School Defends Serving Gin to 6th Graders

[southcitymom]

School Defends Serving 6th-Graders Gin

AKRON, Ohio — An Ohio charter school that emphasizes African history and culture served gin to sixth graders at a graduation ceremony and state education officials said they plan to investigate.
Four students were given a teaspoon of gin mixed with water in a ceremony modeled on a Ghanian rite of passage event, said Kwa David Whitaker, a Phoenix Village Academy official.
The ritual was intended to teach truthfulness, said Whitaker, who oversaw the Tuesday ceremony.
The students were blindfolded, giving them the uncertain feeling that goes with moving from one stage of life to another, he said. Each student was given a teaspoon of water and a teaspoon of the gin-water mix, and then asked to identify which contained water.
The students recognized that the gin wasn't water and spit it out before swallowing, Whitaker said. The point is to teach the children to be honest, he said.

More at link
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shar...hol.html?imw=Y

Maybe next, we'll give them Peyote to honor an ancient Native American rite of passage event!

[angelmom]

I read this this morning and went

Who thought this was a good plan?

These people need to go to some sort of common sense training with the other idiot teachers from this year - the "pranksters" who told the campers about an armed gunman on the loose, the woman who wrote a love letter to her 12 yo student, the children's book author who offered to sign a child's forehead if she stood naked on a table, the sub who screened Brokeback Mountain for 8th graders...I'm sure there are more.

It was a tiny amount of gin and I'm sure it didn't harm anyone, but WHY??? Why would a teacher think this was a good idea? Are people just that stupid?

[JBean]

OKay I am not real sure how excited I am about this. but either which way, anything controversial should have been cleared by parents..no matter what it is.

[Ntegrity]

Probably not a great idea by the school, but we're talking about a teaspoon. I don't think I'd lose any sleep over my kid partaking in the festivities.

[Texana]

This is my issue with charter schools.

They don't have to play by the "rules" of public schools but they get tax dollars.

Any middle school principal would be reassigned over something like this.

Even if it was "harmless" in the end.

[PSUfan]

Originally Posted by Ntegrity

Probably not a great idea by the school, but we're talking about a teaspoon. I don't think I'd lose any sleep over my kid partaking in the festivities.

Me neither. How much alcohol does cough syrup have in it? Couldnt have been much different than this.

I didnt read the original article, but of course it shouldve been cleared with the parents.

A TEASPOON of gin that the kids spit out. Didnt even swallow. heh..it wouldnt have bothered me in the least.

[BhamMama]

Originally Posted by southcitymom

Maybe next, we'll give them Peyote to honor an ancient Native American rite of passage event!

Why not? It's legal for church members!

No, I don't advocate giving any child drugs...ever. But mine have tasted beer. The difference being, their father gave them a sip. Never at a school sponsored event...well it could be, we home school lol

For the record, I hate beer...and thankfully so did my kids!

I prolly wouldn't have gotten upset as long as I was told first. Children in Europe drink watered down wine from a young age. Not saying it's right but it's not such a huge issue.

[txsvicki]

I wouldn't want anyone giving my kids alcohol since I don't drink, teach them not to ever drink, and my religious preference doesn't believe in drinking. Gin is alcohol that is sold to the public, is a drug, tastes horrible, and kids' cough mixtures aren't usually made with any alcohol. The school was teaching telling the truth, but were very unethical, probably illegal, and as usual whether charter or public, a school that thinks they have every right to do as they please with no consequences.

[Peter Hamilton]

tastes horrible indeed--I can't believe the kids didn't throw up--Gin is nasty stuff

[PSUfan]

Originally Posted by Peter Hamilton

tastes horrible indeed--I can't believe the kids didn't throw up--Gin is nasty stuff

Well they all spit it out. Nobody swallowed the teaspoon full.

[Taximom]

I can think of a few different ways to teach "honesty" and none of them require GIN.

What would a parent be charged with had this been done in the home and someone reported them to LE? Those teenage brats that taught their younger relatives how to smoke pot (and taped it) are still in jail, right? What's the difference between introducing pot (besides pot being illegal) and introducing alcohol to a minor?

[philamena]

Taximom,
I agree. I don't want anyone offering alcohol to my kids. It doesn't matter if it was a teaspoon or not. Kinda like someone telling kids they can kiss but not have full on sex. I think the school crossed the line.

[Dark Knight]

I'm pretty sure giving ANY alcohol to a minor is illegal.

[mostlylurking]

Originally Posted by angelmom

It was a tiny amount of gin and I'm sure it didn't harm anyone, but WHY??? Why would a teacher think this was a good idea? Are people just that stupid?

Yep. I'm beginning to think they are.

[tennessee]

While I wouldn't want the local schools to give my children alcohol, I have let them (almost 17 & 6) have a sip from my wineglass or whatever other drink I might be having. The only thing my 6 year old thought was a little tasty was ice wine (really sweet) and even then he only got some on his lips and licked it off. He thinks every thing else is gross. My daughter on the other hand likes daquiris, so she gets none alcohol ones. She doesn't care for the taste of beer or wine.

[southcitymom]

I personally wouldn't have a huge problem with this even though my husband and I don't drink alcohol.

However, I am pretty dumbfounded that school officials didn't think it necessary to get some sort of permission. As other posters have pointed out, it is illegal to give alcohol to minors AND in a mainstream public school, I think someone would lose their job.

[Rino]

Originally Posted by Peter Hamilton

tastes horrible indeed--I can't believe the kids didn't throw up--Gin is nasty stuff

I was on track with everyone on the topic until this silly post.

[Peter Hamilton]

Rhino--have you ever tasted GIN? Its almost as bad as Brandy

[Rino]

lol...I don't understand.

[tennessee]

Originally Posted by Peter Hamilton

Rhino--have you ever tasted GIN? Its almost as bad as Brandy

I have never understood why someone would willingly drink PineSol.

[mostlylurking]

Let me just offer a bit of humor here....

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron Ohio.
Maybe this school is just trying to identify new members early.

[poco]

Originally Posted by Taximom

I can think of a few different ways to teach "honesty" and none of them require GIN.

I agree with ya Taxi -

[kygal]

I only have one thing to say about this:

What in the world were they thinking? And besides, Gin is about the nastiest stuff I've ever tasted. I feel sorry for the kids for having to TASTE the stuff. (*shuddering at bad taste memory*)

[ziggy]

I agree with the poster that said there is probably more alcohol in cough and cold medicine.

Gin tastes pretty bad on it's own. I have a horrible memory of gin from college that cured me from ever drinking it again! Pine Sol...definitely.

I think this is much ado about nothing (is that the proper term?)

Our society is pretty paranoid about alcohol. I understand why, but just spend some time in Europe and the teapsoon of gin spit out seems so benign.

[Amraann]

I don't think the issue is really about Gin..
IMO its about schools taking over the rights of parents and then justifying it. A teaspoon or not giving a child alchohol is illegal in every state school or not.