Well, it is that time of year again! Everywhere we look in the schools we see children in the throes of a Halloween-induced sugar rush. I can remember walking up and down the street, my mother beside me, as I went door to door in search of the ultimate load of Halloween candy. Sadly, today, our children don’t have that experience. Luckily, we have many local groups and businesses who have taken it upon themselves to try to keep that tradition alive and provide that same kind of experience for our kids.
But I have to tell you – from a teacher’s perspective, all that candy is not a good thing on many levels. For one thing, these kids are flying high on sugar! Picture in your mind, if you will, one adult clinging to sanity in a room of 25 students hopped up on sugar. I promise you….it is NOT a pretty picture!! The teacher is frazzled, hair sticking up on end, as the kids swing from the ceilings and leap from desk to desk. One year I had a student, ordinarily calm and well-behaved, come into my class after Halloween with the jitters. He just could not sit still. Upon investigation, I discovered he not only made a huge haul of candy in his outings over the weekend, but he had brought a large quantity to school and was sneaking little bits of candy whenever he could get to his locker! Now candy brought to school is frequently collected as a contribution to the “Stressed-out teacher’s candy bowl” fund found in the teacher’s lounge and office.
There is also the fact that all that candy is just not good for you! So much sugar and so many empty calories and fat are in those little candy bars that it is small wonder kids get an upset stomach! And what happens to the adults? Well…you know how it is…we always have to pick through for the good stuff before the kids get it all! I don’t know about you, but I usually end up with a stash in my desk that lasts me through the entire fall semester and into the spring! (Strangely, no candy lasts long when TAKS time rolls around!)
So, parents, be kind to your child’s teacher this year…limit their candy intake and monitor closely what they eat! Better yet, hand out healthier items to your trick-or-treaters – popcorn balls are not too bad, I don’t think. Fruit, granola, goldfish crackers, and pretzels – all make yummy alternatives to the huge amounts of candy the kids will get everywhere else.
I’m thinking about handing out celery sticks at my house…think I will get many trick-or-treaters?
Christine Moore currently holds a degree from Howard Payne University and is actively working toward a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Married with four children, Christine teaches 6th grade reading in Brownwood and has been working in education at various levels for the past 14 years. Her husband, Jeremy, owns a local company that specializes in web design, custom computer builds, and on-location repair called DreamSoft Design at www.dreamsoftdesign.com. Christine welcomes your questions and comments and would love to hear from you!
