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Brit School Bans Girl's Birthday Cake Under Healthy Eating Rules!

by VR Sreeraman on Oct 19 2009 6:01 PM

A Brit schoolgirl is said to have been banned from dishing out slices of her birthday cake in class by the headteacher because it broke healthy eating rules.

Olivia Morris, 9, had brought the homemade chocolate cake her great gran made into school to share with fellow pupils, but was left stunned when she was not allowed to serve it, as it did not comply with new guidelines.

Teachers at Rockingham Junior and Infant School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, told Olivia she could blow at the candles at morning assembly, but refused to let anyone tuck into the cake.

Outraged great gran Eileen Morris, 79, slammed the school ruling, and branded the ban "absolute nonsense".

"I have baked and lovingly sent countless cakes to school over the years when my family have celebrated a birthday and now to be told my cakes must be discouraged because they are not healthy eating has left me stunned," the Sun quoted her as saying.

"It is absolute nonsense. I understand the need to teach children healthy eating but surely a birthday cake is a special treat.

"Sharing a cake with your friends on your birthday is a lovely old tradition and for children to be told it falls foul of healthy eating rules is beyond belief," she stated.

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Morris, from Rotherham, claims the cook up is part of a proud family tradition, which has seen her bake cakes for 40 years.

"It was a lovely cake decorated with Maltesers and Jellytots with chocolate icing and nine pink candles," she said.

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"Just to see the happy faces of the children in my family going off to school with their cakes is enough for me.

"But the head teacher told Rebecca, 'I don't know how to tell you this but we cannot accept the cake'.

"The headteacher said they had been informed they could not accept cakes for the children in future because it did not comply with healthy eating rules. You couldn't make it up.

"I was furious. This is just a silly application of rules and political correctness.

"The school, the headteacher and staff are all wonderful and you could not wish to send your children to a better school but the authorities in their wisdom have decided to bar birthday cakes at school - it's just crazy," she said.

But headteacher Heather Green said that the rule had been put into place to promote healthy eating.

"We love enjoying the birthdays of our pupils and we celebrate them both in class and in assemblies," Green said.

"At the same time however we are really working hard to promote healthy eating and lifestyles among our pupils through Healthy Schools and other projects.

"It is a tricky balance not to give a mixed message to pupils if we say to them 'be healthy and eat healthily at school' but at the same time we say 'bring in your cakes and buns to celebrate all our different events'.

"We also take into account children who have allergies and the pressure that some parents feel they are under to provide such treats if others in the class are doing so.

"We really do appreciate the gesture from Mrs Morris and I have already spoken to Olivia's mother to explain why we prefer the cakes not to be brought in.

"I will also speak to Mrs Morris directly to discuss her concerns.

"We hope that parents continue to support our efforts to promote healthy eating among our children as many have already done," she added.

Source-ANI
SRM


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