In spite of this danger, I asked if I could go undercover to investigate what Fox News reported as “a growing crisis in schools across the country — and we’re pretty sure that country is somewhere in the U.S.”
What I’m talking about, of course, is the growing crisis of “Flamin’ Hot Cheetos” addiction.
According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, a teacher in New Mexico wants to ban Flamin’ Hot Cheetos from school due to the snack’s complete lack of nutritional value and its addictive nature.
“But Twinkies are fine,” she added.
As a result, other school districts in New Mexico, as well as California, have initiated their own bans on the snack, in some cases confiscating any Cheetos found on students and consuming them on the spot.
“It’s for their own good,” said a teacher who conducts locker checks with the help of her dog Chester, a 30-pound Cheeto-sniffing Chahuahua. “Back when he could walk, Chester couldn’t sneak up on kids because of his nails and heavy panting. Now he has a Hoveround; problem solved.”
My editor, recognizing the risks involved with my being emersed in the underworld of middle school Cheeto addicts for an entire day, expressed her concern with a supportive shoulder squeeze.
“Better make it a month,” she said. “In another state.”
“But I …”
“Fine, a week in town. Now get out.”
With my editor’s support, I began my investigation. This meant creating a disguise to avoid suspicion, which I did by wearing glasses, a bow tie and sweater vest. As I discovered, this allowed me to blend seamlessly with any school administrator who has been transported through time from 1950.
After just a few days of following orange Cheeto smears, “rapping” with kids and “keeping it real,” I gained their trust. So much so that I was given a special nickname:
Mr. Narc.
Ironically, it was my rapidly growing “street cred” that brought me to the attention of school administrators, who began to question my validity after checking the visitor sign-in sheet and discovering no one named Mr. Narc.
This effectively ended my investigation, which had been leading me toward the teachers lounge where, according to my informants, staff members secretly keep a giant flat screen TV, an ice cream bar, video games, have private concerts from One Direction, travel through hidden tunnels to their classrooms, and enjoy an endless supply of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
I can’t prove any of this, of course. Any more than my editor can prove I stole her candy.
…Unless she’s reading this.
I wonder what schools are like in Idaho?
Ned's Blog 
You do not want to know what schools are like in Idaho. Trust me on this.
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Your description of teachers confiscating Cheetos and consuming them on the spot reminded me of a scene in the movie Ten Things I Hate About You, when the teacher in charge of detention confiscates a student’s little green leafy stash…
And then immediately confiscates another student’s Cheetos.
I heard that was a funny movie; I need to check it out. Our detention teacher always brought snacks and ate them in front of us. Usually something crunchy, like chips, that he could eat one at a time and make a lot of noise.
If that’s a teachers lounge, sign me up 😉
Yeah — Our reporter’s lounge is a real disappointment after seeing that 🙂 Although I am thankful for the vending machine and folding chair.