Next thing you know they'll have to put in showers and force them to bathe repeatedly through the day to remove any fragrances (soap, shampoo, laundry soap, fabric softener, dander) and/or outdoor allergens (pollen, mold) from being on the playground because one kid has severe allergies...
Where do you draw the line? Is that one child's health the responsibility of every parent on the planet, and every parent AND child has to pay the price? Or is that child's health the parent's responsibility and it's up to them to see to it that their child is in a safe environment? Me? I think it's my responsibility. My child. I chose to bring them into the world. I knew before mine entered school what bugged them, tripped allergies, like when the pollen gets nutty DD's eyes get all puffy and such... I knew that and I still CHOSE to enroll her in a school that has outdoor recess. Should every child at her school be forced to stay inside all day simply because mine has a problem with pollen a few days a year? I don't think so. But that is my personal take on it. Her allergies are really mild... some stuffiness, puffiness, sneezies... NOT shock or even itchy hives. If that was the case, if her health was in jeopardy I'd have homeschooled... like I am now that I've found her education in great jeopardy at that school.
That's my choice as a (Texas) parent, to do whatever is needed to provide for and protect my child. Others do not feel that duty is theirs, but everyone else's. *shrug* Yet another perception thing.
Also one other though... Unless the allergic one is holding hands or kissing fellow students cross contamination shouldn't be an issue. Neither of those actions was ever allowed at any of my schools... what's up with this one?
Secondly... if you're trying to keep peanuts from coming in contact with one student wouldn't it make sense to ban them totally from the school? No PB in lunches and such? If they've done that then the ONLY time children should be subjected to this is when they first enter the 'clean' environment... in case they had PB for breakfast... and their parents don't teach basic hygiene like teeth brushing after a meal... then a rinse upon entering would remove the offending particles and the school would remain a peanut free zone... right? So, if there were no peanuts allowed on campus in any form, there was no way any child could contaminate themselves, then why put them through THREE washes through the day? Leads me to think that rather than simply banning the killer substance (like anything else that could harm students, weapons, crack, booze, etc) instead they just went straight to this "cleansing". Or perhaps there is a ban, and knowing that there is no threat whatsoever they're still putting these kids through this crap to pacify parents who can't be bothered to secure their child's safety... nope, don't like this at all... something weird about it.
Also... are all the staff also put through these paces? Or only the defenseless children who might hold hands and/or kiss and contaminate the chosen one?
