Staying Hydrated in School Stirs Controversy

Some policies prohibit students from carrying water bottles to class.

At a school in the middle of the Nevada desert, students actually chained themselves to a water fountain in a protest. The reason? A school policy banning water bottles from the classroom.

Schools are learning that such bans can spark strong feelings from students, parents, and health advocates, who are concerned about dehydration and its effect on academic performance.

Many schools prohibit students from bringing liquids, even water in clear plastic bottles, into the classroom for a variety of reasons—from simply preventing spills to keeping alcohol...