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I agree with this article in a lot of ways. As our children get older, they will need to do some of the things to protect themselves from having a reaction. Our teaching and help in this area is needed to develop the responsibility in them to know that not everyone is going to think about them and their allergy first before they do something. To require peanut free zones in public school in middle school is a stretch. Those children are capable of carrying their own wipes and thinking about what is needed to protect themselves from an allergic reaction. We cannot as parents think that saddling every caregiver till they are an adult with our children's food allergy responsibility can be met with anything but frustration. When the children are young and more susceptible to do things irresponsibly, we must require more precautionary measures by schools, daycares, and other caregivers. However, as the child matures, they must also be aware that the world is not going to cater to their food allergy and prevent them from having a reaction. I am not saying that the attitudes of school administrators do not need to be changed, but the other children have rights as well. The work place is not going to be a peanut free zone. There must be a time when they take the responsibility themselves.
Recently my child's middle school decided to ban all peanut/nuts. The administration have touted the "success" of this program. What they don't see are the students who eat their pbj sandwiches out of their lockers or in the bathrooms. Other students hide them in their laps & eat them when no adult is looking. Others just eat items with nuts when/where ever they choose.
Bans don't work. Never have, probably never will. Prohibition is a great example of this as is our "war on drugs". Perhaps a better way to handle food allergies is education and personal responsibility.
When I hear parents complain that elementary school children with allergies need to "live in the real" world and "just deal with it" because teh parents want to bring in a classroom party snack that is unsafe, it makes me laugh a little. In the real world, does work come to a halt when Mommy shows up at the office with tray full of cupcakes to celebrate your birthday?
Great article. I agree with you!
I do not agree with your statement that the classroom needs to be allergen-free for its students with allergies. I have a 3 year old who is starting preschool. He is anaphylaxic allergic to wheat. I don't think it is practical to ask that the classroom be wheat-free. The school is from 9-12 and the children eat in the classroom. I am comfortable that my son and his teachers know that he can only eat the food he brings in his lunchbox. To ask that the other students refrain from wheat (no bread, crackers, etc. ) is completely unreasonable in my opinion. My son is also allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and eggs, and a few various other foods. I think that education of the child and the teachers is key.
Thank you! We all need to remember that every child has rights. My kindergarten age student also has a right to eat his peanut butter sandwich for lunch everyday. If my child had a life treatening allergy, I certainly wouldn't send him to school until I new he was responsible enough to manage by himself. I'd quit my job , sell my house and home-school my child. I'd never put that much stress and responsibliity on other people/schools. If these allegies are so life threatening, then why would good parents take such chances with primary children?? I always wondered why. Are these parents looking for attention via exploiting their child? A child with LTFA is different! Accept it! Please stop trying to change entire schools for one or two kids. Learn to make your own accomadations instead of worrying about your rights!
In response to Jeff,
The comment you responded to above was regarding a wheat allergy and the parents' accepting that it may be unreasonable to ask that all wheat products be eliminated from the classroom since wheat is so abundant in children's snack foods. As a parent of two children with multiple LTFA (egg, dairy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, shell fish...etc. you get the picture) I, too, don't feel it is reasonable to ask that all of these substances be elimiated from their classroom environment. I DO, however, feel strongly that nuts should be prohibited since they are SO dangerous. It is a simple thing to do.
Have you ever heard of the Americans with Disabilities Act or I.D.E.A.? These laws provide civil rights, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO "A FREE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION" to all children. Your assertion that they should be home-schooled or kept from the school environment is HIGHLY OFFENSIVE. My children have gone to private preschools and public elementary schools and have always been taught how to manage their own situation. Most parents do not expect to avoid all possible exposures but rather ensure that everyone is informed enough to be aware, careful, and prepared to respond appropriately should an emergency occur.
I feel the schools have a responsibility to keep children safe whether it be maintaining playground equipment to prevent injury or educating their staff on food allergies or any other health & safety issue.
Further to Jeff,
Although you feel your child has a RIGHT to eat peanut butter, he won't DIE if he does not eat it for lunch. He COULD wait a few hours and eat it when he gets home from school without the risk of killing someone.
My sons' friends are not prohibited from eating peanut butter at school. However, they have been taught compassion and empathy and choose not to eat it at school. Many mothers have told me that their children have asked them not to send peanut butter so that their friends won't get sick. This is a wonderful teaching opportunity for your child.
Why not try teaching some compassion rather than selfishness?
Emmie, you talk a lot about compassion. While your child is, and should be, the most important thing in the world to you, please understand that other parents' children are due the same consideration and compassion as yours. It goes without saying that teachers, bus drivers, and other caregivers also have a right not to be subject to impossible standards.
As I understand it, most disability laws are phrased so as to require a reasonable accomodation to the affected person's condition. Whether or not a complete ban on peanut products in schools is such a reasonable accomodation is up for debate, and is being debated in schools all over the country.
A parent ought to be willing to do anything to protect their child, but please recognize that your very understandable bias makes you a poor judge of what are, and are not, reasonable accomodations.
I should have compassion for a child who WANTS to eat peanut butter during the few hours he/she is in a classroom?
Your assertion that I cannot be objective here is as absurd as your opinion that banning peanut in the classroom is not REASONABLE. The reason for banning peanut is not soley due to children with known peanut allergy. Often, children react to peanut for the first time when they are in their early elementary years. Peanut is one of the deadliest allergens. Reactions happen quickly and are usually severe. It is the unknown allergy that is the most dangerous.
Of course, my children are the most important thing to me. I want to keep them safe which is why I preach education and awareness over all else. I do not expect to prevent any and all allergic reactions nor do I expect to prevent every injury they could possibly incur. That would be unreasonable. There is no way to predict what may happen but prevention measures can help.
I do not believe in overburdening our teachers, bus drivers...etc. In my school district, our teachers are very highly respected and they are paid very well (by taxpayers like myself). I have been actively involved with the schools' administration and teachers, bus company, parents, and recreation department to work on what safeguards can be put in place reasonably and where the line of "reasonable" versus "unreasonable" is. Many of our teachers prefer their classrooms to be peanut free so that they do not have to worry and be overburdened.
I believe that bus drivers should drive and not be responsible for any other issues that occur on the school bus. They should not be required to mediate fights and see what is going on behind them when they should be driving. That said, they should still be required and prepared to handle any emergency should one occur.
Additionally, in this environment where so many children are overweight or obese, is there really a need for any food in the classroom? Children can't get through the 6-7 hour school day without eating more than one meal?
I agree with Jeff. It is not fair to "punish" all the kids and their parents for the sake of one. I understand it is difficult. But I do not check the ingredients on everything I buy and do not intend to do so. I have a child in third grade and a child in kindergarten. My son's third grade teacher is the only third grade teacher that does NOT have a peanut ban because he likes his PB & J also. My kindergartner does have a peanut ban, but I send whatever I have for a snack and have never checked the label and do not intend to do so. That is not my responsibility.
Asking that you not send a product to the classroom that could kill someone is NOT punishing anyone. If you truly believe this is some sort of PUNISHMENT there is something very wrong with your thinking (or your child's). I have a hard time believing that a 5 year old feels punished if he/she can't have peanut in the classroom unless they have banned ALL food and snacks.
Reading labels is a way of life for some of us and we realize that not everyone will do it. I, personally, do not expect everyone to read labels to ensure there is no caution statement (even though they are now blatant, in BOLD print, and listed separately at the end of the ingredients list so that they only require a mere glance to notice that they contain nuts). However, I would not expect that you would send in a "peanut butter granola bar" knowing full well that there are nuts in it... There is a difference here.
As a similar example, a child in our school injured herself on the "monkey bars". Deeming the equipment to be a danger, the school promptly removed the equipment from the playground. Many children were upset that their favorite play area was gone but they understood why and did not seem to feel they were PUNISHED. I have not heard any parental complaints about it either.
Give the kids some credit.
How many students with LTFA in a classroom would make a difference? You are basically saying that you shouldn't have to alter anything for ONE other child. At what point does this change? What if there are 5 students out of 20 with LTFA? Is 25% enough?
I just find it so odd that this issue causes as much conflict as it does. There are so many more bigger fish to fry.
I also am tired of these mothers who exploit their children and their so called allergies for attention they crave. I know a few who parade around and draw attention to themselves via their child's allergy. Yes, we know your the best parent ever!!! But if my kid had a LTFA I certainly wouldn't exploit him, I'd protect him at home, until he could protect himself. These parents can't possibly understand the stress they cause in a school. If they're such great and fabulous parents, them home-school!!! By the way, this is not a punishment for others, this is for your child's protect not for your attention seeking self.
In response to Jeff's comments...
Unfortunately, Jeff's comments show the ignorance of allergens in children. Most parents and teachers for that matter do not know the type or reaction children with peanut/tree nut allergens can and do have when these allergens have been encountered. Parents are only asking that your children be educated and learn compassion and empathy. If your child were going to die without peanuts Iwould not have the attitude of NO PEANUTS/TREE NUTSl
Please stop and think... If my child has a friend at school and I send a peanut/tree nut snack: How would you explain to your child that the death of their friend was because YOU ate that snack and then played with your friend.
Thank you Beth for saying this so well. It is the ignorance (intentional or not) that is the most frustrating and dangerous. The comments about exploiting the children is out of line and inaccurate. Perhaps Jeff should home school his child so that they can both eat nuts all day long to their hearts content.
Oh my, here the "I am a great parent story" is told again. Case in point ~~ if a child could die from a LTFA why would any reasonable adult put that kid in a life threatening situation???? I am simply stating that if it were my child, I would NEVER exploit him and put him in danger. I could care less what his I.D.E.A. rights are. Isn't his life more valuable than his rights to a free education? It is your job to protect your child. Therefore, the best place should be at home, until he is capable of making safe choices or out grows the allergy. Oh, but that would mean you don't get any attention for yourself!
Please, stop being the victim and a hero, try being a parent who makes safe and secure choices.
Jeff,
I assume you (and your children) never leave the house for risk of any life threatening situation. I mean you could be hit by a car, struck by lightning, hit in the head with a ball on the baseball field...etc., and that would make you a terrible parent. It would be all your fault.
Don't you hear how silly this all sounds?
You keep referring to safe choices but children with LTFA don't always have a choice. They cannot live in a bubble, nor can their parents. It is insensitive people like yourself that make this world a much more dangerous place for them.
I am not saying I am a hero or the best parent in the world. I do not "parade my child around" as you suggest, although I know some who do and give them quite a bit of grief for it. As I've stated before, I believe in education and awareness just like other health and safety campaigns (such as cancer awareness, no phone zones, fire safety...etc). Knowledge is power.
You really should try to live for a week in our shoes before making such judgements.
My 5 years old goes to school all day and there are two children with peanut allergy and one with milk, all anaphylactic. The main difference is the risk factor. Peanut allergies are airborne and the oil residue is hard to eliminate so I agree with a ban on peanut butter as this is now a risk I would want to be responsible for and I might add it is one food item. However you cannot ban a whole food group, eg. milk/dairy or grain etc as it would be impossible to send your child to school with their lunch and two snacks unless it was air, don't think there are any allergies to air as yet.., We had a meeting with our school and the health nurse, dietician and the head of NASK. she agrees that education and prevention and awareness of what to do in the event of a reaction are all key, and not a ban on dairy products, they are in everything. I know the mom is scared to death and she does attend the school when they are eating and I would do the same, the children are not allowed to share their food and they wash their hands before and after. The "milk children" are at a table far away from the kids with the allergies which is wonderful. I know the mom is not happy that I send milk in a spillproof container but I have said that she can drink it another room if need be. She would like to ban milk and dairy throughout the school which is unrealistic. The best solution would be a lunchroom and no food in any classroom but it is a small school. As a dental Hygienist I am very cautious about what I send as to not increase my childs chance of tooth decay and also the fat/salt content of processed foods. there may be a chance of a wheat allergy child next year, we have to be educated and teach the kids prevention not scare them. Children with allergies and without should not be singled out as they will be victims of bullying when they get older. I want our class and the parents to get together to work on education our kids so we can ensure our milk allergy's mom that he can attend school and be as safe, even safer than taking him to a restaurant, movie theatre etc... ps. I live with a anaphylactic tree nut and cashew allergy myself
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I agree with everything you say Gina, just want to add that the restriction of peanuts and nuts needs to be carried through to Jr. High and H.S. Our children are developing the skills needed up into their 20's, learning life skills, and learning independence.
Many of our children have other disabilities along with LTFA, and also need the opportunity to reduce as many issues as possible. Especially as teenagers (when the chemical changes in the brain affect decision making of the LTFA teen and non FA teens prone to bullying and peer pressure) we should not place a child in that environment.
Safety should be consistent. Our children have enough issues to practice self-advocacy without worrying about it at school. Our children need the opportunity to focus on learning.
School leadership that supports this sends a strong message to the community that keeping our kids safe, empathizing as a community and supporting the cause should never end. It should be part of all our children's experience learning good citizenship and responsibility for others. Our kids will soon be adults, and we are in charge of pioneering the world's understanding and empathy.