Saw this on the news today, all over peanuts....unbelievable

[Sugar Jones]

My kids school is peanut free. There is a student in ds's classroom that has a severe allergy much like the little girl in the artice. There is a special handwashing station in their room. The kids have to wash their hands upon entering the classroom. There is no mouthwashing done.

Meh... It's a small sacrifice on my part to make sure that the little boy is safe. There are many peanut free alternatives for lunches and snacks. My child is not suffering because he can't take a peanut butter sandwich to school.

If our small sacrifice enables that little boy to attend school and live normal happy life then I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[Hannathy]

My kids school is peanut free. There is a student in ds's classroom that has a severe allergy much like the little girl in the artice. There is a special handwashing station in their room. The kids have to wash their hands upon entering the classroom. There is no mouthwashing done.

Meh... It's a small sacrifice on my part to make sure that the little boy is safe. There are many peanut free alternatives for lunches and snacks. My child is not suffering because he can't take a peanut butter sandwich to school.

If our small sacrifice enables that little boy to attend school and live normal happy life then I don't see what the big deal is.

The big deal is you can't control the whole world for one child and schools shouldn't cater to only one child AND where do you draw the line? today it is peanuts, what about the sea food allergies? or the strawberry allergies? This is going down a slippery slope that never should have been started down.

 

[Sugar Jones]

The big deal is you can't control the whole world for one child and schools shouldn't cater to only one child AND where do you draw the line? today it is peanuts, what about the sea food allergies? or the strawberry allergies? This is going down a slippery slope that never should have been started down.

It might seem like a big deal to YOU, but to me it isn't. If something small like making a school peanut free or shellfish free will enable a child to attend regular school then it's perfectly fine with ME. I am willing to make the small sacrifice and not cry about it or cry about the atrocities of my child not being able to eat peanut butter or shrimp for lunch.

 

[labdogs42]

My kids school is peanut free. There is a student in ds's classroom that has a severe allergy much like the little girl in the artice. There is a special handwashing station in their room. The kids have to wash their hands upon entering the classroom. There is no mouthwashing done.

Meh... It's a small sacrifice on my part to make sure that the little boy is safe. There are many peanut free alternatives for lunches and snacks. My child is not suffering because he can't take a peanut butter sandwich to school.

If our small sacrifice enables that little boy to attend school and live normal happy life then I don't see what the big deal is.

I think that concession seems reasonable. The mouth rinsing thing is over the top. I also think that banning foods "made or processed on machinery that also processes nuts" is over the top. Ban peanut products, fine, but don't take it to this level. The peanut allergy parent can provide a snack for their kid if they want the precaustions to extend to that level.

 

[Hannathy]

It might seem like a big deal to YOU, but to me it isn't. If something small like making a school peanut free or shellfish free will enable a child to attend regular school then it's perfectly fine with ME. I am willing to make the small sacrifice and not cry about it or cry about the atrocities of my child not being able to eat peanut butter or shrimp for lunch.

but you didn't answer my question, where does it stop? we can't ban everything.

And possibly it isn't a small sacrifice, what if peanut butter is what a family can afford? they shouldn't have to face a hardship anymore than the allergy child if that is the thinking.

Teach the child and leave everyone else alone.

 

[Sugar Jones]

I think that concession seems reasonable. The mouth rinsing thing is over the top. I also think that banning foods "made or processed on machinery that also processes nuts" is over the top. Ban peanut products, fine, but don't take it to this level. The peanut allergy parent can provide a snack for their kid if they want the precaustions to extend to that level.

We can't bring anything that has been processed on machinery that also process's nuts. Then it's truly not peanut free. We also can't bring in baked goods from home. For birthday's I bring in popcicles or I buy the mini two bite cupcakes from the grocery store that are peanut free. The kids still have Halloween parties, Christmas parties etc.... so I don't understand how the PARENTS of the kids feel like they are "missing out"

Seriously it is a non-issue. There are SOOO many peanut free options. There are many companies that make peanut free snacks, you just have to look for the symbol.

 

[Mama Who]

but you didn't answer my question, where does it stop? we can't ban everything.

And possibly it isn't a small sacrifice, what if peanut butter is what a family can afford? they shouldn't have to face a hardship anymore than the allergy child if that is the thinking.

Teach the child and leave everyone else alone.

Yep. What if peanut butter is what the local food bank has that week?

 

[Sugar Jones]

but you didn't answer my question, where does it stop? we can't ban everything.

And possibly it isn't a small sacrifice, what if peanut butter is what a family can afford? they shouldn't have to face a hardship anymore than the allergy child if that is the thinking.

Teach the child and leave everyone else alone.

That's just ridiculous. Peanut butter is expensive. Not having a peanut butter sandwich for lunch is not a hardship:rotfl2

Our school has been peanut free for 15 years. Long before my kids attended it. So far so good. The requests for banning of things isn't out of control yet.

 

[Zeebs]

but you didn't answer my question, where does it stop? we can't ban everything.

And possibly it isn't a small sacrifice, what if peanut butter is what a family can afford? they shouldn't have to face a hardship anymore than the allergy child if that is the thinking.

Teach the child and leave everyone else alone.

First up I do think the school is going a bit far, but I wanted to answer the we can't ban everything statement.

What are the chances that there will be more than 1 child in the school allergic to something that fall into that 2 percent section they have said the child is in. Surely it would be on a case by case basis.

Kirsten

 

[Sugar Jones]

Yep. What if peanut butter is what the local food bank has that week?

What if you have a peanut allergy and use the food bank? Are you told to eat it anyways we can't make allowances for food allergies?

If peanut butter is the ONLY thing available in your house to eat, then I think you have bigger problems than protesting about your school being peanut free.

 

[Princess Roo]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I'm confused on why they have to wash 3 times a day if the school is nut-free. Wouldn't washing upon entering be enough?

My DD's school is nut-free, and DS' is just nut-free on a class-by-class basis. I have no problem with that whatsoever. I would have a problem with something that takes 30 extra minutes of instructional time out of the day, but it's not clear to me that that is the case, here. I know all the kids in DS' class are told to go to the bathroom and of course wash their hands before lunch and before dismissal. Add mouth rinsing to that and an extra wash in the AM as they're arriving wouldn't take that much time.

And possibly it isn't a small sacrifice, what if peanut butter is what a family can afford? they shouldn't have to face a hardship anymore than the allergy child if that is the thinking.

If that's all the family can afford, then surely they qualify for the free lunches provided in all public schools, so there is no issue.

 

[livndisney]

We can't bring anything that has been processed on machinery that also process's nuts. Then it's truly not peanut free. We also can't bring in baked goods from home. For birthday's I bring in popcicles or I buy the mini two bite cupcakes from the grocery store that are peanut free. The kids still have Halloween parties, Christmas parties etc.... so I don't understand how the PARENTS of the kids feel like they are "missing out"

Seriously it is a non-issue. There are SOOO many peanut free options. There are many companies that make peanut free snacks, you just have to look for the symbol.

So you are ok with "peanut free options". My child can't have popcicles or store bought cupcakes, so those need to be "banned" too. And anything with apple or natural flavor in it. Oh yeah and no more milk/yogurt/ice cream/cheese in the school.

Like others have said-where does it end?

 

[Sugar Jones]

So you are ok with "peanut free options". My child can't have popcicles or store bought cupcakes, so those need to be "banned" too. And anything with apple or natural flavor in it. Oh yeah and no more milk/yogurt/ice cream/cheese in the school.

Like others have said-where does it end?

If a child were to die from store bought popcicles then yep - no problem, won't bring them in. Store bought cupcakes - okey dokey - won't bring them in.

There is a difference between a food allergy and a life threatening food allergy. My son is allergic to milk, but he's not going to die if Jimmy is eating a cheese sandwich beside him. He's not going to die if the class is having ice cream cones. He's not going to die if he touches it. He just can't eat it.

Like I said for ME it's a small sacrifice to make for a CHILD.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I have no problem with peanut free... however I also have to think from a teachers stand point. Do they have to do a lunch check every day to make sure that things are not processed in a plant? How do they get 25 1st graders to make sure tht they don't just "wash" but actually wash their hands and make sure that they don't swallow all that mouthwash. Who is paying for said mouthwash for 3x a day for 25 kids? It seems like a HUGE responsibility on the part of the teacher and it would definitely take more time than 30 minutes a day.

I hate to sound insensitive because my child doesn't have allergies and I am a special education teacher so I get the whole IDEA laws but this seems extreme. This is definitely beyond the reasonable limits of modification and I am surprised that the district has allowed this to happen. I can not believe that homeschooling is not being offered and paid for. I'd like to see the parents wish list for modification because if this is what they actually got than I can't imagine what they wanted!

 

[princessmom29]

My kids school is peanut free. There is a student in ds's classroom that has a severe allergy much like the little girl in the artice. There is a special handwashing station in their room. The kids have to wash their hands upon entering the classroom. There is no mouthwashing done.

Meh... It's a small sacrifice on my part to make sure that the little boy is safe. There are many peanut free alternatives for lunches and snacks. My child is not suffering because he can't take a peanut butter sandwich to school.

If our small sacrifice enables that little boy to attend school and live normal happy life then I don't see what the big deal is.

So you send nothing to school with the "made in a facility that processes peanuts" disclaimer? It makes almost all pre-packaged snacks off limits. Would you feel the same way if the same policy was in place for wheat, eggs, soy ,and milk porducts? If we ban one allergen, wher does it stop, and what is really "sfe" to send to school? If child with a LTA to a food results is a school wide ban on that food itis going ot severly restrict what our kids CAN eat. I know in my dschool alone fish, shellfish, strawberries, bananas, pears, wheat, soy ,egg, and milk would all be on the banned list if we banned every food that a child has a potentially anaphalatic reaction to. What am I supposed to send for lunch at that point?

Do you see why it is an issue?

 

[Sugar Jones]

So you send nothing to school with the "made in a facility that processes peanuts" disclaimer? It makes almost all pre-packaged snacks off limits. Would you feel the same way if the same policy was in place for wheat, eggs, soy ,and milk porducts? If we ban one allergen, wher does it stop, and what is really "sfe" to send to school? If child with a LTA to a food results is a school wide ban on that food itis going ot severly restrict what our kids CAN eat. I know in my dschool alone fish, shellfish, strawberries, bananas, pears, wheat, soy ,egg, and milk would all be on the banned list if we banned every food that a child has a potentially anaphalatic reaction to. What am I supposed to send for lunch at that point?

Do you see why it is an issue?

It's honestly not hard. There are so many peanut free options. Maybe because we've dealt with this for 9 years I just don't understand the big deal. It's just been the way it's always been and it's never been difficult or a hardship.

As for the other allergens. I understand what your getting at, but I guess because it's never been brought up or an issue I just look at it as a deal with it when it comes to it. Like I said my son has a milk allergy, but I don't request a ban because it's only a problem if it's ingested. He can be around it without a problem he just can't eat it. So if someone brings in an ice cream treat he knows he can't eat it, but he's not going to die if the person next to him does. The child with the peanut allergy can die from touching it.

As for their lunches they are not checked in my oldest son's class, but the teacher and aides do a quick look in my other ds's class. I only know this because I've been there a few times at lunch time.

 

[princessmom29]

It's honestly not hard. There are so many peanut free options. Maybe because we've dealt with this for 9 years I just don't understand the big deal. It's just been the way it's always been and it's never been difficult or a hardship.

As for the other allergens. I understand what your getting at, but I guess because it's never been brought up or an issue I just look at it as a deal with it when it comes to it. Like I said my son has a milk allergy, but I don't request a ban because it's only a problem if it's ingested. He can be around it without a problem he just can't eat it. So if someone brings in an ice cream treat he knows he can't eat it, but he's not going to die if the person next to him does. The child with the peanut allergy can die from touching it.

As for their lunches they are not checked in my oldest son's class, but the teacher and aides do a quick look in my other ds's class. I only know this because I've been there a few times at lunch time.

Yes, but would you be ok with it if all of those other options were out as well, because children do exist with all of those allergies who can be made very sick or die from contact.

 

[Sugar Jones]

Yes, but would you be ok with it if all of those other options were out as well, because children do exist with all of those allergies who can be made very sick or die from contact.

I don't know. I'd have to deal with it if the issue arouse.

I only know what we deal with right now and dealing with a peanut free school is not a hardship.

 

[Hannathy]

And the people that I was referring to as far as depending on peanut butter are not the low income who get the free lunch it is the working struggling families that are just above the income level and have to provide their children food, these people often do need to use peanut butter as an affordable protein.

It still boils down to you can not peanut or any other allergy proof the world and should not be attempted.

And I'm still waiting on a reason for the mouth rinses? and especially why 3 x a day !

All I know is my child would be allergic to the mouth wash! then what would they do? who trumps who?

 

[Sugar Jones]

And the people that I was referring to as far as depending on peanut butter are not the low income who get the free lunch it is the working struggling families that are just above the income level and have to provide their children food, these people often do need to use peanut butter as an affordable protein.

It still boils down to you can not peanut or any other allergy proof the world and should not be attempted.

And I'm still waiting on a reason for the mouth rinses? and especially why 3 x a day !

All I know is my child would be allergic to the mouth wash! then what would they do? who trumps who?

i have no idea about the mouthwash. That is not a procedure taken in our school