Just where do the rights of parents to make decisions on their children's upbringing start and end ?
In recent decades we have seen " the authorities " intrude more and more into the everyday matters of home and school life. This can range from the edicts of Federal and state governments, to the rantings of unelected bodies that seek to impose their ideas.
School lunch boxes have been at the forefront of recent interference. It is probably permissible for dietary authorities to recommend foods that would be medically desirable in a kid's lunch, but it's another matter when lunch boxes are inspected - and items not meeting the expected criteria forcibly removed !
Now we have a new wave of " puritanism ". Some schools have banned " energy drinks " from school canteens - while others have imposed a complete ban and will not permit them on school property.
The reason given is that they are simply " rubbish " - and an excuse for a quick caffeine fix !
Who makes these decisions - and what right do they have to order parents to follow their rules in what may - or may not - be packed into a kid's lunch box ?
In most cases this is sheer bluff ! There may be legitimate medical reasons why a parent includes some otherwise " forbidden " food, but so far the matter has not gone before a court for a ruling.
A good, healthy lunch is certainly a desirable outcome - but many will bristle at the idea of a " food dictator " imposing his or her ideas of what that should be.
It is only a matter of time before some rebel takes the matter to court. In the interim - the legality of such edicts remains in no-mans-land !
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