Peanut Allergies and Banning PB in Schools

[Enoch]

[OGPhilly]

I'd need to know more about how peanut allergies work. I mean I assume the kid with the allergy has to actually consume peanut products to be at risk right? It's not like if you have the allergy and some kid throws a peanut at your head, you keel over, is it? Well I don't know, but if that's the case then I see the reason to ban peanuts.

But if it has to be consumed to cause the problems, then I think that all the teachers and staff should be informed about any kid who has a peanut allergy. Especially when the kids are very young the teachers and staff should make accommodations to ensure that the kid isn't given anything with peanuts in it. A 6 or 7 year old can't be expected to restrict their own diet while at school, and the parents can't join them for school lunch every day, so it falls on the school staff to keep an eye on the situation.

This seems the more appropriate policy rather than just banning peanuts.

[Winchester]

If any of my kids had food allergies I'd control the food they took to school and educate them about never accepting food from someone else including the school cafeteria.

One of my wife's co-workers almost died as a result of ingesting peanuts. They worked at a activity center for developmental delayed adults, one of the clients (that's what they called them) brought in cookies to share. The lady with the nut allergy asked her if their were any nuts in the cookies...

[Enoch]

I just don't understand why so many parents refuse to take responsibility for their own children, instead demanding that everyone else bow to their desire to be lazy parents.

[OGPhilly]

[The Comrade]

i think philly just summed it up best.

i mean, i'm sure you'd be the first to laugh at a parent that DID take all the ridiculous extra steps to insure their child didn't eat peanuts, yet you lambaste them for doing the most reasonable thing,

personally though i'd homeschool my child if i was that worried until they were old enough to understand the risks, then i'd put them in public school.

[Enoch]

Yes, I do think a 6 or 7 year-old is mature enough to know what they can and cannot eat, if they are taught properly at home.

This seems to be a trend of lazy parenting. I knew, at that age, what I was allergic to and I didn't eat it. My parents didn't demand that the schools stop serving milk in the cafeteria because I may drink it. They taught me that I was to have juice or water with my lunch, period. Not once, in all of elementary school, did I trade lunches with someone. My school provided juice to me because of my milk allergy, and a lot of kids wanted that instead of milk. But, I was taught that I was allergic to milk and shouldn't drink it. So, guess what, I didn't.

I don't care the age we are talking about. School kids are not nearly as stupid as some parents treat them. Teach your children what they can and cannot have, why they can and cannot have those foods, and do your job as a parent. Sure, going as far as informing the school so a lunch lady or teacher can keep an eye out is fine. But, demanding school-wide policy changes is too far. Trust your children, they aren't nearly as stupid as they seem (unless of course, you are a lazy parent who treats them as though they are stupid).

And, to answer your first question, if a parent is so concerned about their child as to demand school policy changes in order to cater to their child's allergy, then YES I expect them to come to school every day and watch the kid in the cafeteria. It is YOUR child, YOUR responsibility to ensure their safety. If you think your child isn't smart enough to follow the rules you have set for them and explained to them, be more active as a parent and go eat lunch with them.

[The Dharma Bum]

A milk allergy isn't deadly, not the same thing

[The Dharma Bum]

What they should do, from a liability standpoint is not have ANY food at school and the kids should go home for lunch.

[Enoch]