A MUM has sparked a heated debate after she shared her frustration after discovering her child’s new lunch box was marked with a permanent marker by their teacher.
The single mum took to social media to explain that she had bought a few different lunch boxes to see which one her child preferred, and she planned to sell the others later.
A mum was horrified when she discovered a teacher had written her son’s name on his lunchbox
But when her son returned home from school one day, she was horrified to see the teacher had written his name on the canvas lunch bag in black marker.
“How can I get this out?” she asked.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep it or not. I wanted to try a couple of different kinds of lunch boxes to see what my kiddo liked best, and I also sell things when we’re done using them. Very unappreciative. Please help a mama out.”
The post quickly flooded with comments, some supporting the mother and others defending the teacher’s actions.
One fellow teacher pointed out that the teacher did the right thing because lunch boxes usually need to be labelled.
“If you don’t label it, which I know they requested, we’re writing the name on it,” they explained.
“Between allergens and not wanting to mix up kids’ food, especially if he wasn’t the only one with that lunch box, you’re in the wrong.”
A second added: “Imagine one teacher trying to keep track of 25-32 children’s personal items. Could you personally remember who every single lunch box belongs to?”
And a third said that “teachers can never win these days”.
However, some supported the mum, saying it’s never okay to write on someone else’s property without permission.
“This is so annoying. You would expect a teacher to have more common sense,” one person said.
“Sorry, but how do you think it’s okay to permanently mark someone else’s property?” another asked.
Meanwhile, many suggested there were better alternatives.
“My child’s teacher makes tags – so many ways to do it. Creative thinking clearly isn’t their strong suit,” one user commented.
Easy lunch box ideas that aren't sarnies
Here are some kid-friendly, easy lunch box ideas that aren’t sandwiches:
Pizza Roll-Ups
Ingredients: Tortilla wraps, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices.
Instructions: Spread marinara sauce on the tortilla, sprinkle cheese and add pepperoni. Roll up and slice into pinwheels.
Pasta Salad
Ingredients: Cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mini mozzarella balls, Italian dressing.
Instructions: Mix all ingredients together and toss with dressing.
Veggie and Hummus Wraps
Ingredients: Tortilla wraps, hummus, shredded carrots, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips.
Instructions: Spread hummus on the tortilla and add veggies. Roll up and slice into pinwheels.
Turkey and Cheese Roll-Ups
Ingredients: Sliced turkey, cheese sticks, whole grain crackers.
Instructions: Roll turkey slices around cheese sticks and pack with a side of crackers.
DIY Lunchables
Ingredients: Whole grain crackers, sliced cheese, turkey or ham slices, apple slices.
Instructions: Pack all ingredients separately so kids can assemble their own mini sandwiches.
Mini Pancakes and Fruit
Ingredients: Mini pancakes, mixed berries, syrup (optional).
Instructions: Pack mini pancakes with a side of berries and a small container of syrup for dipping.
Cucumber Sushi Rolls
Ingredients: Cucumber, cream cheese, sliced turkey or ham.
Instructions: Slice cucumber lengthwise, spread with cream cheese, and roll up with turkey or ham. Slice into bite-sized pieces.
Fruit Kababs
Ingredients: Various fruits (grapes, strawberries, pineapple, melon), cheese cubes.
Instructions: Thread fruit and cheese cubes onto skewers.
Cheese and Veggie Muffins
Ingredients: Shredded zucchini, shredded carrot, shredded cheese, eggs, flour.
Instructions: Mix all ingredients together, pour into a muffin tin, and bake until set.
And a daycare worker said they would personally have used masking tape if it were necessary to label things.
“I’d never just write their name on their stuff knowing it can’t come off. As a parent, I’d be mad too,” they said.
Others pointed out that if the mum was so upset by this, she might need the money from reselling the lunch boxes quite badly.
But some argued that if she was so strapped for cash, she wouldn’t be buying multiple lunch boxes in the first place.
“It’s not the end of the world. If you can afford multiple lunch boxes, you can afford to gift this one if you decide not to keep it,” someone wrote.
This story was originally published on News.com.au and has been republished here with permission
