The bake sale ban that sparked anger in many parents and school officials in Massachusetts has been lifted after much backlash from the public.
Gov. Deval Patrick backed down from the planned movement which was set to take effect August 1st 2012. The proposed ban would eliminate the sale of baked goods during school hours as well as 30 minutes before school started and 30 minutes after it finished.
Parents and teachers rallied over the regulation, putting forth their concerns that, without bake sales, raising money for school activities and programs would become next to impossible.
“The goal is to raise money,” Maura Dawley a parent from Scituate said when it was first announced that the ban was passed. “You’re going to be able to sell pizza. You’re not going to get that selling apples and bananas. It’s silly.”
Gov, Deval Patrick pushed back, telling reporters last week that “Nobody is interested in banning bake sales. We are interested in student nutrition.”
And while the ban has officially been lifted in most respects, it will stay in effective for baked goods sold in school cafeterias during the day. State officials hope that regulating the sale of goodies throughout the day will help deal with obesity in Massachusetts. State Sen. Susan Fargo previously referred to child obesity in the state as an issue that has reached “crisis” proportions.
Do you think the state made the right decision in lifting the ban – or do you think it would be easier to fight child obesity in Massachusetts by banning baked goods?
