peanut allergies in schools

[melissa41927]

my dd school banned peanuts/ peanut products 3 years ago. she was in kindergarten with a kid with a peanut allergy. the school also stopped any home baked products. her class didn't get to go outside to play on the playground if that one kid was attending that day because the playground had hickory nuts trees. so my dd didn't get to go outside to play just about the entire kindergarten year. they finally cut the nut trees down just for that one kid.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

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Hello neighbor!

Hey was that NSM?

 

[PineappleMama]

Maybe should mention that my little brother was allergic to EVERYTHING... PB to green beans and everything in between. Hard to watch a five year old get a shot every week, all year long, just so he can breathe at home and at school, but that was the case. Eventually he was old enough to poke himself, and as an adult he's outgrown the severity, if not all the allergies themselves.

His school did NOT ban anything. He was totally excused to go to his doc every single week, never counted against him in any way. The staff knew what he was allergic to and didn't offer it to him. But mostly HE knew what he could and could not have. He was educated by his mom and doctor. He was medicated. And he did fine.

So when I hear folks talking about their child being SO allergic.... well there ARE things YOU can do to protect yourself/your child that in no way effects someone else. Did anyone see anywhere where it said whether these parents bother with allergy meds? Is this kid SO unique that no drug (pill or injected) will lower their risk? Or are these folks dead set against meds... there are those that won't medicate or vaccinate for anything... ? What are the PARENTS doing to ensure their child's safety? Anything?

As to kids being cruel and purposely putting a peanut in their path... well, never happened to my Bro but then again all his 'weaknesses' weren't drilled into bullies heads either.

As to banning... it's not going to work. Even if every single parent in the entire school banned peanuts and peanut products and anything processed in the same plant as a peanut product from their home (throw away a LOT of food and totally change their entire HOME diets), their child could still get the cooties on them en route to school, on the bus, on the sidewalk. So could any teacher or other staff member. So could any delivery person. Rinsing mouth and washing hands is all well and good, if touching was the only way it could hurt the kiddo. But a particle being airborne means that a tiny smudge on someone's shirt, pants or shoe would be enough to kill. And since you cannot sterilize every person, from hair to toenails, body and clothing and shoes, then there is no way to prevent exposure. It's not a question of if, it's a when... and it's going to be the kids and teachers who will be second guessing themselves, retracing their steps and feeling like crap thinking it was their fault this child died. That's just not cool. Putting that kind of burden on someone else, particularly children.

And that completely discounts the burden of altering their entire diets to bow down to someone who doesn't even live with them! Many have said "not everyone can afford HS or private" I do get that. But don't discount the fact that not everyone can have a healthy pantry without ANY peanut products... PB is a good protein source and it's cheap. For some that is all they can afford. Why should the financial burden of another person's child be dumped on them? Maybe a moot point, perhaps in this district there isn't a single family that's struggling, but in my district I have SEEN this myself. If those tight budgets were forced to destroy anything that might have touched a peanut it'd be a lot of food wasted, and no money to replace it.

I always say "My rights end when they begin to step on yours." Yes I have the right to save and buy myself a TV. I can't however steal yours because that would directly destroy YOUR right to save and buy a TV. If that makes sense?? It is MY job to protect my child. Not the government's, not my parent's, not my neighbor's, mine. If I didn't want the responsibility then I wouldn't have had them, period. Unfortunately fewer and fewer agree with that... they believe that they can take and demand whatever they want and never be bothered with adjusting themselves.

Of course this could be a uber rare, fluke of a child... that NO medicine in the world can help... if that's the case then it's really just a matter of time... but if this child could be medicated like my Bro, could lower their risk of shock (but maybe still get hives) and the parents are just refusing to do that (beliefs, funds, whatever) and then purposely send them into an unsafe environment... sorry but in my book that'd be neglect. Anyone know about that part??

But as to their not being able to afford special schooling... if this kiddo has been tagged as disabled then YEAH, they can. Donno all the ins and out since schools are run by individual states, but there are laws on the books, education and handicap, that can help these folks. If they're choosing to ignore those, choosing to ignore their child's handicap and insist that their kid is just like everyone else... well all I can do is pity the child, it's them that will pay the price for their parents choices.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

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[HarlansHollowFarms]

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Well said.

 

[Britney]

I really feel for the parents with the child that has such a severe allergy. My daughter is highly allergic to latex. She had a science project that required her to blow up one single balloon and with in minutes her face swelled up and her throat started to shut. 911 was called and she ended up in the hospital for a week. We had it on her forms that she had a latex allergy too. I see no reason why these parents can't help this little girl out. She is young and will grow up learning to care for her allergy. Why is it so hard for some people to bend especially when it comes to a child's life?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

It isnt that the other parents an kids would not "bend". From what I can tell they bent an bent an bent till they finally broke.

 

[NoelTate]

School systems have teachers on staff who teach homebound children. As a teacher, I believe that is how such cases be handled. It protects the safety of the child with the allergy and avoids causing serious disruptions to all the other children in the school.

 

[FireTigeris]

Peanuts are not one of the allergies that can be treated with allergy shots- most allergies can, some shellfish allergies can depending on if its 'Ige' or iodine... Iodine cannot be treated either-

In the two schools I work with there are three Peanut Free rooms between them, they do group the peanut allergies in the same room if they can. (here at least)

Last year (well 2009) a study completed using four students in a peanut tolerance study... http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/02/learning-to-tol.html

 

[Alabama ee]

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Where did I say teach squat????? Do not put words in my mouth again. Letting children have Christmas decorations is not teaching Christianity unless I do a lesson on it. And I don't.
I am also glad your children will never be in my classroom.

I agree about it not teaching Christianty. I have been in China during Christmas in some of the large cities. Christmas decorations are put up everywhere. YOu see Santas and Christmas trees on many streets and malls. It is a strange feeling walking in China and hearing "Jingle Bells" or "White Christmas" over speakers. However, "Christ" is not part of the celebration. There are a lot of places that celebrate Christmas this way. I actually find it a little sad.