Public schools in Trussville, Alabama, have a new rule this year: no metal water bottles in class. Students are allowed to bring in clear plastic bottles only. Some other school districts also ban reusable metal cups like Stanleys and Owalas.
Some school officials think these bans will help kids focus in class. They argue that large metal cups can take up too much desk space. The heavy containers can also cause injuries if dropped or thrown—and falling cups are loud!
“When a water bottle hits the tile floor in another classroom, you can hear it echo through the halls,” says Ellie Kuba. She’s a fourth-grade teacher at Lisbon Elementary School in Lisbon, Iowa.
Still, Kuba and many other teachers don’t think district-wide bans are the answer. She says the bottles with colorful designs let kids express themselves. Plus, reusable metal cups can help reduce plastic waste. Other teachers point out that any bottles can spill and disrupt class, not just metal ones. They say the key is for students to act responsibly with their water bottles, no matter what they’re made of.