Uptight mom starts a cupcake war in her son's kindergarten class, seeking to ban the sweets for all, because she apparently can't be bothered to teach her son self-restraint and moderation. What's left of childhood surrenders
The food fight started after the birthday girl came with doughnuts.
And then the star student came with Twinkies.
The health-conscious mother had seen enough. She fired off a mass e-mail to the parents of other children in her son's kindergarten class, calling for a truce on these treats, saying they are adding to the national epidemic of child obesity.
Meredith Roth said the Millburn School District should put an end to the time-honored practice of bringing in cupcakes or candy to celebrate holidays and birthdays.
Some of the parents of other South Mountain Elementary School kids said Roth should keep her child-rearing philosophies to herself.
It all came to a head Tuesday night, when parents gathered for a PTO meeting. The discussion about sweets turned into a bitter debate over whether junk food should be banned.
"There are roughly 20 birthdays a year, and you have all these Hallmark holidays, and it's just excessive," Roth said of the food being brought into school.
Many parents told Roth that if she didn't want her kids to eat junk food in school, she should teach them self-restraint.
"I believe every parent has the responsibility to teach their children proper eating habits in accordance with their values and their lifestyle," said Jane Gomez, co-president of the Parent-Teacher Organization. "I teach my children moderation. I think moderation is the best philosophy, and if you teach your children respect and discipline, that will serve them in their entire life."
Roth, 36, moved with her husband and two children from Atlanta a year ago and has advocated healthy eating in the schools. But some are saying she barged into their neighborhood, flaunting her statistics on obesity and disrespecting the way things are done in this tight, well-to-do community.
"She's caused an incredible amount of hard feelings in the way she's dealt with people," said Gomez. "People are very angry that she does not live in this community permanently and she's a renter. And people are angry that she's dictating what people can and cannot do at home."
Millburn School Superintendent Richard Brodow said the district is not considering Roth's request. "As far as I'm concerned, there are many more important issues that we're dealing with than cupcakes," said Brodow.
Such bans have been tried elsewhere in the county. Last year, Chandler School in Duxbury, Mass., about 40 miles southeast of Boston, barred goodies. Texas -- where, according to state statistics, almost a quarter of the children are obese -- banished cupcakes and other baked sweets from school birthday celebrations throughout the state in 2004, but then backed off because of controversy.
In Millburn, parents who oppose Roth's proposal say obesity is not a problem.
"I think a bigger problem in this community is anorexia and bulimia," said Gomez.
Earlier this year, Roth raised concerns about the school lunch program run by the PTO. Millburn does not participate in the state lunch program and offers three lunches to students through the PTO: pizza, chicken tenders, or a plain bagel with cream cheese or butter.
Many parents pack additional food for their children.
In the fall, Roth organized a monthlong pilot program with Whole Foods Market. Veggie lasagna, turkey sloppy joes, organic turkey hot dogs and black bean burritos were on the new menu. They did not prove popular with students. The PTO stuck with chicken, pizza and bagel lunches.
Roth continued to campaign for healthier alternatives in the schools. The breaking point, though, came last week. First her son was offered a doughnut to celebrate a birthday. Days later, another student brought in Twinkies because he was the "star student," a weekly program that allows kids to bring in their favorite snack.
Then a school consultant promised to bring Starburst candy for the children next week. That was too much for Roth, who fired off e-mail messages to parents, noting that 40 percent of sixth-graders in New Jersey are overweight.
The response was icy.
"Personally I am getting tired of hearing about your family's health and social issues," said an e-mail from Uta M. Cicalese. "I would much prefer that you deal with them behind the closed doors of your home."
Cicalese said her husband, Carmen, wrote the e-mail but she agrees with everything it said.
"If a kid can't have a cupcake when they're a kid," said Maureen Lewton, "then when can they have a cupcake?"
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-21/111345463829760.xml
The food fight started after the birthday girl came with doughnuts.
And then the star student came with Twinkies.
The health-conscious mother had seen enough. She fired off a mass e-mail to the parents of other children in her son's kindergarten class, calling for a truce on these treats, saying they are adding to the national epidemic of child obesity.
Meredith Roth said the Millburn School District should put an end to the time-honored practice of bringing in cupcakes or candy to celebrate holidays and birthdays.
Some of the parents of other South Mountain Elementary School kids said Roth should keep her child-rearing philosophies to herself.
It all came to a head Tuesday night, when parents gathered for a PTO meeting. The discussion about sweets turned into a bitter debate over whether junk food should be banned.
"There are roughly 20 birthdays a year, and you have all these Hallmark holidays, and it's just excessive," Roth said of the food being brought into school.
Many parents told Roth that if she didn't want her kids to eat junk food in school, she should teach them self-restraint.
"I believe every parent has the responsibility to teach their children proper eating habits in accordance with their values and their lifestyle," said Jane Gomez, co-president of the Parent-Teacher Organization. "I teach my children moderation. I think moderation is the best philosophy, and if you teach your children respect and discipline, that will serve them in their entire life."
Roth, 36, moved with her husband and two children from Atlanta a year ago and has advocated healthy eating in the schools. But some are saying she barged into their neighborhood, flaunting her statistics on obesity and disrespecting the way things are done in this tight, well-to-do community.
"She's caused an incredible amount of hard feelings in the way she's dealt with people," said Gomez. "People are very angry that she does not live in this community permanently and she's a renter. And people are angry that she's dictating what people can and cannot do at home."
Millburn School Superintendent Richard Brodow said the district is not considering Roth's request. "As far as I'm concerned, there are many more important issues that we're dealing with than cupcakes," said Brodow.
Such bans have been tried elsewhere in the county. Last year, Chandler School in Duxbury, Mass., about 40 miles southeast of Boston, barred goodies. Texas -- where, according to state statistics, almost a quarter of the children are obese -- banished cupcakes and other baked sweets from school birthday celebrations throughout the state in 2004, but then backed off because of controversy.
In Millburn, parents who oppose Roth's proposal say obesity is not a problem.
"I think a bigger problem in this community is anorexia and bulimia," said Gomez.
Earlier this year, Roth raised concerns about the school lunch program run by the PTO. Millburn does not participate in the state lunch program and offers three lunches to students through the PTO: pizza, chicken tenders, or a plain bagel with cream cheese or butter.
Many parents pack additional food for their children.
In the fall, Roth organized a monthlong pilot program with Whole Foods Market. Veggie lasagna, turkey sloppy joes, organic turkey hot dogs and black bean burritos were on the new menu. They did not prove popular with students. The PTO stuck with chicken, pizza and bagel lunches.
Roth continued to campaign for healthier alternatives in the schools. The breaking point, though, came last week. First her son was offered a doughnut to celebrate a birthday. Days later, another student brought in Twinkies because he was the "star student," a weekly program that allows kids to bring in their favorite snack.
Then a school consultant promised to bring Starburst candy for the children next week. That was too much for Roth, who fired off e-mail messages to parents, noting that 40 percent of sixth-graders in New Jersey are overweight.
The response was icy.
"Personally I am getting tired of hearing about your family's health and social issues," said an e-mail from Uta M. Cicalese. "I would much prefer that you deal with them behind the closed doors of your home."
Cicalese said her husband, Carmen, wrote the e-mail but she agrees with everything it said.
"If a kid can't have a cupcake when they're a kid," said Maureen Lewton, "then when can they have a cupcake?"
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-21/111345463829760.xml
