Superintendent calls teacher giving 5th graders O’Doul’s “Honest mistake” (Linden, MI)

WXYZ, ABC 7, Detroit ^ | 9:43 AM, Mar 19, 2014 | Kim Craig

[Olog-hai]

While the superintendent of Linden Community Schools is calling it an “honest mistake”, many others are wondering what the veteran teacher could have been thinking when she allowed students in her fifth grade class to try O’Doul’s beer.

While O’Doul’s is advertised an a non-alcoholic beer, the beverage actually contains less than half of a percent (.5%) alcohol.

“That was definitely a bad mistake,’ said Linden resident Susie Lamb. …

[DJ Frisat]

Sorry, not a mistake, any more than Obama’s continuous lies about ‘keeping your healthcare plan’ was “mis-speaking”.

Call it what it is: outright stupidity.

[SandRat]

Should have given them Vernors

[LittleBillyInfidel]

I did the exact same stupid thing when I was a young dumb bartender at a private country club in 1990. However, the vision of all those cute little yamaka wearing bar mitzvah kids holding O’Doul’s in front of their less than amused mothers remains a priceless memory. Sorry.

[Graybeard58]

It contains about the same amount as Pepsi or Coke. Still not good to give kids “toy beer”.

[Dalberg-Acton]

Several years ago, I pulled one out of the cooler at a convenience store, popped the top and took a swig on the way to the counter. The guy got excited and informed me it wasn’t really “non-alcoholic”. Somehow, we managed to survive.

[cripplecreek]

There were better ways of teaching this lesson. Just show them a glass of obviously filthy water to make the point. Giving them non alcoholic beer was just a bad idea.



Michigan legislative action thread

[rawhide]

I think the teacher made an honest mistake. Look at the label, it says it is non-alcoholic.

[FatherofFive]

Should have given them Vernors

That was my favorite when I grew up in Buffalo. I thought they went out out of business years ago.

[PDGearhead]

Is there a zero tolerance policy on this like sandwiches chewed to look like a gun?

[ClearCase_guy]

"Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? I tell you, I gotta plead ignorance on this thing, because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing is frowned upon… You know, ‘cause I’ve worked in a lot of schools, and I tell you, people do that all the time."
-- George Costanza

[SandRat]

They are still going strong and I mine in Arizona where I live, YUMMMMMMM!!!!!

[latina4dubya]

i think it was a mistake in that the teacher did not realize it was an alcoholic beverage... i like that the class learned that the colonists, even the children, drank beer because of the bad water... i like teaching that involves all the senses (especially during the grammar years)...

how was the kid able to bring O'Douls to school? i wonder if his parents let him partake at home? or if they even knew he took it to school... (i am assuming they did not know)...

[SampleMan]

While O’Doul’s is advertised an a non-alcoholic beer, the beverage actually contains less than half of a percent (.5%) alcohol.

.5% is less that a ripe fruit. Not saying it was a great idea, but its not like drinking a beer.

I'm just surprised that the kids weren't forced to do navel shooters, after the weekly disbursement of condoms.

[liberalh8ter]

I have a nagging suspiscin the outcome and attitude would be different if instead of O’Douls, it was Bibles.

[latina4dubya]

"Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?

haha! i cannot remember, did that work for George? in any case, thanks for the reminder... i may use that defense some time...

[Rodamala]

[Gabz]

Cooking wine has far more alcohol in it than an O’Doul’s but is perfectly legal for a kid to buy (and use mommy’s food stamp card) - not that I would recommend anyone drink the stuff, but just saying.

And with that said, it was a stupid thing to do, but I have to agree it was an “honest mistake.”

[onedoug]

What business does a teacher have giving kids any kind of beer...or anything to eat or drink?, unless there is an authorized, supervised school function of some sort. And even then I wouldn’t do it.

[ClearCase_guy]

I’m afraid George was fired over that incident with the cleaning lady. His feigned ignorance was unsuccessful.