a treat, and they are just training children to eat mindlessly while staring at a screen, this should not be allowed!).

I don't know what the answer is. For us it might be a charter? I don't know, I'm pretty jaded about public education at this point.

+100. Middle school DCPS parent here.
Candy as a reward was something I also hated in elementary school but it is the least of our problems at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

[Anonymous]

Op, which school is this? Any school that allows sweets and tons of screen time would not be on my lottery list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pizza party days in school were the best. At the end of the day you would only end up with two pieces of cold Pizza Hut cheese or pepperoni served on those brown bathroom napkins/towels, but that pizza was the best. And it accounted for a couple of days of joy just anticipating it.

This. Let's have some perspective. School pizza parties did not cause eating disorders.

[Anonymous]

DC at a non-elite local private and I’ve been shocked at how many rewards are used in K. This is with a small class, great ratios and no notable behavior issues. The teachers seem to genuinely think it’s helpful and fun.

It’s a strange feeling after five years of never using a reward to have my kid so excited about getting them (stickers, extra recess, etc) and so disappointed when she doesn’t. I don’t complain because it’s a great environment otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, which school is this? Any school that allows sweets and tons of screen time would not be on my lottery list.

lol good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

Why the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

Why the difference?

IMO, it’s a SES thing. Families with means are able to make healthier choices and focus more on staying healthy. Lower SES families don’t have the money or time and sometimes it’s cheaper to order take out/fast food than cook healthy at home.

Also the DCPS schools that tend to do a lot more rewards with sweets and candy are the poorer, title 1 schools where parents don’t push back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

Why the difference?

IMO, it’s a SES thing. Families with means are able to make healthier choices and focus more on staying healthy. Lower SES families don’t have the money or time and sometimes it’s cheaper to order take out/fast food than cook healthy at home.

Also the DCPS schools that tend to do a lot more rewards with sweets and candy are the poorer, title 1 schools where parents don’t push back.

omg. you parents of 3 year olds crack me up. plenty of candy and pizza parties at our 5-star DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

Why the difference?

IMO, it’s a SES thing. Families with means are able to make healthier choices and focus more on staying healthy. Lower SES families don’t have the money or time and sometimes it’s cheaper to order take out/fast food than cook healthy at home.

Also the DCPS schools that tend to do a lot more rewards with sweets and candy are the poorer, title 1 schools where parents don’t push back.

Lol have you met a POC? What a series of sweeping generalizations to pat yourself on the back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

I do think this is true of some charters. We are DCPS (tons of candy and sweets), but we have friends at some of the "HRCS" (I get it's a dumb name but it makes it easy to know what schools I'm talking about) and their schools are insane about sugar. Like they send notes home with kids to inform parents that their lunches don't comply with the sugar policy crazy. These schools cater to certain kinds of parents.

I don't like all the treats they give away at our school BUT I actually think it's better than an approach where they are insanely restrictive. I am teaching my kid about balanced eating and that it's okay to have a sweet treat but to pay attention to her body and not just load up on sweets because your body needs real food. In the long term, I think being in a less restrictive environment but getting good guidance from us (and us modeling a healthy approach to food) will have a better outcome than just trying to control her exposure to junk food everywhere she goes. Eventually she will wind up somewhere with junk food. I want her to make good choices in that setting, and not freak out because she's been taught those foods are the devil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

Why the difference?

IMO, it’s a SES thing. Families with means are able to make healthier choices and focus more on staying healthy. Lower SES families don’t have the money or time and sometimes it’s cheaper to order take out/fast food than cook healthy at home.

Also the DCPS schools that tend to do a lot more rewards with sweets and candy are the poorer, title 1 schools where parents don’t push back.

Lol have you met a POC? What a series of sweeping generalizations to pat yourself on the back.

dp: PP didn't say anything about race. She only mentioned socio-economic status (money+education).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

Why the difference?

IMO, it’s a SES thing. Families with means are able to make healthier choices and focus more on staying healthy. Lower SES families don’t have the money or time and sometimes it’s cheaper to order take out/fast food than cook healthy at home.

Also the DCPS schools that tend to do a lot more rewards with sweets and candy are the poorer, title 1 schools where parents don’t push back.

omg. you parents of 3 year olds crack me up. plenty of candy and pizza parties at our 5-star DCPS.

You are a troll. No 5 star DCPS. Name the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a teacher, teachers tend to resort to things like a food/candy reward when everything else has failed. Cut them some slack; student behaviors are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Parents have to deal with the same challenges (and the future eating disorders). Why should teachers get to claim the cheap and easy tactics?

If you think a classroom pizza party is going to give your kid an eating disorder, consider that the unhealthy relationship to food may be coming from you …

I don't care about classroom parties or pizza. I do care when kids are given candy as a specific reward tied to doing a daily assignment or whatever, like they are dogs getting treats, particularly when the treats go to only some of the class.

You should go to a charter.

Agree with this. Go to a charter and you won’t have to worry about candy or sweets - none at our charter.

I do think this is true of some charters. We are DCPS (tons of candy and sweets), but we have friends at some of the "HRCS" (I get it's a dumb name but it makes it easy to know what schools I'm talking about) and their schools are insane about sugar. Like they send notes home with kids to inform parents that their lunches don't comply with the sugar policy crazy. These schools cater to certain kinds of parents.

I don't like all the treats they give away at our school BUT I actually think it's better than an approach where they are insanely restrictive. I am teaching my kid about balanced eating and that it's okay to have a sweet treat but to pay attention to her body and not just load up on sweets because your body needs real food. In the long term, I think being in a less restrictive environment but getting good guidance from us (and us modeling a healthy approach to food) will have a better outcome than just trying to control her exposure to junk food everywhere she goes. Eventually she will wind up somewhere with junk food. I want her to make good choices in that setting, and not freak out because she's been taught those foods are the devil.

Not at charter above but there is no insane restrictive environment. If a school has a no candy policy and new parents don’t realize this, then fine for note to go home. If the parent knows about the policy and sends in candy, then a note should go home because the parent is not following school policy.

No candy at school doesn’t mean that the kid can’t get candy at home. Parents can do whatever they want at home. No one said anything about foods are the devil. That’s coming from you.

I agree that the lower SES schools are much more lenient and more prevalent to give out sweets as rewards. Many posts about this if you do a search,