Private school bans parents bringing forgotten lunches

A private catholic school in the US is facing a social media storm after it issued a ban on parents bringing forgotten lunches in for their children.

Catholic High School for Boys, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, shared a photo of its own door sign on August 10 to Facebook, which reads: 'If you are dropping off your son's forgotten lunch, books, homework, equipment etc., please TURN AROUND and exit the building. Your son will learn to problem-solve in your absence.'

The post has since gained more than 70,000 'likes' and more than 3,600 comments with some applauding the school - which educates boys aged between 14 and 18 - for teaching students 'autonomy' and others accusing the $4,400-a-year school of 'starving' them.

The school's principal Steve Straessle told FEMAIL: 'We have had zero complaints from Catholic High parents because they know, on campus, their sons have every tool necessary to solve the problems listed on the sign.

'The policy is still in place. The sign is still in place.'

And one student, Patrick Wingfield, tod Arkansas Matters: 'It makes me think for myself and not rely on other people to do things for me. And if I make a mistake, I need to learn from it and try to fix it.'

But the new rule has social media divided.

One woman, Dani Leppo, commented: 'Because starving your children is a great way to enhance their educational development. Jesus would definitely tell your hungry child to "problem solve" his way out of it. Hypocrites.'

And a teacher, Fred Simpkins, concurred, stating: 'I totally disagree with this [...] I'd be pretty upset if I was paying a lot of money for my child to have a private school education and wasn't allowed to bring him/her something he/she forgot. I'm a teacher and guess what folks? I FORGET THINGS TOO!'

Others, however, took the opposite stance.

Tom Massmann wrote: 'Teach your high school kid a little self-sufficiency. Can't believe people are actually upset about this sign.'

And Joani Matthews remarked: 'OMG this says it is a Catholic High School for boys not an elementary school, not first grade, this is a high school for boys.

'I agree if they do not have their act together by now the parents need to turn around walk away and let their child suffer the consequence or they will never grow up to be young men.'

Caren Caruthers Crossland added: 'Your child will not die if they forget their lunch and you are not a bad parent by letting them figure it out on their own. Society will thank you one day when your son is a productive citizen because you didn't do everything for him.'

Another, Linda Lemanski, kicked it up a notch by saying: 'Don't know you but when he forgets his condem [sic] and gives you a grand baby in high school you may regret teaching him for not being responsible.'

But mother Trudy Berryman hit back with the comment: 'Nope. I teach my kids plenty and by dropping something off to them, I'm teaching them "mum's got my back" I'll take care of turning my child into a responsible adult, school can teach them how to problem solve maths sums.'

The fact that the school in question is private and not public was seized upon by several Facebook users.

Anthony Mead wrote: 'Send them to public school if you really want them to learn problem solving and real world skills and not be coddled.'

In one of the most highly rated comments, Quinn Gasaway stated: 'Many of you seem to think that a private school should be run like a public school. Private schools have a degree of autonomy to them.

'Public schools do not. Ergo, if you want to dictate how a school conducts its own business, stay away from private schools. Or else open your own high school where nap time is part of the curriculum and grades are smiley faces or frowny faces.'
Catholic High School charges $4,400 per year in tuition fees for Catholics and $5,400 per year for boys of other faith traditions. Registration, class and book fees range from $300 to $600 each year.

In 1999, former president Bill described its principal, Fr George Tribou, as 'the best educator in my home state, if not the whole country.'

Its students performed well above the national average in its SAT scores last year; 24.9 versus the country's average of 20.

According to its website: 'Catholic High School is a college-preparatory high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, founded in 1930 that strives to challenge boys academically while also teaching the truths of manhood - faith, integrity, and, as Father Tribou often stressed, duty. '

As part of the uniform, the boys wear gold rings on their right index fingers which bear a tribute to the Virgin Mary and the phrase 'Mary conceived without sin'.

FEMAIL has contacted Catholic High School For Boys for comment.