(Minnesota) Schools as birthday-cake-free zones (Practical or PC?)

Minneapolis StarTribune (aka The Red Star) ^ | 10/03/08 | Sarah Lemagie - Staff Reporter

[MplsSteve]

For Principal Gary Anger, one of the best reasons to keep birthday treats out of the classroom popped up one day last year when a second-grader landed in his office for making trouble at Red Pine Elementary in Eagan.

Turned out it was the boy's birthday, and he didn't have cookies or a cake to share. "The big reason he was acting up was because he didn't have anything to give his classmates," said Anger, whose school began nixing birthday snacks this year.

The tradition of classroom birthdays with sheet cake or pizza has survived for many families even as schools nationwide have cut back on sugary treats in lunchrooms, snack carts and class fundraisers. But that's changing in some Minnesota schools, which now tell parents to keep the confections at home -- not only for health reasons, but also to cut down on time spent on class parties and to spare the feelings of students whose families can't afford elaborate treats for the whole class.

Some parents, though, find the idea of a food-free birthday distasteful.

[MplsSteve]

When I first started reading this article, I thought "Oh, the Education PC crowd is at work again".

But then the more I thought about it, maybe this isn't the worst idea in the world.

There are kids in many districts whose parents can't afford to bring a cake to school for everyone to eat. Or weirder yet, there are parents who don't observe the birthdays of their kids.

Rather than leaving some kids to feel left out, maybe it isn't the worst thing not to allow a birthday cake to be served for any birthday.

Comments or opinions - anyone?

[MplsSteve]

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[Larry Lucido]

I recall celebrating birthdays at home when I was growing up, and not making a big deal of it in school.

Of course, back then we walked 10 miles to school in the snow, chased by mastadons.

[CE2949BB]

Homeschool your kids or stick ‘em in a private school with like-minded parents.

[CindyDawg]

They are kids. Kids like cake. I doubt many are going to need therapy because they enjoy the treats that others bring.

[MplsSteve]

LOL!

It was pretty much the same at my elementary school. That was back in the mid 70’s.

The teacher would have the whole class sing “Happy Birthday” to whomever was having their birthday - and that was about it.

[CPC24]

I never had parties at school either. They were usually on the Saturday after my birthday.

[nascarnation]

my daughter is a teacher

their policy is: nothing that isn’t commercially prepackaged

primarily for liability reasons

[svcw]

You forgot up hill both ways.

[conservative cat]

I don’t think it’s a bad idea, either, and like many on the thread, we didn’t often make a big deal out of birthdays in school. My daughter reacts badly to artificial dye, and I am sure she’s not the only one...but I bet not everyone figures out with their kids. It’s not really healthy, some kids have dietary issues, and it’s mainly a way for moms to feel good about themselves.

[B Knotts]

Of course, back then we walked 10 miles to school in the snow, chased by mastadons.

Hah! You had it easy!

[Chuzzlewit]

agreed... just what the heck are they celebrating Birthdays in school for??.... I was all ready to think this was another anti-Christmas type thing.. but it is a joke for them to be celebrating a birthday in elementary school.

[CindyDawg]

Liability, dietary, prepackaged, dyes...I feel sorry for kids now days.

[antiunion person]

No cakes, no unpackaged cookies or snacks. When I was a kid, my mom baked a cake, cookies or some kind of snack and there was no problems. But that was back when moms were moms and woman's liberation wasn’t a big deal.
Going back to this Minnesota school, the principal has the perfect name for his attitude, ANGER. You have to wonder if this guy, when he was kid, was picked on unmercifully by other kids because of his name and now this is his opportunity to get his revenge. Kids in school are the worst for giving criticism.
As far as being PC, now a cake and cookies, next books with a mom and dad. Oh, never mind, they already banned those books. I just want to know when the libs in charge of our schools are going to have a book burning?? It's coming. Maybe when and if Obama gets into office. If he does you can bet girls will be forced to wear veils over their faces and not show any skin.

[ThomasThomas]

For many kids the worst part about birthdays at school is having your mother show up in class. And are all the other kids going to come back to school for my birthday in August? The proper response to birthdays for guys is wet willies and atomic wedgies. And for the girls, boys need to learn the age of a women will only cause you grief.

[olivia3boys]

My kids are in private school—we moms bring in cupcakes for birthdays, no big deal. If there are extras we walk around campus with the birthday child giving them away to his former teachers. Just did this yesterday.

Fun. Helps the school feel “homey,” an extension of the family, which is important since the child is there so much.

[MplsSteve]

Funny you should mention the principal’s name.

I graduated from high school with him in 1982. He played soccer and was on our state championship team. He had an interesting sense of humor and was reasonably popular.

I never knew what happened to him or for that mayyer, many of the people I went to high school with.

[dmz]

it’s mainly a way for moms to feel good about themselves

IMO, you get the prize for the weirdest take on this story.

[astyanax]

Initital thought: leave it all at home.
Allergies, sanitation, lawyers...

[conservative cat]

IMO, you get the prize for the weirdest take on this story.

Seriously? I don't think it's any secret that there is a competitiveness with certain Stepford mom types, as well as a spoiling of children today that is way more than in times past.