Regional Victoria school, Ballarat Clarendon College, has sparked a vibrant online debate after banning water bottles in classrooms.
The “water trial” has been conducted for years five to nine, which requires students to leave their drink bottles outside the classroom during lessons.
A school spokesperson said that the trial would run during colder months, and that the school would remain ‘open-minded’ about its benefits and impact on students.
Students who have medical conditions and require constant access to water will be exempt from the trial.
Online, the decision to ban drink bottles hasn’t been popular, with teachers and students sharing their suggestions.
Teachers have shared how water bottles can be an inconvenience in the classroom and highly distracting for students.
One teacher said that bottle flipping had become a nuisance in her classroom, as students would often be hit in the head, and Stanley cups that would spill. She added that water bottles belong in school bags and students should have the occasional sip if required, but they should not be on desks.
On the other side of the argument, students believe that drink bottles should be accessible whenever they please. One student said that banning water was jeopardising students' rights and that it was an outrageous decision.
Shaune Moloney, head of Middle School at Ballarat Clarendon College, said no particular incidents sparked the ban, which was designed to minimise distractions and help students develop "self-regulation" skills.
He said that the school felt students needed support managing their use of water bottles in and around the classroom. The school took into account the size of water bottles, noise, constant clunking in class, and the act of carrying a cumbersome bottle around with school books.
Under the ban, students are permitted to bring their drink bottles to active classes such as P.E. and dance classes, but not for sedentary lessons.
Ballarat Clarendon College could implement this ban because the Department of Education has no specific policy on water bottles in classrooms. Its resources did, however, recommend that students be encouraged to drink water often and take their bottles with them always under its heat health policy.
The Department of Education’s policy is only applicable to government schools, not independent schools such as Ballarat Clarendon College.
More news here.
