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A UK high school has banned kids from drinking water in class, claiming it distracts from learning.

Teachers at Garstang Community Academy in northwest England complained pupils were wasting time “messing about” with water bottles, reports The Sun.

The students aren’t happy!

One student at the school said, “Research shows that regular consumption of water improves focus and aids studying. “Surely this would be seen as beneficial in a place of education?”

They have protested by scrawling the word “water” on an outside wall and “water is bad” on a nearby pedestrian crossing.

Another said the rule attacks a “basic human right” to consume water.

“The head teacher stated the ban is due to ‘unnecessary distractions’,” they added. “It has caused much more of a distraction with students and teachers discussing their views on the subject rather than teaching and learning.”

Principal Alasdair Ashcroft stood by his decision.

“During last year’s very hot spell our students were allowed to have their bottles of water out in lessons to ensure they were cool and hydrated,” he said.

“This practice continued after the hot weather.

“Unfortunately the presence of drinks on tables is compromising their learning in lessons.

“As a result, students have been asked to keep their water bottles in their bags and to take opportunities between lessons to rehydrate if they need to.”

Surely that is not allowed! What do you think of this decision?

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  • I think it depends on the age of the children. Some children can drink too much and then be wanting to dash to the toilet all the time during class and simply cause disruption.

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  • We weren’t allowed to have drinks in the class when I went to school, not even in high school. I’m pretty sure my kids didn’t have their drink bottles in class. It’s not that long to go without a drink and plenty of opportunity to rehydrate

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  • This is ridiculous, how can you expect children to go so long without drinking. It may see distracting during class but it is going to improve their focus having that constant water.

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  • That’s ridiculous. There are schools that still don’t have air conditioning in classrooms. In QLD in Summer you get temperatures in the 40s- kids need to drink water! What harm is supposed to be doing anyway? Adults are free to access water at work if they’re thirsty. Why shouldn’t children be able to at school?

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  • Crap on. They should be encouraging it not banning it. Drinking water is good for body, mind and soul.

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  • What a lot of rubbish. When we went to school we drank as much as we wanted pre school lessons and at recesses and lunch time. That is all that is required – the idea of 8 cups of water a day is so wrong. If your kidneys fail for whatever reason you will be limited to no more than 1 litre per day – someone somewhere is taking a lend of all of us.

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  • I disagree with this ban and think it is silly. I can see it may cause distraction and they do have them in their bags for in between classes but I think this may limit their concentration level.

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  • I would have thought water would be helpful for concentration, etc. However, I wonder if something has happened to prompt this ban.

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  • I don’t agree with this ban.

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  • Living in Queensland, I was shocked by this heading. Our kids have a fresh full water bottle every day and encouraged by their schools to have them in class. If children are dehydrated, they won’t be functioning well. I gather from the student comments they were older children – it certainly sounds like the school opened a can of worms for themselves.

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  • So I guess too bad if someone is severely dehydrated and needs water sooner rather than later. If it is really such a distraction, why not have the students place their water bottles on a table in the classroom and have designated times that they can go and have a drink. The teacher could choose when it’s appropriate ie: not in the middle of an important discussion. Not allowing them to drink between breaks is too much.

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  • We were never allowed to drink in class. We were however allowed to go for a drink between subjects. We had to leave them in our bags which were just outside our classroom.

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  • When I am thirsty, I drink water, that’s a bit harsh isn’t it.

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  • I can understand this. If they’re drinking too much they’ll need to leave class for the toilet. No reason they can’t get all the water they need in break times.


    • We allow our students to have water bottles on their desks. At the beginning of the school year, many students do try it on, though. The number of kids who constantly suck on their bottles like little babies is astounding, and I’m not just referring to kindergarten or Year 1 kids, either. I give my Year 4 students one warning: suck like a baby and you’ll need to keep your water bottle in your bag. I have a job to do and I’m not going to keep stopping my lessons to remind Brayden to stop sucking his bottle like a bubby. If the weather is particularly hot, I remind my class every half-hour to have a big glug of water. There’s nothing wrong with children having to obey rules and respect people.

    Reply

  • Everyone should be allowed regular access to water.

    Reply

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