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A student at Edgewater Elementary School in Volusia County, Florida is being asked to withdraw from the school by her classmates' parents. They have been protesting the school imposing time consuming procedures on their children due to the needs of one student in the classroom.
The student has a life-threatening peanut allergy and, as a result, her classmates are asked to make accommodations to ensure her safety. Some parents of children at the school say the extra steps their children are taking to ensure the girl's health, such as washing their hands or rinsing out their mouths, are taking away from their own children's learning time by several hours a week. Meanwhile, the school is standing by its decision to make accommodations for the student.
What do you think about the school's and parents' stances?
Last edited by texan2yankee; 03-25-2011 at 07:00 AM..
Eliminate public schools and this problem and tons of other problems disappear. Problems like religion in schools, busing, gay controversies, politics in the classroom, etc. Public schools are run by elected politicians. Private schools are much cheaper.
The allergic student and her parents are responsible for her health and her education. If the public school is dangerous they should find another way to provide her education. The public in public education means public financing not access to all members of the public. The same discrimination should also apply to the really stupid and the disruptive. The education of the children willing to learn is what is important not the presence of the stupid, lazy, bulling or insane. Or the allergic.
I don't have kids so it's easier to say what I would or wouldn't do, but here's my best:
If I were the parent of the child with the allergies, I'd like to think I'd homeschool. I have the time, means, and ability to do so. I don't think it's fair or appropriate to invade the space of so many others just to accommodate my child.
If I were a parent of one of the other kids, I'd be annoyed. My kid is restricted because of someone else? Not just any restriction (like running around naked or going to the bathroom whenever) but dietarily restricted because of a kid sitting across the cafeteria? Forced mouth washing/rinsing because a whiff of my kid's breath can send another kid to the ER? That's insane. I would definitely be annoyed.
I agree with the previous posters. I don't think public schools should have to accommodate every conceivable disability. Wheelchairs - YES! Severe peanut allergies (requiring peanut sniffing dogs!) - NO!
Last edited by peppermint; 03-25-2011 at 07:10 AM..
Reason: spelling
This is ridiculous. How can the needs of one person outweigh everyone else's ? Pull her out and homeschool her in your peanut-proofed home. How inconsiderate. And I can just see them crying on TV talking about their lawsuit when some substitute teacher brings a PB&J to school becaus ethey didn't know. If they were that concerned they wouldn't risk it.
This is ridiculous. How can the needs of one person outweigh everyone else's ? Pull her out and homeschool her in your peanut-proofed home. How inconsiderate. And I can just see them crying on TV talking about their lawsuit when some substitute teacher brings a PB&J to school becaus ethey didn't know. If they were that concerned they wouldn't risk it.
Handwashing is basic good hygiene and in elementary school we used to wash our hands after each break -I mean kids that age get into all sorts!
Not sure how effective mouth rinsing is, and believe that the levels of the chemical that can induce an allergy would be reduced to below "trigger" levels after about an hour of eating PB anyway.
Would it be more effective/acceptable to ask the classmates parents not to give PB in sandwiches?
As regards homeschooling, not everyone has the ability or time to do that.
I think the parents of her first grade classmates are being cruel. The kind thing to do would be for the classmates' parents to use this opportunity to teach their children that it is good to help another person who needs it, even if that help requires a small sacrifice.
When this child is older than six or seven, she will be able to take all the precautions necessary to protect herself from the life threatening allergy.
When this child is older than six or seven, she will be able to take all the precautions necessary to protect herself from the life threatening allergy.
If the child is so allergic that the other children can't breathe their PB breath on her without a reaction, I don't know how she can ever protect herself. What do the parents do at parties or reunions or other events? Also, I know children who only eat PB&J. It's some sort of phase. So, what about these kids?
I understand that not everyone can homeschool, but the parents need to be looking into alternatives rather than suing the school, which is a burden on the taxpayers.
If the child is so allergic that the other children can't breathe their PB breath on her without a reaction, I don't know how she can ever protect herself. What do the parents do at parties or reunions or other events? Also, I know children who only eat PB&J. It's some sort of phase. So, what about these kids?
I understand that not everyone can homeschool, but the parents need to be looking into alternatives rather than suing the school, which is a burden on the taxpayers.
The referenced article in the OP doesn't say the parents of the child are suing the school. It says the parents of her classmates are protesting the accommodations their children are having to make for her.
Yes, true. You are correct. I apologize for jumping the gun. My point still stands.
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