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School Bans Lip Balm…What’s Next?
Banned: Lip Balm
Okay, this whole banning things at school is getting out-of-control. First, some schools banned silly banz. Then they banned “I Love Boobies” bracelets. And now one school in North Carolina has banned lip balm. Seriously, the kids need to bring a note from home saying they can wear Chapstick or other lip balms!
Until recently, students needed a note from the doctor in order to bring lip balm to school.
“I just don’t see how Chapstick can even remotely be perceived as medicine,” said Stephanie Boyd, a parent in the district. “Is it me or has common sense just gone out the window lately? They seem to ban something new every single year.”
I’m with you, Ms. Boyd!
What’s the rationale behind the ban? The Johnston County school district said the policy was put in place by the county heath department. Apparently, parents were concerned that kids were sharing lip balm and spreading germs.
“By requiring written permission from the parents, parents would be aware that their children had Chapstick and would be able to remind them not to share it with other children,” said school district spokeswoman Terri Sessoms. “This would also be a way for teachers to be aware so that they could deter students from sharing it with others.”
Can we just all agree to stop banning things unless they actually pose a clear danger (like knives, guns, etc.)? I’m guessing this latest ban will only make Chapstick the must-have accessory for all students in the district.
What do you think?
photo: flickr/Valeri-DBF
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0 Comments
Robin Aronson commented on Nov 29 10 at 1:29 pmI think this is nuts and sharing lip balm may not be great, but its not the end of the world.
LogicalMama commented on Nov 29 10 at 2:25 pmCra-zy!!!
rdub commented on Nov 29 10 at 3:13 pmThis is absurd. In addition to all of the other pressures that educators and schools have now they have to enforce a lip balm ban? Couldn’t this be covered with an announcement saying “Hey kids, don’t share lip balm. It spreads germs.”
goddess commented on Nov 29 10 at 6:35 pmThey make us get a doctor’s authorization for sunblock here, so while this seems quite idiotic, not surprising.
Terri commented on Nov 29 10 at 7:24 pmI’m adding this to my list as to why I’m terrified to send my kids to public school! My oldest starts Kindergarten in 2 yrs and I’m seriously contemplating talking my husband into homeschooling. There is just too much ridiculousness going on in the schools!
Linda, the original one commented on Nov 29 10 at 7:53 pm:::huge eye roll:::
JBoogie commented on Nov 29 10 at 8:49 pmI can almost guarantee that the school didn’t come up with this one, a parent did. Some precious angel got sick and told mommy that she used so-and-so’s chapstick, and mommy pitched a fit and said it was the school’s fault and ranted and raved. Schools have to cater to the parents’ every wish and want now. If not, they face lawsuits (which they would lose because don’t you know? The school system is by far the easiest scapegoat for every social failure out there–including when your kid is tormenting another kid on Facebook at 3 o’clock in he morning.) and (like this article) newspaper fodder. You know what schools should be able to ban? Stupid parents who throw their responsibility out the window as soon as their kid reaches school age. If schools were actually allowed to look at parents and say “You suck. You are the reason that your kid has failed 9th grade for the third time. Call of Duty is not a legitimate excuse for missing school. Your kid has a mouth like a sailor that gets her in trouble and somehow you blame that on her algebra teacher. Her miniskirt is too short and you want us to allow it because “she is hotter than all ‘dem udder girls”. You are an idiot, and the only place your kid is going after high school is jail.” then maybe, just maybe, schools could actually be realistic and stop banning stupid things like Chapstick.
Manjari commented on Nov 30 10 at 12:02 pmWhat JBoogie said!
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