Wise and articulate mumsnetters please help with a letter to sch

[Hideehi]

Basically we received a letter home on friday stating that as part of the healthy eating for schools initive they would be doing away with the piece of fruit the children are given at break time and this would be replaced with a piece of toast.
I am I the only one that thinks that is utterly bonkers ?

I asked unoffically would this be cheap nasty white bread with e number filled marg on it and was told yes.
I'm absolutely outranged and wanted to print off a letter for all the mums to sign and hand in to the head that's not confrontional and gets the point accross.
Can anyone help me please ?

What??

I've never heard of anything so utterly idiotic

eh? Can't see their logic. Is it a money thing? Don't blame you with wating to write a letter. Off to ballet now so can't help with the wording but will think about it and post later!

Tell the school you are forwarding the letter to Jamie Oliver for his comments!

They were saying to me via the pta it was a good fund raiser and then in the letter the reason was it was something warm on cold mornings but how can it be warm if it's got to be made in advance for 210 children to eat in a 15 minute break.

Dear Head

We are puzzled by the schools stance on healthy eating. Our children used to be given a piece of fruit during break as part of the healthy eating strategy. A brilliant idea we thought! After all fruit contains vitamin C that helps their immune systems, and it has also been proved that eating fruit regularly lowers the chances of our children developing certain strains of diabetes, protect against cancer and heart disease, decrease bone loss and help prevent obesity. All brilliant stuff!

So imagine therefore our surprise when we received a letter which stated that the fruit would be replaced with toast and margarine - not any old toast though! No! Healthy WHITE bread toast full of chalk, alum, ammonium carbonate and mono-saturate spread with margarine containing hydrogenated fats - a very healthy alternative!

Obviously as parents we want our children to be eating a balanced diet that is good for them, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, that will not only help their immune systems to stay strong but their brains too, so they can do better at school. As the head of this school we are certain that your aims would be the same as ours. Therefore we are sure you would support us as we ask that the 'toast and marg' idea be scrapped and the healthy portions of fruit returned.

We look forward to your sensible decision!

Rhubarb for president!

Fab letter!

'It's a good fund raiser' - so you're actually going to have to pay for this toast? And did you have to pay for the fruit? I know that DD gets a piece of fruit for free at school (although I think there's an age cut-off?).

(sorry - fab letter by Rhubarb, I think too - says it all in a non-confrontational way).

I would lose all the exclamation marks though,they make the letter seem a bit childish IMO, as does the sarcasm. Stick with serious if you wish to make an impression.

ps. if any poor kids who dont have breakfast want toast - give it to them.

Why not dish out sausage rolls instead? A much healthier alternative.

This is the thing i've just reread the letter and more information should be tonight edition and if it's optional to buy this toast or take a piece of fruit or both then great but the impression it gives is that the money currently buying the fruit will be buying the toasters and the bread instead.
Great letter rhubarb thanks.

Wouldn't frying the bread be even better - all the goodness of fat to keep the kids warm through the winter -plus think of the heating savings

toast smoast!

ask them if they have considered the salt content of said toast and marg (more than you would think I'd warrant).

I would have thought fruit is a much better option.

why dont t you just ring htem up

all the time letter writign is LESS tiem teaching your kids imo

bet you the toast is BEFORE schoola dnt he fruit is for break
our shcool chucks a LOT of fruit

I will call tonight once i've read the letter and see what reaction i get but wanted to print off 210 letters tonight for the other outraged parents to sign and hand in on mass tomorrow.
The other parents will be outraged won't they ???

No it's says for break time and i was asked by the pta to volunteer to make this toast.

NOt necc
ime you need ot be VERY careful what battles you choose
imo this isnt the WORST thign in the world
you dotn want to be seen as someoene who O complaines about everythign
a quick chattyc all to the head woul dsave you time and effort

rememmerb mosty of these parents will giev their kids crisps fro lunch every dya of the week!

send a copy of the school's letter to the local paper with a reply of your own asking the public at large if they don't also think it is bonkers.

i bet you that will get ears pricked up at the LEA. idiots for you and i work in a school.

I wouldn't write a letter, I'd go in and speak to them.

This was all the new school secretary's idea and she is as thick as pig shit.
I don't want to be a whinger but equally I'm not putting up with this sort of thing especially as my child hasn't eaten any fruit since she was 2 years old, gets to school sees others eating it and joins in, it was actually one of the things that attracted me to the school in the first place.