Middle school principal called a Grinch for taking pizzas before holiday break

Lee Rood | Des Moines Register

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa school principal apologized after coming under attack Thursday on social media from parents and others for taking pizzas away from a classroom of kids being rewarded by their teacher before the holiday break.

Parent Neil Erickson, whose son was in the class, posted about the incident Thursday afternoon. He wrote that his son had been excited for days about the pizza lunch with his teacher, but that Brody Middle School Principal Thomas Hoffman took the food away.

“The teacher was left in tears,” Erickson wrote. “I just can’t believe it!”

The post triggered thousands of angry responses and was shared by others, who accused Hoffman of being a Grinch.

Hoffman wrote a note to parents late Thursday afternoon, apologizing and saying that he removed the pizzas in an attempt to be fair to all students at the school.

“That applies to everything from the chances they have to learn in the classroom to rewards and recognitions by our teachers and staff. We have discussed this from time to time as a school,” he wrote. “… However, I do want to apologize for being overly strict in applying that standard today when it came to one of our classrooms. Most of all, I want to apologize for disappointing any of our students and punishing them.

“I understand that many people have been talking about having pizzas delivered to Brody tomorrow. If that’s the case, we’ll gladly welcome any donations, and arrange for a nice sendoff for our 700 students on the last day before winter break.”

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