Moms Talk: Is This Policy Nuts?

Lisa Klenoshek March 31, 2011 at 04:08 pm

I feel for any parent with a peanut or other food allergic child. Everything must be harder....school, parties, eating out. Everything. The worry for a healthy non-allergic child is enough to bear sometimes. Add in this, and it's really tough. The FL school district did go to drastic measures, it sounds. (Perhaps the child was related to in influential school board member? :) ) I can't envision SV going to the same extremes. My first grader washes her hands at school (with sanitizer) several times daily. There is a separate table for food allergy kids at lunch. Snacks have been decreased dramatically with the new healthy food initiative. So, the cause for concern for allergy flare-ups has maybe dropped. The FL child seemed to have a hyper-sensitivity, which has to be more closely addressed. Personally, I would have a hard time with public school until my child was old enough to know what to avoid and what to do if symptoms were coming on. Home-schooling is not for everyone. And private schools are costly. That family maybe didn't have the means to send their child anyplace else. I applaud the school for doing what they could. As long as it didn't interfere daily with the learning atmosphere in the classroom. Just another reason to count our blessings....a healthy child is a gift.

Jamie Kunchick March 31, 2011 at 10:00 pm

I think the school should look at what’s best for the majority. Sure, most parents wouldn’t mind taking a few extra steps to accommodate a child with special needs, but when it begins to take away from their childs experiences on a daily basis, then I think it is unfair. If this poor child’s allergy is so severe that they need a peanut sniffing dog, then I think the parents should consider home schooling. Obviously, it’s an allergy that cant be controlled easily so keeping him or her home would benefit both the child and the rest of the school. Its just not fair to other kids,

Clare Lynch April 1, 2011 at 02:11 am

I agree with you, Lisa. "I applaud the school for doing what they could. As long as it didn't interfere daily with the learning atmosphere in the classroom." I don't think that the children's experience in school is being hindered at all. If anything, it teaches acceptance of others. However, I hope that the parents are starting to teach their daughter to manage her allergy because, as she grows older, she's not always going to be in situations that are this closely monitored.

Tiffany B. April 5, 2011 at 06:24 pm

Personally I do not see how ANY of the measures the school took could be of harm to the other children in the school. In fact, it seems to me that these measures will actually help stop the spread of germs and illnesses in the schools as well BENEFITING the other children. I am lucky and thankful that my children do not have severe allergies like that. I commend the school for taking actions to protect a child in that way. If a child in my son's school had such problems I would do everything possible to teach my child why the measures are in place and give him a lesson on making accommodations/helping others. I think it would be a valuable lesson to learn. I also feel that the parents that protested should be ashamed of themselves. Imagine how that little girl feels.

smart mom April 9, 2011 at 03:42 pm

If it is that deadly for her, she should be home-schooled. I don't want my tax dollars paying for a lawsuit because another child ate a Reese's in the hallway. Please stop her insane parents from endangering her life by sending her to "public" school!