The Glade 4.0 :: View topic - Third Grader gets detention for a Jolly Rancher

Jolly Rancher lands Brazos ISD third-grader in detention for a week
by Gabe Gutierrez / 11 News

khou.com

Posted on May 6, 2010 at 10:04 PM

Updated Saturday, May 8 at 12:43 PM

ORCHARD, Texas – A third-grader at Brazos Elementary was given a week’s detention for possessing a Jolly Rancher.

School officials in Brazos County are defending the seemingly harsh sentence. The school’s principal and superintendent said they were simply complying with a state law that limits junk food in schools.

But the girl’s parents say it’s a huge overreaction.

“I think it’s stupid to give a kid a week’s worth of detention for a piece of candy,” said Amber Brazda, the girl’s mother. "The whole thing was just ridiculous to me."

Leighann Adair, 10, was eating lunch Monday when a teacher confiscated the candy. Her parents said she was in tears when she arrived home later that afternoon and handed them the detention notice.

According to the disciplinary referral, she would be separated from other students during lunch and recess through Friday.

Jack Ellis, the superintendent for Brazos Independent School District, declined an on-camera interview. But he said the school was abiding by a state guideline that banned “minimal nutrition” foods.

“Whether or not I agree with the guidelines, we have to follow the rules,” he said.

The state, however, gives each school discretion over how to enforce the policy. Ellis said school officials had decided a stricter punishment was necessary after lesser penalties failed to serve as a deterrent.

Ellis said failing to adhere to the state’s guidelines could put federal funding in jeopardy.

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s website, “The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (TPSNP) explicitly states that it does not restrict what foods or beverages parents may provide for their own children's consumption.”

Brazos Elementary Principal Jeanne Young, said the problem, in this instance, was that the candy was provided by another student – not the girl’s parents.

The girl’s mother said the incident has taught her daughter a lesson, but not the one her teachers intended.

“I told her, ‘Leighann, unfortunately you’re learning very young that life’s not fair,'” Brazda said.

For more information about the state’s policy and its exceptions, click here.

Author:	Mookhow [ Mon May 10, 2010 10:41 am ]
Post subject:	Third Grader gets detention for a Jolly Rancher
http://www.khou.com/news/Candy-Gets-Thi ... 33319.html Quote: Jolly Rancher lands Brazos ISD third-grader in detention for a week by Gabe Gutierrez / 11 News khou.com Posted on May 6, 2010 at 10:04 PM Updated Saturday, May 8 at 12:43 PM ORCHARD, Texas – A third-grader at Brazos Elementary was given a week’s detention for possessing a Jolly Rancher. School officials in Brazos County are defending the seemingly harsh sentence. The school’s principal and superintendent said they were simply complying with a state law that limits junk food in schools. But the girl’s parents say it’s a huge overreaction. “I think it’s stupid to give a kid a week’s worth of detention for a piece of candy,” said Amber Brazda, the girl’s mother. "The whole thing was just ridiculous to me." Leighann Adair, 10, was eating lunch Monday when a teacher confiscated the candy. Her parents said she was in tears when she arrived home later that afternoon and handed them the detention notice. According to the disciplinary referral, she would be separated from other students during lunch and recess through Friday. Jack Ellis, the superintendent for Brazos Independent School District, declined an on-camera interview. But he said the school was abiding by a state guideline that banned “minimal nutrition” foods. “Whether or not I agree with the guidelines, we have to follow the rules,” he said. The state, however, gives each school discretion over how to enforce the policy. Ellis said school officials had decided a stricter punishment was necessary after lesser penalties failed to serve as a deterrent. Ellis said failing to adhere to the state’s guidelines could put federal funding in jeopardy. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s website, “The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (TPSNP) explicitly states that it does not restrict what foods or beverages parents may provide for their own children's consumption.” Brazos Elementary Principal Jeanne Young, said the problem, in this instance, was that the candy was provided by another student – not the girl’s parents. The girl’s mother said the incident has taught her daughter a lesson, but not the one her teachers intended. “I told her, ‘Leighann, unfortunately you’re learning very young that life’s not fair,'” Brazda said. For more information about the state’s policy and its exceptions, click here.

Author:	Ladas [ Mon May 10, 2010 10:45 am ]
Post subject:
More and more I celebrate the decision to send my son to private school.

Author:	Rorinthas [ Mon May 10, 2010 11:00 am ]
Post subject:
Either they've changed this law since I left Texas education or the principal in question is grossly missrepresenting it.

Author:	Mookhow [ Mon May 10, 2010 11:18 am ]
Post subject:	Re:
Rorinthas wrote: Either they've changed this law since I left Texas education or the principal in question is grossly missrepresenting it. I'm going to go with answer B there.

Author:	darksiege [ Mon May 10, 2010 11:24 am ]
Post subject:
Maybe this was a case of the principal wanting a Jolly Rancher and the little kid refused to share, so he had to prove his superiority to the kid by detention....

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Author:	Rorinthas [ Mon May 10, 2010 11:39 am ]
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If that's the case Mook than he is way off base. The law was only to limit what the districts provided to the students not what the students brought themselves. She should appeal.

Author:	LadyKate [ Mon May 10, 2010 11:58 am ]
Post subject:
I'd like to say this is surprising and the stupidest thing I've ever heard of happening in a public school but I can't....there has been a lot of stuff like this in the news the past couple of years from cub scouts getting booted for eating utensils to suspensions for "touching" a pill, and all sorts of stupid things. I've started to wonder if it really is a problem in our school systems or that the leaps and bounds in communication technology have enabled stupid things to be spread faster and louder. Like, if we had cell phones and satellites and television and internet and video streaming 70 years ago would be be saying the same thing about public schools with what we could have made public back then? Kinda makes ya wonder. Either way, I'm glad my son is out of the public school system and so is he.

Author:	Arathain Kelvar [ Mon May 10, 2010 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:
Man, if I were that girl's father, I would love to sue for millions and millions, and be willing to settle with the school board for 1 week's detention for the principal in my office. "Today we'll be doing lines. Please write 'I will not abuse my authority.' for the duration of detention."

Author:	LadyKate [ Mon May 10, 2010 2:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re:
Arathain Kelvar wrote: Man, if I were that girl's father, I would love to sue for millions and millions, and be willing to settle with the school board for 1 week's detention for the principal in my office. "Today we'll be doing lines. Please write 'I will not abuse my authority.' for the duration of detention." This is awesome.

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