Drinks in class?

[apple annie]

I teach upper elementary. Should I allow kids to bring drinks other than water to class?

 

[Haley23]

No, and if it were me I would push for it to be a school policy that other drinks aren't allowed. But, in practicality, if other classes are allowing it and admin isn't supportive, I could potentially see it not being a battle worth fighting.

 

[anna]

I can easily see anything other than water being an attractant for insects. Water bottles kept on a shelf away from books and papers at a desk is what I always practiced in class.

 

[all41]

No, water only. I agree that this should be a schoolwide policy. Things spill and when the spill doesn't get cleaned up properly either by student, teacher, or custodian it's tracked all over the classroom. Ants and other bugs show up soon after. Water is all that is needed.

 

[teachnkids]

No

 

[Shelby3]

Water, kept on a shelf or counter. A spill will burn 10-15 minutes of your valuble teaching time. Hopefully this is a policy already in place.
Water only, I know energy drinks are popular, but no electrolytes need to be replaced for sitting in class.

 

[Gromit]

My rule is that if I can tell that it's not plain water, it has to be replaced. Otherwise, it is not a battle I choose to fight. Too many others that take my time.

 

[dee]

Plain water in a clear bottle is school wide for us.
Stains of colored/fruit flavored water, bugs, and in steel bottles we were getting iced coffee, soda, red bull, etc. What a mess!

 

[Teacherbee_4]

I don't give kids ideas by saying water only, because I could see how it would be super easy to sneak something else in if you don't have a clear water bottle. However, if I do notice they have something other than water, I do make them put it the water bottle/lunch box to take home or dump it out and refill with water (their choice).

 

[apple annie]

Thank you for your responses! We don't have a school wide policy. If it were up to me, it would be clear water in clear bottles only, schoolwide. My class policy is plain water only, but it's a fight because other teachers allow Starbucks, McDonalds fountain drinks, Prime, etc. In addition to the potential mess and the slurping, I just don't like the message of privilege it sends to the rest of the class.

 

[Sbkangas5]

I say water simply for the sticky mess anything else makes (and the critters that attracts).

 

[Fenwick]

Thank you for your responses! We don't have a school wide policy. If it were up to me, it would be clear water in clear bottles only, schoolwide. My class policy is plain water only, but it's a fight because other teachers allow Starbucks, McDonalds fountain drinks, Prime, etc. In addition to the potential mess and the slurping, I just don't like the message of privilege it sends to the rest of the class.

One would think those charged with the teaching of young people would also have a deep concern for their health and well-being. Saying okay to sugar and the toxins it contains teaches a valuable lesson: In my class I will help promote the predecessor to diabetes, obesity and dental decay. Kudos to you for not teaching this lesson. Also, don’t expect “Thanks” from students given little choice but to grow up. The “Thanks” will come down the road because you know what’s best for them.

 

[SusanTeach]

I agree with the others, and you, that water is enough. It's a shame that other teachers are allowing Starbucks, McDonald's, etc... Those are special treats for after school and weekends. They're still children - even older ones. They don't need those on a regular basis. I definitely don't want my students jacked up on caffeine throughout the day, much less spilling it and having the mess of bugs.

 

[SportingKC]

My classroom had a MAJOR ant problem, so the kids knew why we needed to have water only. Most of them abided.

However, I also felt bad saying no when kids came in with other drinks that parents had spent money on as a special treat. I think this is when a school policy would have been helpful.

 

[TheGr8Catsby]

I really don't care. We do breakfast in the room, so they're drinking milk and juice on the carpet every day.

 

[whatever]

I allow drinks-- it is usually water. Most of them can't afford anything else. I want access to my drinks as well. I do ask they clean up after themselves. Breakfasts include a milk and a juice so plain water is already out.

 

[Tiamat]

No. Our school policy is water only in the classroom. They can have juice or milk at lunch, outside.

 

[Sasha B]

We have breakfast in the classroom every morning, so there is already milk and juice. We also have a lot of kids who get out of the car in the morning with fast food breakfast, Starbucks, or sports drinks. Obviously water is preferred, but sometimes you have to pick your battles.

 

[Cinderella00]

Here's one of those times I'm glad I live in a rural area with no fast food nearby. No one ever brings McDonalds or Starbucks. It's just too far away.

In our building some teachers say water only, others allow just about any kind of drink. In my room (resource) I only allow water. EXCEPT for a couple of students in the past who have been allowed some Mt. Dew after lunch (provided by parents). The caffeine helped with their ADD.