WDYT?

tfarabians · March 2011

I'm curious to know what you guys think of this ordeal going on in FL where the parents are in disagreements over a child's peanut allergies and that other parents say it disrupts the classroom. Thoughts?

https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42243868

As a mom of a kids with peanut allergies I wonder if it just wouldn't be easier to make the school a peanut free school and then they wouldn't have to take all this extra time?

ohyeahdollface · March 2011

I think if my kid had that severe of an allergy, I would be scared to death to let them out of my sight!

But, I think what the school is doing is fair. They are making all possible efforts to keep the child safe. The other parents just need to get off their high horses and calm down. Whats 30-min a day, when it can save the life of a child?

Mama_v2.0 · March 2011

If my child's allergy was so bad that they could die in a matter of seconds from peanut residue I would home school or request an aide (since it is a "disability") for my student to always stay within X feet with an epi pen.

As a considerate human and former teacher, I would never ask a whole school to go peanut free or to go more out of their way than they normally would.

I think more important is the child's perspective. If she doesn't yet, in 5 years she may grow to hate her parents for singling her out so much and making her so dreaded among her peers, their parents, as well as her teachers and school staff.

Seattle_JiLLn · March 2011

My cousins DD is this allergic (supposedly. My cousin is a freak and I've actually always wondered if it really is this bad or if she's just a control freak). Her daughter is nine and this is how her schools have done it too. And she ice skates and does gymnastics and they do it there too. She eats at her own lunch table. She doesn't seen to resent her parents for it. Why would she? They are keeping her alive. Would you rather be less singled out and dead? And these other parents IMO as asses. What is their plan? Their kids should not have to wash their hands just because of a little inconvenience? They'd rather see another kid hurt? I can guarantee if it were their kid they'd have a different answer. And homesvhooling is not an option for all families. Talk about being singled out. I would rather my kid get to do as much normal stuff as possible not be holed up in the house afraid of the world.

IdahoGirl · March 2011

I have so many thoughts on this one!

Also being a mom of a peanut allergy kid, I wonder why it's such a big deal to just make the school a peanut free zone? Peanut butter isn't something they eat in Europe and those kids are doing just fine

On the other hand, I understand one person's medical issue affecting so many people - is it the state's responsibility to meet the needs of one at the detriment of the group.

I do know that if this happened to my DH and I, it would be crippling. I would be terrified to leave him anywhere I wasn't with him until he was old enough to know how to use his epi pen properly. I could probably homeschool well, but could we afford it?!?! And does the state help us in that financial quandry? Should it? There are so many questions there that I lean one way or the other.

And - I just figured out my Thankful Thursday post. I'm thankful that it doesn't seem my child is THAT allergic to peanuts. Of course, he hasn't eaten them directly, but since he was around peanut butter on a regular basis and I kissed his little head often after eating peanutbutter and he didn't go into system failure, I'm hoping it doesn't get that bad.

gina000 · March 2011

That is very selfish of the parents to complain about the extra precautions that have been put into place. What if it was their child, most likely they would feel differently It sounds like an inconvenience for all that are involved but life is full of inconveniences and teaching children compassion is an important lesson.

My uncle told me he was a flight a while back and they announed somebody had a peanut allergy and peanuts would not be served and to refrain from eating anything with peanuts during the flight. He was bummed as he was starving and had a bag a peanuts M & M's in his bag he was planning to eat.

IdahoGirl · March 2011

I just had another thought....I bet all this handwashing helps with their outbreak of other illnesses like colds and the flu. Everyone benefits from that!

cmcmillan · March 2011

My Mom had a student many years ago with a severe nut allergy. They did the samethings; parents supplied handwipes and each person who came in the room had to wipe down their hands, and everyone was asked to not eat pb/nuts before coming to school. The parents supplied a special snack for him for days when b.days/holidays were celebrated to make sure he felt special but not to chance a baked good.

TwinMommy09 · March 2011

Wow - very scary. I would want a school to do everything they can but it seems like they are handling it a bit strangly. I would rather have no peanuts allowed (like at our daycare). It could be frightening to kids if teachers are really saying:

?They?ve got teachers telling these kids, ?Don?t go near them, or you?ll kill her,??

At the end of the day I feel that if the situation were reversed these parents could more easily see the other perspective - we all want our kids safe and allergies are no joke. I am seriously thankful we have none in our house yet. I'm glad to see that the district is taking it seriously.

Brynnie2010 · March 2011

Those flippin' parents need to get a grip. Their children should be washing their hands anyway. It's 30 minutes. If their parents are so concerned about them losing out on "learning time" then maybe they should discuss having the kids cut their recess 10 minutes short after lunch and they can start the process then.

And I agree with a PP, homeschooling isn't an option for everyone. And why should she be forced to be "alienated" and not allowed to attend public school and get that social interaction and the benefit of being taught by a qualified educator?

I also agree that if it were their child with a severe allergy, they would be singing a different tune. But they seem to take for granted their own child's health and cannot sympathize what it's like for that little girl and her family (and how many others?) who have to take precautions EVERY DAY just to live a normal life.

Zista · March 2011

We've had no other allergies, so I'm guessing we won't have a peanut allergy (knock on wood).

And I say, really? Really? Reducing exposure to nuts is that big a deal to your child's education that you'll place another child at risk for it? Really?

I get the extra time being an issue, but like PPs say, their kids should wash their hands anyways.

McJen715 · March 2011

As the other gals have said, I don't get why this is such a big deal to the other parents. If it were their child I'm sure they would want the same thing for their own child. I honestly think that having the kids wash their hands after lunch is a benefit to all. As IG said, it will help with the spread of germs.

I agree that the idea of making the school peanut free would be easier, but rally I couldn't imagine it is that much extra time to just wash their hands. Like pp have said, cut their recesses a little shorter to plan time to wash up so it doesn't cut into the learning time their parents are so worried over.

mrssmith717 · March 2011

I think the final line is, literally, the bottom line:

"The district said the severe allergy falls under the Disabilities Act and that by law, it has to accommodate the student."

The student's health and safety is absolutely a priority. As a nation, we guarantee public education to ALL. The school district cannot say: "Well, you should homeschool."

I'm sure all adults that work with the student are thoroughly trained in epi pen use and there is always one seconds away from her.

It's so sad that this little girl has to deal with this allergy, and now the immature reactions of adults and all that media attention.

KNemo · March 2011

mrs_smith717:

I think the final line is, literally, the bottom line:

"The district said the severe allergy falls under the Disabilities Act and that by law, it has to accommodate the student."

The student's health and safety is absolutely a priority. As a nation, we guarantee public education to ALL. The school district cannot say: "Well, you should homeschool."

I'm sure all adults that work with the student are thoroughly trained in epi pen use and there is always one seconds away from her.

It's so sad that this little girl has to deal with this allergy, and now the immature reactions of adults and all that media attention.

All of this. Exactly. Nuff said.

In one year, I had a kid with severe nut allergies and one kid with severe Celiacs disease. Both had dietary restrictions, both had emergency medication in my desk. It isn't that hard to comply and accommodate these children, and like M said, it is against the law to not accommodate these children!

doublem · March 2011

KNemo:
mrs_smith717:

I think the final line is, literally, the bottom line:

"The district said the severe allergy falls under the Disabilities Act and that by law, it has to accommodate the student."

The student's health and safety is absolutely a priority. As a nation, we guarantee public education to ALL. The school district cannot say: "Well, you should homeschool."

I'm sure all adults that work with the student are thoroughly trained in epi pen use and there is always one seconds away from her.

It's so sad that this little girl has to deal with this allergy, and now the immature reactions of adults and all that media attention.

All of this. Exactly. Nuff said.

In one year, I had a kid with severe nut allergies and one kid with severe Celiacs disease. Both had dietary restrictions, both had emergency medication in my desk. It isn't that hard to comply and accommodate these children, and like M said, it is against the law to not accommodate these children!

I have two nut-allergy kids in my class this year, and epi-pens for both. We were nut-free for a while, but there is only so much you can do as a school/teacher, because if you don't normally check labels, it's shocking how many non-nut foods have nut oils in them or are manufactured with nuts. I can't tell you how many times I've had to tell a kid that his/her granola bar has nuts in it and wasn't safe to eat at a nut-free table.

Still, it's not that hard to be careful and help out kids/families with nut allergies. We do all the same things as the school in the article does, and it does NOT take 30 minutes out of the day - maybe 10, and kids should be washing their germy mitts that often anyway.

LifesPeachy · March 2011

tfarabians:
I'm curious to know what you guys think of this ordeal going on in FL where the parents are in disagreements over a child's peanut allergies and that other parents say it disrupts the classroom. Thoughts?

https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42243868

As a mom of a kids with peanut allergies I wonder if it just wouldn't be easier to make the school a peanut free school and then they wouldn't have to take all this extra time?

Agreed- but can you trust parents? I wouldn't. As a school nurse I agree this is best/easiest. If I had a severe peanut allergy kid in my school, I'd still set up the same or similar guidelines as if the school wasn't a peanut free zone. Many times kids pack their own lunches, a relative packs it, or the parents forget/don't care. Also education is so important too- not in a discriminatory way either!

My daughter ONLY eats pb&j at lunch, so I'd hate it if that happened at her school- but I'd deal.

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