REIDSVILLE, N.C. -
Officials at Reidsville Middle School suspended two students last week after their parents brought them fast food for lunch, violating a policy that prohibits outside food.
On Thursday, Charles Finney brought his daughter food from McDonald's for lunch. That night, Brittney, an eighth-grader, came home with a letter warning against bringing fast food to the cafeteria.
The next day, Finney didn't think he was doing anything wrong when he brought her a hamburger in a plain, brown bag. But Brittney was suspended for three days.
"Well, Thursday I was made, because this isn't the first time he's done it," said Brittney. "And Friday, it made me mad, but I just called my daddy and I knew he would fix it."
Finney said the principal told him the school policy does not allow outside food because it competes with child nutrition standards.
"They can't tell you what to feed your child, as long as it's in a brown paper bag," Finney said. "It ain't no contest. As long as you feed your child, what's the point?"
Brittney wasn't the only student suspended Friday.
Kanita Mullins said her daughter, Destiny, was also suspended after Mullins brought her a meal from Wendy's in a plain, brown bag. But instead of keeping her at home, school officials made her work as a janitor.
"It's an option, I guess, to give the kids a second chance if they've never been in trouble before," said Mullins.
Mullins said Friday was the first time she's purchased food and brought it to her daughter for lunch. She said she'll follow the school's wishes from now on.
"I hope they would change something in the rule book," she said. "If they don't want the parents bringing food, they need to address it."
Destiny returned to school Tuesday.
As for Brittney, she said the school contacted her Tuesday and said her suspension will be counted as two excused absences and her record has been wiped clean.
When contacted Tuesday, school officials said they would not comment on disciplinary actions concerning students.
On Thursday, Charles Finney brought his daughter food from McDonald's for lunch. That night, Brittney, an eighth-grader, came home with a letter warning against bringing fast food to the cafeteria.
The next day, Finney didn't think he was doing anything wrong when he brought her a hamburger in a plain, brown bag. But Brittney was suspended for three days.
"Well, Thursday I was made, because this isn't the first time he's done it," said Brittney. "And Friday, it made me mad, but I just called my daddy and I knew he would fix it."
Finney said the principal told him the school policy does not allow outside food because it competes with child nutrition standards.
"They can't tell you what to feed your child, as long as it's in a brown paper bag," Finney said. "It ain't no contest. As long as you feed your child, what's the point?"
Brittney wasn't the only student suspended Friday.
Kanita Mullins said her daughter, Destiny, was also suspended after Mullins brought her a meal from Wendy's in a plain, brown bag. But instead of keeping her at home, school officials made her work as a janitor.
"It's an option, I guess, to give the kids a second chance if they've never been in trouble before," said Mullins.
Mullins said Friday was the first time she's purchased food and brought it to her daughter for lunch. She said she'll follow the school's wishes from now on.
"I hope they would change something in the rule book," she said. "If they don't want the parents bringing food, they need to address it."
Destiny returned to school Tuesday.
As for Brittney, she said the school contacted her Tuesday and said her suspension will be counted as two excused absences and her record has been wiped clean.
When contacted Tuesday, school officials said they would not comment on disciplinary actions concerning students.
