Top 10 Shocking School Bans

Gone are the good old days when kids could bring a couple bags of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to school without the fear of having them confiscated. Schools in California, New Mexico and Illinois have banned the snack due to its high levels of fat – 26 grams in a snack size bag – and because they believe the food might be addictive. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are also high in salt and sodium, making them public enemy number one in a country desperately trying to shed its unhealthy image. But a nutritional deficit isn’t the only reason these snacks are coming under fire. In excess, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos have sent kids to hospital with gastrointestinal inflammation.

#9: Holiday Parties

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From Halloween and Christmas to Valentine’s Day and Easter, schools are slowly beginning to do away with holiday parties. What was once a time for kids to reap the rewards of all their hard work with candy and games is now considered a distraction. The schools view these parties as lacking in educational value and a possible contributor to poor dietary choices and eating habits. Christmas has taken the brunt of the criticism, with some schools going so far as to ban references to jolly old St. Nick himself! Can anyone say bah humbug?

#8: School Bags

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Yes, you heard that right. Even though it’s right there in the name, school bags are now banned at a number of different U.S. schools. While the reasons for the ban vary depending on the school in question, the main concern has been the physical well being of students. According to a 2010 study out of the University of California, backpacks, book bags or whatever you want to call them, pose a threat to the health of the children carrying them. That, along with the fact that they apparently increase congestion in the hallways, has led to them being banned.

Footballs, soccer balls and basketballs have been playground staples for decades. However, according to a number of different elementary schools they are also extremely dangerous and thus, deserving of a ban. Back in 2011 a Toronto elementary school issued a note to parents that stated, “All balls that weren’t made of sponge, or nerf, material would be confiscated.” This was after a parent got hit in the head by an errant soccer ball and ended up with a concussion. Outdoor activity has always come with some risk of minor scrapes and bruises, but it seems that one person’s unfortunate accident has been deemed concerning enough to change the nature of playtime for hundreds of kids.

In the history of education, there’s been no book more prominent that this one. It contains pretty much all the words, making it an excellent tool. So naturally dictionaries were temporarily banned from southern California schools in 2010. The problem essentially boiled down to kids being kids, as some students were looking up the definitions to dirty words and phrases. The school board felt that the explicit language wasn’t appropriate reading material and banned the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Ultimately the ban was lifted, and parents were given the option of using an alternative dictionary if they were still uncomfortable.

#5: Bathroom Stall Doors

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It would appear some school bans have no bounds. In 2012, a Texas high school removed the doors to all bathroom stalls in a move they claimed was for student safety. According to a school spokesperson, the doors were removed after reports surfaced of students fighting. What that has to do with bathroom doors is beyond us. It didn’t take long before people began to speculate that the real reason the doors were removed was because some students were engaging in sexual activities. Similarly, another school board forced kids to leave the door open for supervision. Regardless of the justifications… everyone deserves privacy in the washroom.

Much has been made in early 21st century of what to do with students who arrive at school wearing inappropriate clothing. However, calling skinny jeans inappropriate is a little much. Unfortunately, many school officials don’t see it that way - considering clothing such as skinny jeans and yoga pants to be distracting to male students. As per usual, the onus is on the female students to change their attire as opposed to teaching male students about respect for their peers. Interestingly enough, there doesn’t seem to be much concern over male students wearing skinny jeans though.

#3: Winning

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Yes, even winning is under fire. It appears that some students can’t handle the emotional pain that comes with losing a game of kickball, so to protect their delicate sensibilities that game has been banned along with soccer, dodgeball and even tag. In the eyes of a number of schools in the UK and U.S., competitive games are physically and emotionally dangerous to students. Not only that, but one North Carolina school board even banned its high schools from naming valedictorians. The reason? Competitions of that kind are unhealthy. It would seem that idea of “healthy competition” isn’t as widely appreciated as it used to be.

#2: Red Ink

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Ah yes red ink, the silent killer. Various schools around the globe have decided it is in their best interest to ban teachers from using red ink because it is a “very negative color.” Apparently the 21st century student can’t handle the severity of red ink, you know, because it’s the meanest of all the inks. So what color have teachers been asked to use instead? Green. But wait, isn’t green the same color as marijuana? Delinquent behavior! Quick, ban it! But seriously, if a generation of kids read corrections in green ink, isn’t it only a matter of time until they make a similar negative association with that color too? Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Non-Motorized Transportation The Words “Mom” & “Dad”

#1: Best Friends

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This one feels like it belongs in a satirical movie about inept school officials who have lost touch with reality. Sadly, it comes from a totally real story out of the U.K. Apparently some schools there have discouraged children from having best friends, asking them to have “lots of good friends.” Their reasoning: having a best friend has the potential to alienate others. To call this ban ridiculous would be the understatement of the year. Having a best friend isn’t something your school, or any institution for that matter, can prohibit you from having. So get out there and find yourself a BFF - that way you can laugh at all these silly bans together!