Your Thoughts On Vending Machines in Chelmsford Schools
On Tuesday night, the Chelmsford School Committee learned that only water vending machines will soon be allowed in Chelmsford's schools and that there will be a ban on caffeinated drinks.
On Tuesday, new Chelmsford Public School Food Service director April Laskey infored the Chelmsford School Committee is looking to remove all vending machines, with the exception of machines that sell water.
There was also discussion on banning less nutritious foods from being on school grounds, even for fundraising activities and private use by adult employees, during the school day and for an hour before and after the school day as well.
Today, we want your thoughts. Is this a good move to set a positive example for children in schools or does it go too far?
Bruce
3:10 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
I think ALL vending machines should be removed. These are schools, not vending machine profit centers. Let the kids (with parents) figure out what they want to bring in with them. Otherwise, there should be working water fountains available.
Anna Bucciarelli
8:11 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
Ditto!! Could not agree more.
Will Wagner
11:21 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
I, however, could not disagree more... Yes, the kids should bring lunch and can drink from the water fountain - but why does that equate to removing vending machines? The vending machines are a) a source of income, b) a source of a quick snack or pick-me up for the kids in the middle of the day (when they eat lunch at 10am, but have to be in school til 2 - or later!)
Ron
6:10 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Whatever happened to the water bubbler? that worked fine for me going to school no plastic to waste and FREE !!! I can see no sugarie drinks maybe thats why kids have A.D.D.
Vivian Merrill
11:11 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
Good point about water bubblers. However, do they even work any more? I thought they were less in use due to them holding too many germs from all sorts of kids with runny noses and other ailments using them, or using them improperly. (Ewwww, that kid just put his whole mouth on the water spigot...)
Muriel McGrann
6:20 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
What do the KIDS say about this GOVERNMENT DICTATE by OBAMA and DUVAL PATRIC. This appointed lady is also on a salary from the School Committee is she not?????.If the results were of a survey indicated by those affected students and parents who drew up a request for these changes then the School Committee has the right to respect their wishes but when it originates from FEDERAL Government dictates it is just another Socialistic Liberal control indicating "FATHER OBAMA KNOWS BEST" (ALSO maybe this is not true, teachers cannot bring soft drinks in for their lunches as it sets abad example for the kids?????? also cutting recess breaks and less gym classes also adds to the weight problem for some kids.
Peggy Dunn
8:23 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
All vending machines should be removed including those that sell water.
Cee Virtue
9:08 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
What do the kids say? My kids want lots of sugar all the time; self control is years away.
As a parent, I think there's no need for vending machines in schools. They don't provide useful food, and too much advertising as the companies try to set up brand loyalty when the kids are malleable.
Teachers are adults and can make their own choices, so it would be fine with me if there is a vending machine in the back room that only teachers patronize.
Will Wagner
11:24 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
Do you really think that removing the vending machine swill cut down on the amount of junk food the kids eat? Nope... they'll bring it from home or some enterprising youngster will sell it out of the locker. They are inundated with advertising from the moment they are born... Vending machines in the schools are GOOD, IMO. Sure, offer some healthy snacks in the machines, along with the chips, etc... but removing them from the schools is just plain silly.
Elena Soto
12:12 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
I think kids should have acces to food during school time. When they have lunch at 10 AM, and then they need to stay longer for sports activities....they definitely need to eat somethingn and they are not always able(or forget) to bring from home. Bottom line here: vending machines with healthy food. Is that too hard?
phil
12:57 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
If they are hungry enough, they will stop forgetting. It is how kids learn.
Keith Walsh
4:17 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Taking away the vending machines is not the answer. I see no reason, however, that they can't be stocked with healthier options (think Pop Chips instead of Ruffles or a Cliff bar instead of a Snickers). This will provide kids with healthy snacking options while also ensuring that kids with an early lunch aren't starving by their after school activities.
Keith Walsh
4:19 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Furthermore, those that think that banning vending machines from schools will eliminate unhealthy options for their kids obviously haven't reviewed the school lunch menus lately.
Beth Benoit
4:33 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
The vending machines should have a mix of healthy and unhealthy options. Face it, those teenagers burn calories like mad -- a snickers bar is NOT that bad a choice for a snack a couple of hours before cross-country practice. High School students are nearly adults -- they can and should make choices about what they buy.
As far as why the water bubblers aren't an option -- I am told by reliable witnesses (multiple CHS young men) that the water coming from all the bubblers but one in the high school taste HORRIBLE. And many of the bubblers just plain don't work.
Anna Bucciarelli
6:57 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Everyone is right ... everyone is wrong ... school is SCHOOL ... kids who get hungry after lunch should bring snacks ... vending machine should offer ONLY good stuff, not junk ... water bubblers should be repaired and offer a way to use a cup as in health clinics ... it's OK to have vending machines offering water (but what about the green thing they destroy?). OMG, what is the answer here?
Susan Dandaraw
10:19 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Setting boundaries for our young children at this age is definitely still appropriate. We can solve the long day/ snack dilemma with better choices. A few months back I took a look at what is stocked in the Healthy Vending machines that were placed in McCarthy and Parker and recall there being a large variety of great choices. I would be fine with my kids grabbing something from these when needed, but It should never be a meal replacement. I say keep these new machines but if there is a push to remove vending in general, set up a school run snack store / closet.
Anna Bucciarelli
9:15 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Great idea Susan ... I like the "school store" ... something that is done in a few schools serving special needs students as reinforcement for proper behavior and it also nourishes the students at mid-day. I think it is a problem solver.
Emily Marget
11:00 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
"School store" would require a person to man it - either a parent or paid help. Many parents do not work in Chelmsford. (It's hard enough to get PTO officers at the high school!) As far as I know, vending is not available at the elementary schools - the age when food choices need to be reinforced. Selling water bottles is not so bad given the taste of the water at the middle and high schools. For the high schoolers, activites can run past 6 p.m. These kids need things like CLIF bars to keep them going. Prohibiting access to the snack machines during the school day would be nice but not feasible because of the layouts of the schools. Is it possible to put an internal time-lock on the snack machine? Only someone in the business would know this.
Anna Bucciarelli
8:18 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Teachers usually run the stores in their rooms and choose diligent students to help man the store. I realize this may not be possible in higher grades ... or is it? It is an added teaching device and may be a benefit to older kids after all.
Cee Virtue
8:54 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
A large study with solid data came out yesterday: "Laws strictly curbing school sales of junk food and sweetened drinks may play a role in slowing childhood obesity, according to a study that seems to offer the first evidence such efforts could pay off. "
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/48646703/ns/today-back_to_school/t/school-junk-food-bans-may-really-help-curb-obesity/#.UCry90TMCVs