Political & Elections

pima · Guru

RE: Peanut allergy

blankmind · Senior Member

I wonder what happens when this child ventures out into the world away from home & school? If they go to church, do all the fellow churchgoers have to wash their hands and rinse their mouths out before entering? When she goes shopping do all the stores have to disinfect their staff before she comes in? It's very scary for her mom to worry about this allergy I'm sure, but the whole world can't change to fit her needs.

-- Edited by blankmind on Friday 25th of March 2011 11:49:25 AM

pima · Guru

Here's my issue, as she goes through the school system schools become bigger and bigger. In our middle school, kids have different electives with different students, so now it is no longer contained. Get to hs and you are looking at hundreds of kids washing their hands and wiping mouths. What about teachers, do the pe, art, health, music, etc also need to follow these rules.

I am sorry and feel for these parents, but I think this is an issue where the parents need to address the child's academic future. She may only be in 1st grade now, but as any parent knows with grown children, you blink your eye and they are in middle school, blink again and they are in hs., blink again and they graduated from college.

It is time for them to start addressing the fact that their child has a medical handicap.

I saw the interview on Today Show with a parent opposing the school's policy.

The parent made a strong argument of why they are opposing this. It takes time away from education. I have taught in elementary schools, trust me getting 20-25 kids to wash their hands twice a day would take 30 minutes (15 minutes each time). It is like herding cats taking them to the bathroom, and than getting them back down in their seats to settle down takes more time.

The supporters made a strong point by saying this is a time to teach compassion and citizenship. I agree there too, HOWEVER, my mind immediately went to this child is not being teased or bullied, and her parents also need to learn a lesson in life too...sometimes the good for one does not outweigh the good for all.

I am left with wondering where will this end for her parents re:school system.

romanigypsyeyes · Guru

I wonder who made the request for this very extreme hygiene- the parents or the school. This poor girl is caught in the middle either way. It sounds like the school is just trying to cover their ass from every possible angle.

And as much as I agree it's bull- does it REALLY deserve a protest? Kids are mean enough as it is- do they really need grown ups telling kids that they don't belong in that school?

As I said, I just feel so bad for this poor girl.

CelticClan07 · Senior Member

My niece is 911 allergic to all nuts, wheat, dogs, cats, soy, etc.....When she was 4, their church's Lenten Friday Fish Fry had cooked the fish in walnut oil <to this day my sister still carries guilt for not asking how the fish was cooked!> & they did have to call 911, she ended up in the ER & in PICU for 2 days. Anyway, no my sister and BIL have never asked anyone to alter their lives because of their daughter's allergy. And I would be very angry if my child was in school with the kid in FL. My niece has been taught from a very young age what she can/can't eat, ask how something is prepared and she takes her own food and treats with her to parties, sleepovers, outings, etc..... I'm certain my niece would fall under ADA category as well, however it's nothing they ever asked to be accommodated for. I admire my sister and BIL tremendously for how they have managed my niece's life-threatening asthma/allergies. They have made it about them/her, not everyone around her.

SamuraiLandshark · Guru

My son was in a class in elementary school who had a profound allergy to peanuts, which I would consider as bad as the one described by this news article. Mom came in and educated the kids and the teacher on what to do to help him. He carried an epi-pen and avoided eating lunch with the other kids.

The kids didn't bring in treats with peanuts and were very careful and watchful of this young man. Everyone knew the signs of what to look out for. He went on field trips, attended class parties and basically had a relatively normal childhood, considering the horrible allergy he had.

And all without hysteria.

Not once did he have to use his epi-pen or have the paramedics respond. He attended that school for five years, never once having a significant issue. Meanwhile, kids were still eating their PB & J's and granola bars and cookies with peanuts. Hygiene is important - but this article points to excessive measures that I am not sure if they are helpful or not. Exposure to constant anti-bacterials isn't going to help these kiddoes from the nasty antibiotic resistance that may come as they get older.

Here is the article:

Peanut allergy stirs controversy at Florida school

By Barbara Liston – Tue Mar 22, 5:34 pm ET

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – Some public school parents in Edgewater, Florida, want a first-grade girl with life-threatening peanut allergies removed from the classroom and home-schooled, rather than deal with special rules to protect her health, a school official said.

"That was one of the suggestions that kept coming forward from parents, to have her home-schooled. But we're required by federal law to provide accommodations. That's just not even an option for us," said Nancy Wait, spokeswoman for the Volusia County School District.

Wait said the 6-year-old's peanut allergy is so severe it is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To protect the girl, students in her class at Edgewater Elementary School are required to wash their hands before entering the classroom in the morning and after lunch, and rinse out their mouths, Wait said, and a peanut-sniffing dog checked out the school during last week's spring break.

Wait said school leaders will meet this week with parents to address concerns and try to halt inaccurate rumors that children's mouths were being wiped with disinfectant.

Chris Burr, a father of two older students at the school whose wife has protested at the campus, said a lot of small accommodations have added up to frustration for many parents.

"If I had a daughter who had a problem, I would not ask everyone else to change their lives to fit my life," said Burr.

Attempts to teach the girl's parents for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.