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A school in WA has banned birthday cakes and lolly bags etc. They say that they're taking into consideration, kids with

Answered 4 years ago

A school in WA has banned birthday cakes and lolly bags etc. They say that they're taking into consideration, kids with nut allergies and cultural diversity. Do you think this is going too far?


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ANSWER
4 years ago
I honestly have no idea what cultural diversity has to do with a child bringing in a birthday cake..
I understand that kids have allergies and parents do need to be careful what they are bringing in but I just don’t get what cultural diversity has to do with cake. Literally why I homeschool my kids haha

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4 years ago
Exactly. Some may not celebrate Xmas but they still have birthdays. The cultural diversity argument is bullshit

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4 years ago
JWs don’t celebrate birthdays.

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4 years ago
Yeah it's sad I agree. In eastern Europe where we lived you had to get your cakes made by a certified bakery, it's so strange

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4 years ago
JW is a religion and not a culture. The article specifically says cultural diversity which is one of the shittiest excuses I've ever heard

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4 years ago
I wrote the JW comment and have major baby brain at the moment. You’re right it’s a religion. Even if it was a culture it would be a horrible decision to ban it using that as an excuse. Allergies or difficulties in distributing cupcakes is an acceptable reason, but to use “culture” is only going to force people to be more hateful towards other cultures.

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4 years ago
Cultural diversity and even class status is so obvious in the playgound.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Mark McGowen has stepped in and canned the ban. Smart move:)

ANSWER
4 years ago
Wouldn't bother me. I'm just not the kind of mum that wants to cater for the whole class. I'm happy to just have a little birthday party to celebrate.

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4 years ago
Thumbs up babe. Honestly, I can't be bothered anymore

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4 years ago
My son only started preschool this year, so it's not even like I've been through years of this haha.

ANSWER
4 years ago
No I think it's fair.
It also takes into consideration children who live in poverty etc and can't afford to bring cakes into school etc

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4 years ago
what does poverty have to do with it? Maybe the slice of cake they get on their classmates birthday is the only treat those kids get 🤷‍♀️

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4 years ago
Maybe stop wanting your child to be the centre of attention because you want to bring in a big fancy cake, while other kids who are already bullied and pushed into the background get reminded that they don't get to be the centre of attention or even have a cake on their birthdays because it's not financially practical for their families.
Have a cake at home, how hard is it to do that?
Do you have nothing going on in your life that you need to be coming into school , bothering the teacher and bringing cakes that half the kids probably have some intolerance to anyway?

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4 years ago
Fancy cakes either home made or bakery made are not allowed at my kids school. They take in mini cupcakes from woolies. As do most of kids. And for my kids it isn’t about being the centre of attention. It’s about including all their classmates in celebrating their birthday. And at the end of the day, there is never any left, so most kids obviously get a cake.

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4 years ago
I can see both sides. I mean, is cake really necessary to celebrate someone’s special day? Especially when they often have a number of cakes at home! Birthday parties with family , then friends..

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4 years ago
^ no it isn’t necessary but shouldn’t it be a choice ? Being approved cake if you want. Or if you don’t want, don’t.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Yes

ANSWER
4 years ago
Have all the cakes and cupcakes and balloons and whatever else your little cherub wants.. at home. I don’t understand why some parents can’t accept this. Why is is hard.. why have the school and already-busy teachers and helpers do the extra work just to make your kid feel special? If you can’t do that yourself that home, that’s on you 😩 I’m a second-year school mum and the amount of absolute crap that I’ve seen some parents do and say absolutely baffles me to no end. How do some expect to have happy, fulfilled children when they themselves as parents are just awful and argumentative and can’t follow simple rules.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I am a teacher, and even on excursions or randomly at home time there are parent helpers/ or grandparents who pick up their kids / visiting on holiday randomly give lollies etc out to the kids at home time, even though I tell them they are not to distribute food directly to the kids, bring it to me first. Then I had a mum rock up to swimming lessons and while I went in the dressing room was handing out lollies to the kids lined up outside. Honestly, I waste time explaining it every parent night, I remind in my emails, I ask the parents to notify in advance if they intend to bring something which never happens. Randomly I have parents rock up mid-day with cupcakes etc during class for birthdays. They sometimes expect I can do the cupcakes then- so they can take photos etc. which I obviously can't do. Communicating which kids have what allergies anytime some parent emails me, in the sea of other things I have to do in a day, I'd happily not have to deal with this. Call me a horrible uncaring teacher, but there are really so many things going on, kids with serious allergies to nuts, eggs, kids on diabetes plans that I am constantly monitoring and checking, epileptics. It's really odd that we have all this going on in a class and parents think cake should be a priority. Just have a party at home. Even some of the cheap junky ridiculous items parents have put in party/lolly bags that have been handed out at home time, then they've gone home in school bags and parents have found dangerous bits and pieces for the younger siblings in the house etc and complained to me. I realise most of you are logical people saying you brought a cake and it wasn't a big deal, but you are possibly one of the fewer / rarer/ easier parents to deal with in a class, one who generally is aware and tries not to add to the teacher's load. But please understand you are a minority, so for my sanity, probably having limited awareness about some of the random things crazy other parents int he class do and expect of me, I'd rather just say no to it all.

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4 years ago
To add, these kids are in Grade 2 /3 and I know this stuff has been explained continually since prep from teachers and admin. 16 years into the job and I actually spend more of my time talking about this stuff in emails and notices. I spend more time 'reviewing' these policies at parent night and have limited time to actually talk about curriculum and how to help your kid. It's a shame but these messages have to come first because of student safely, but we wouldn't have to be so on edge and pedantic about it if grown adults complied with some basic expectations and guidelines that are essentially there for the well being of the kids. I have seen a child suddenly need emergency attention because they ate a chocolate and didn't realise they were allergic. Someone had Lindt chocolates handed out along with cards or something. It's terrible and risky.

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4 years ago
Essentially, there are so many small reasons that add up and make it a pain, this would vary depending on what type of school you work at, socio considerations and what other needs / medical issues you have going on in class - which is why admin ban it and the liabilities - but they can't probably actually say that so it's easier just to relate it to cultural sensitivities etc. All children should just eat what their parents pack for them.

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4 years ago
I've also had parents whinge to me whose kids are vegan etc. We've suggested that they bring along approved treats that their child is allowed to eat, to have on hand so they can eat something and aren't left out when someone brings in cupcakes or food that isn't vegan approved. They have then complained to me saying - why should they have to provide food for their child so they aren't left out..... left out of events that essentially aren't curriculum or school related?? Some parents are against it and don't see why they should have to supply approved vegan junk, just so their kid doesn't feel left out of something that actually isn't a school event. While I felt their argument was a bit OTT and could have just sent something, this again was a situation and discussion that wasted my time, and in fact, while I don't agree, they had a valid point.

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4 years ago
You must be very unlucky. My eldest is in year 4 and never has there been the kind of reminders sent home consistently that you speak of. There is a policy about only bringing in bought foods that have a list of ingredients to be shared on birthdays. As far as I can tell, most parents adhere to that .

ANSWER
4 years ago
Omg how ridiculous!!! Yes children have allergies, my daughter included. She knows her allergies and so does her teacher. I've given her teacher a tub of things she can have so if someone brings in cake and she can't have it she gets something from her tub so she's not missing out. Very simple solution.

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4 years ago
Same here. I'm not going to stop an entire class from having cupcakes just because of my childs allergies. I just gave her food she CAN eat and everyone else can enjoy their cupcakes. Win win.
I don't get what can be culturally diverse about a cupcake tho 🤔

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4 years ago
Same here. My son has treats at school that are just for him when cupcakes come in. The rest of the class gets their cupcakes, he gets a treat and is still participating in the celebration. I am all for being allergy aware and I get banning nuts (our school doesn’t do that either) but a blanket ban on everything is a bit over the top.

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4 years ago
Se here!

ANSWER
4 years ago
I think it's just easier for the schools to ban it rather than manage it. It's a nightmare.

I wish my son's school did. Every few days someone turns up with birthday cakes, so the lunch I made ends up in the bin. Last year someone surprised the entire class with happy meals. No permission was sought from teacher/school/parents - obviously thought it was ok to turn up unannounced & cram junk food into stranger's kids without asking or even warning anyone. I don't even know who it was. It might seem OTT, but those crap meals & sugary cakes set my ASD son's behavior to 'awful' for the afternoon & now he's obsessed with the plastic toys so constantly asks for Happy Meals & melts down at the constant 'no'. I don't think most people realise the nightmare a fun gesture like this can be for some families.

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REPLY
4 years ago
That is extreme and the school should not have allowed it. Our school allows bought foods that have a list of ingredients and most people bring in those mini cupcakes you get at coles or woolies.

ANSWER
4 years ago
My kids school bringing food in to share with the class a couple of years ago. It so far hasn’t caused my children any major psychological or physiological harm. Who knows though, maybe in 20 years time they will be rocking in the corner of a psychologists office crying about not having birthday cupcakes at school - which would be great for me because otherwise it would be about my embarrassing dance moves.