8th grader Michael Sheridan was stripped of his position of class vice president, barred from attending an honors student dinner, and suspended from school for a day. His crime wasn't selling drugs, smuggling a weapon, punching someone in the lunchroom, or even cheating on homework. The honor student, who according to his mother had never even gotten detention before, made the cardinal sin of buying a package of Skittles from a classmate.

According to school spokeswoman Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo, the New Haven, Connecticut school system banned candy sales in 2003 as part of a district-wide school wellness policy. The policy states that "no candy or junk food fundraisers will be allowed on school grounds" and that only healthy snacks will be sold in vending machines.

I realize we face an obesity epidemic in this country and I don't like candy vending machines in schools, but I realize treating Skittles or a Snickers bars like illegal drugs just makes them even more desirable to students.

If our school district banned candy fundraisers, there wouldn't be any extra-curriculars. Overpriced chocolates, wrapping paper, and the concession stand sales of candy bars, popcorn, pizza and pop are what fund our activities.