POLL: Policy at Catholic High in Little Rock raises social media stir

A policy at a Little Rock high school -- Mamas, don't drop off lunches for your babies -- has ignited a vigorous social media debate.

"Surprised isn't the word," Steve Straessle, principal at Catholic High School for Boys, said Friday.

"Baffled is a good word. But we believe that most of it has been a healthy conversation, and we're glad to be part of that."

A sign at the school's entrance explains: "If you are dropping off your son's forgotten lunch, books, homework, equipment, etc., please TURN AROUND and exit the building. Your son will learn to problem-solve in your absence."

Straessle said teacher Steve Aday, who runs the school's Facebook page "and has a good idea of what makes us unique," posted a photo of the sign.

"Next thing I know, he tells me we're at 10,000 views, 20,000 views," Straessle said.

Some social media comments were critical.

"It will teach the school a valuable lesson when next year fewer students will have enrolled there," read one comment. "Very compassionate of the school. I'm sure their messiah, 'Jesus,' would totally approve."

"Just wait until you get sued by some kid's family because their diabetic kid died after going without food by accident that you turned into on purpose!" read another.

A student has yet to starve, Straessle said.

"The most controversial part, I have gleaned, is the food. No one is going hungry. They can borrow money for lunch at the office, or get credit at the cafeteria. It's not as dire as people have seen it."

Pamela Smith, spokesman for the Little Rock School District, said the district allows parents to drop off their kids' things at school offices.

Brandon Smith of Maumelle supports the Catholic High policy. He and his wife, Lisa, have a sophomore, Zachary, there.

"If you read the email sent out from Straessle about soft failures, it's about allowing your children to overcome their soft failures, which aren't life-threatening or major. They can figure it out on their own."

"As parents we try to take care of too many problems our kids have, instead of allowing them to take care of those problems themselves," Smith said.

"We don't want our kids to fail, but we have to allow them some failures."

Zachary "forgets stuff, but he works around it. Maybe he got a reduced grade because he forgot his homework, and learned a lesson. Zachary has grown up quite a bit since he's been there. He's becoming responsible for himself."

Straessle said soft failures are "when boys come up short without permanent disfigurement of their well-being."

"Allowing boys to work through their soft failures helps them build a bank of experiences that will be so valuable in their adult life. Soft failures have never ruined a life. The absence of soft failures has devastated many a life."

Adam Ellis of Maumelle and his wife, Katherine, have a son at Catholic High. Gabe Ellis is a sophomore.

"Complaining is about all social media is good for," Adam Ellis said. "I agree with [the policy] 100 percent. These boys are trying to become men and need to solve their problems. Maybe if they got off Facebook, they wouldn't forget their lunch or their homework."

As for Gabe: "I would say unfortunately for Gabe he lives in a household that follows those rules every day."

The policy has been in place at least since 1972, Straessle said, adding that he hasn't had a single complaint from a parent.

"We would not advocate this policy in an elementary or middle school," Straessle said. "There are high schools where it would not work, but it works here because it's intrinsic to our mission."

Jennifer Waters and her husband, John, of North Little Rock have a son, Reed, in his sophomore year at the school.

"I back it 110 percent," Jennifer Waters said. "The school's motto is they turn your boys into men, and there's no other way to do that except to learn from their own mistakes. My son plays football. If he ever forgets his equipment, he would suffer the consequences from the coach, but he'd never forget it again."

Waters has read some of the social media comments. People from out of state don't know the school, she said.

"It's not that they don't want moms in the school. They don't want their moms hovering over their sons."

Reed forgot his lunch one day last year.

"He sent me a text and said, 'Don't, don't bring it to me.'"

Metro on 08/21/2016