BY CARSTEN SAVAGE (’17)

For the past few years, the district has striven to make it clear that healthy-eating is its new priority. Teachers refrain from bringing in food, and students are discouraged from “swapping” food with classmates. As the nation becomes increasingly obese, the importance of healthy-eating cannot be understated. Unfortunately, however, the schools’ excessively-strict policies have negative consequences that make the school environment uncomfortable and self-centered.

Today’s students are finding that the modern school atmosphere is too formal. Classmates used to enjoy days when parents and teachers brought in delicious food that everyone could share, bonding students with other students and their teachers. The newest school rules forbid this. Now, food can only be shared during “Food Day” in foreign language classes, where participants actually get graded for bringing in food. Children discover that they can get good grades for making classmates happy; there is no reason to bring food in just to “make friends” and create joy without the promise of an A. While children should be aware of the selfish and greedy people out in the world, there is no reason to prematurely make their world harsh and selfish; it still has the potential to be a positive place where sharing and bonding flourish instead of selfish quests for grades. Thus, schools need to celebrate sharing at every opportunity.

Valentine’s Day is one of these essential opportunities. When students trade candy with other students, they learn that the satisfaction that comes with selfless sharing is a reward in itself. Students discover that it is fun to make others happy, so they will be encouraged to share at home; nothing is better than giving a gift and seeing a face light up during Christmas, birthdays and Easter. Valentine’s Day teaches the lessons that children will use as a foundation to build off of, making them increasingly charitable and selfless ever after. Thus, Valentine’s Day is an essentiality for character-building, and one that each school- even high school- should celebrate with enthusiasm.

School is more stressful and intensive than ever. To make it both more relaxed and educational, then, the district should make sure to allow its students to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Comfort around teachers and other students allows learning to prosper, and developing the craving to share without thought of personal gain is one of the most important building-blocks that creates a strong citizens. Valentine’s Day is both educational and delicious; no educational lesson could be sweeter.