Kentucky schools enforce ban on popular water bottles over safety concerns
A Kentucky school district has instructed parents not to send their children in with what they've described as 'emotional support water bottles'.
According to Spectrum News 1, Hardin County Schools - a group of facilities attended by almost 15,000 students - issued the controversial ban over the weekend ahead of the new school year.
The decision, which was reportedly spurred by safety concerns, has angered both children and parents alike.
Popular water bottle brands like Stanley, Owala and Brumate, as well as metal containers supplied by other manufacturers, will no longer be permitted during school hours after staff reported seeing them used in ways besides hydration.
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"We noticed an increasing number of students choosing to use those as a weapon on other students,” public relations director for the school district, John Wright, told The Post. "And so, what’s the best way to decrease that or to stop that?
"The best way is to not have them in our buildings anymore."
A spokesperson for the district also reported a stark increase in water bottle related issued since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with several students allegedly suffering serious injuries like concussions after being struck.
Admitting the decision had been made at the last minute, with a new semester set to begin on 6 August, Wright acknowledged the ban 'should have' been announced by the district sooner.
He claimed, however, that the issue had only recently been raised by school administrators.
"We apologise for the short notice and any inconvenience this change may cause families," Wright claimed. "Safety remains our highest priority, and we appreciate cooperation in keeping our schools and buses safe for all students and staff.
"And so we just made the decision, our leadership made the decision to only use plastic water bottles for this school year."
The news was shared on the school district's Facebook page, where it was simultaneously announced that only plastic bottles would be permitted on the grounds of educational facilities during school hours.
Despite insisting metal bottles would be permitted during after-school activities like sports games and clubs, it didn't take long for the announcement to rub hundreds of mums and dads up the wrong way.
Amongst them was James Paulk, whose 13-year-old son attends one of the schools in the district.
He told The Post: "I do understand it. However, I think we’re getting away from the reasoning behind it anyway, right? In that time, everybody having a water bottle was perfect. You should.
"But things have changed, right?"
He continued: "We’re no longer in that COVID era per se. So, everybody having a water bottle probably isn’t the right play anymore."
As the policy is new, district officials said that there will be a grace period for students before it is strictly enforced.
The school district said that the ban only applies during school hours, so students may use a metal water bottle during after-school activities like sports and clubs.
Rhianna Benson