New Haven school Skittles incident

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Skittles candy.
Skittles candy.

The New Haven school Skittles incident occurred on February 26, 2008, when a student from Sheridan Middle School[1][2][3] was suspended from the New Haven, Connecticut, USA school system for being in possession of a bag of Skittles brand candy.[4] In 2003, the New Haven school system passed a rule banning all candy sales as part of a wellness policy.[5] In 2008 the rule was used to discipline an 8th grade honors student named Michael Sheridan for buying the candy from another student.[6][7]

Sheridan was removed from his role as class vice president, barred from attending an honors student dinner and suspended from school after buying the Skittles from a classmate. The suspension was initially for three days, but it was reduced to one day. Sheridan said that he did not know he was breaking any rules by buying the candy, but that he noticed the other student was being secretive about the transaction.[6][7][8]

School spokesperson Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo said that, besides the nutrition issue, students create security problems when they carry money. According to WNBC, the district's policy states that "no candy or junk food fundraisers will be allowed on school grounds" and that only healthy snacks will be sold in vending machines.[2] The school has a zero tolerance policy, with no candy sales allowed by students or from vending machines.[3] The policy also prohibits bake sales and other types of food sales during school hours. The policy does not make mention of students sharing snacks if no money is exchanged.[2] Michael's mother, Shelli Sheridan, said he is a top student with no previous disciplinary problems. She said of the punishment, "It's too much. It's too unfair. He's never even had a detention."[2]

School officials later decided to reinstate Sheridan to his post.[9] School principal Eleanor Turner said, "I am sorry this has happened. My hope is that we can get back to the normal school routine, especially since we are in the middle of taking the Connecticut mastery test."[10][7] Turner explained that the school policy against food sales is a serious policy that has been adopted for good reasons. She said, "When students are allowed to break school rules like this, it does lead to problems. Letting students carry large sums of money around, letting them buy and sell and eat candy in classrooms, disrupting the instructional day and the risks it poses to students with allergies, are truly hazards."[11]

The New Haven Register called the event "Skittlegate", an allusion to Watergate.[12] In the wake of the incident, Sheridan has been a guest on three national talk shows. On Fox News Live, a representative from the Mars company, the makers of Skittles, surprised him by giving him a lifetime supply of Skittles as well as other candy from the company.[13] Sheridan said that he would continue to eat Skittles, but not at school.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Sheridan Middle School", www.sheridanmiddleschool.org. Retrieved on 2008-03-20. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Conn. Student Suspended For Buying Candy In School", WNBC.com, March 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  3. ^ a b Benton, Elizabeth. "Young candy buyer finds penalty unduly bitter", New Haven Register, March 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-20. 
  4. ^ "Honor Student Suspended for Buying Skittles", Drudge Report, March 14, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 
  5. ^ "Conn. 8th-grader suspended for buying Skittles in school, violating district wellness policy", International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, March 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 
  6. ^ a b Associated Press. "Conn. 8th-grader suspended for buying Skittles in school, violating district wellness policy", San Diego Union Tribune, March 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  7. ^ a b c Associated Press. "School backs off Skittles suspension: 8th-grader gets back class office, has record cleared after candy violation", MSNBC.com, March 13, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  8. ^ "Connecticut School Rethinks Suspension for Eighth Grader Caught With Contraband Candy", FoxNews.com, March 13, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 
  9. ^ "CT: Dangerous Skittles criminal pardoned!", Toronto Globe and Mail, March 13, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 
  10. ^ "School clears kids in contraband candy caper", CNN.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  11. ^ a b Muro, Jamie. "Students suspended for Skittles reinstated", WTNH.com, March 12, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  12. ^ Benton, Elizabeth. "School candy furor finds sweet conclusion", New Haven Register, March 13, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 
  13. ^ Benton, Elizabeth. "Student gets star treatment, candy for life", New Haven Register, March 15, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 

[edit] External links