School Parents Want 1st Grader W/ Peanut Allergy Sent Home/Home-Schooled

[Tuffy]

Well, to be fair, we don't know that they didn't. I can only take from my own experience, in which our school has recently been labeled a snotty, demanding bunch. That happened after a planned protest of a fundraiser, which truly did only hurt the students. Sadly, the only way to get the attention of the principal, board, and superintendent was to hit them where it hurts - in the pocketbook. BUT...this was a last resort after dozens of parents met with the principal, teacher, board, and super and got absolutely no respect, response, or satisfaction. The problem has now been resolved, and fundraising is at it's highest level in years, despite the still lagging economy in our area.

For all we know, there have been meetings, and the principal or school nurse or teacher or whomever has given conflicting information, vague details, or just enough incompetence to make these parents very afraid. They could, in fact, be doing all of this out of fear for this little girl's life because the school is not actually handling it well. Maybe their children are actually friends with the little girl, and they know straight from her mother's mouth that the school is not doing what they have agreed to do, and the only way to get anyone's attention is to create a PR problem.

From the link in the OP:

Wait said school leaders will meet this week with parents to address concerns and try to halt inaccurate rumors that children's mouths were being wiped with disinfectant.

So they haven't met with parents yet? Rumors are flying? The girl's parents aren't commenting, so we really don't even know what they think.

And, in fact, the other parents are not demanding that she be homeschooled. To quote the OP:

"That was one of the suggestions that kept coming forward from parents, to have her home schooled.

I'm not shocked that it was suggested; it's been suggested here. It's a possibility. But it makes for better headlines if you portray these parents as a lynch mob trying to burn the child out of her elementary school.



This was later proven untrue.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11659935/ns/health-allergies_and_asthma/

“The Canadian Association of Food Allergies intended to use the Desforges case to launch an education campaign,” he said. “I had to tell them the cause of death was different than first believed.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500486_162-1614851-500486.html

"Nine hours passed between the time when the young man ate his two toasts (with peanut butter) and 3 a.m., when he kissed Christina," Miron said. "A recent study shows at the end of an hour, there is no allergen left in the saliva."

He said she had spent hours at a party with smokers when her breathing problems began. Around 3 a.m., Desforges said she was having trouble breathing and collapsed shortly after.

(OT: but why was this 15yo girl out at a party at 3am? :waitasec: I never picked up on that little detail!)

Whoa, I didn't know that! All I had ever heard was the original story. I guess she must have had other health issues going on then. I've been to places, like clubs, that were way too smoky for my liking. Never led to difficulty breathing.

Also, 15 yo out at 3 am. Sounds like a lot of things might have been going on that we don't know about.

 

[JBean]

I have a son that was diagnosed with his epilepsy at 18 mos. While we took care and precaution, I still encouraged him to ride a bike,swim in a pool, climb the monkey bars,play football and drive a car. Risky and stupid? Maybe, but boys need to live while they are alive, not just exist in a bubble of safety.They need some quality to their lives.

But I would not have done any of those things without having the eyes and ears of his friends, educators and other parents keeping watch over his potential to seize and ask them for their help. I am sure they were inconvenienced to a degree, but no one ever complained about it;rather they were happy to oblige.
My son seized at the wheel one time. It just so happened that someone that knew him and knew he was epileptic saw him driving erratically and drove up next to him to check on him. He saw that he was seizing,stayed with him to intervene if necessary and then got him immediate medical attention when he did crash. Conicnidentally and as an aside, this seizure was the same day that Jett Travolta died of his seizure. Why my survived and Jett did not is just the nature of the beast. That is why I let my son "live" so to speak, ya just never know.

We really need each other to survive sometimes. The difference here is that these people are asking for simple measures to provide ongoing care and assitance, not just acute care in case of emergency.
To ask for the help of the other members of the community to be proactive in order to avoid an emergency situation sure makes sense to me.

Hey I like to think they retrofitted the school playgrounds that have that rubbery -giving surface just for my son, even though it was a benefit to all.
In this case, the handwashing, mouth wiping, and elimination of nutritionless party snacks was also a benefit to all. It is a win win. jmho of course.

 

[JBean]

Well, to be fair, we don't know that they didn't. I can only take from my own experience, in which our school has recently been labeled a snotty, demanding bunch. That happened after a planned protest of a fundraiser, which truly did only hurt the students. Sadly, the only way to get the attention of the principal, board, and superintendent was to hit them where it hurts - in the pocketbook. BUT...this was a last resort after dozens of parents met with the principal, teacher, board, and super and got absolutely no respect, response, or satisfaction. The problem has now been resolved, and fundraising is at it's highest level in years, despite the still lagging economy in our area.

For all we know, there have been meetings, and the principal or school nurse or teacher or whomever has given conflicting information, vague details, or just enough incompetence to make these parents very afraid. They could, in fact, be doing all of this out of fear for this little girl's life because the school is not actually handling it well. Maybe their children are actually friends with the little girl, and they know straight from her mother's mouth that the school is not doing what they have agreed to do, and the only way to get anyone's attention is to create a PR problem.

From the link in the OP:

Wait said school leaders will meet this week with parents to address concerns and try to halt inaccurate rumors that children's mouths were being wiped with disinfectant.

So they haven't met with parents yet? Rumors are flying? The girl's parents aren't commenting, so we really don't even know what they think.

And, in fact, the other parents are not demanding that she be homeschooled. To quote the OP:

"That was one of the suggestions that kept coming forward from parents, to have her home schooled.

I'm not shocked that it was suggested; it's been suggested here. It's a possibility. But it makes for better headlines if you portray these parents as a lynch mob trying to burn the child out of her elementary school.



This was later proven untrue.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11659935/ns/health-allergies_and_asthma/

“The Canadian Association of Food Allergies intended to use the Desforges case to launch an education campaign,” he said. “I had to tell them the cause of death was different than first believed.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500486_162-1614851-500486.html

"Nine hours passed between the time when the young man ate his two toasts (with peanut butter) and 3 a.m., when he kissed Christina," Miron said. "A recent study shows at the end of an hour, there is no allergen left in the saliva."

He said she had spent hours at a party with smokers when her breathing problems began. Around 3 a.m., Desforges said she was having trouble breathing and collapsed shortly after.

(OT: but why was this 15yo girl out at a party at 3am? :waitasec: I never picked up on that little detail!)

all truly excellent points,. thanks for posting that. I do think the media plays a large role in the sensationalizing of these issues and that could very well play into this whole scenario.

ETA:But also, please read the protesters signs and some parents speak in this video.
They make it pretty clear what the issues are. but, I wouldn't be shocked to find out that school administrators didn;t make the parents aware or failed to do so in a timely fashion.
http://www.katu.com/home/video/118581569.html

 

[Steely Dan]

I have yet to hear a quote from a parent that expresses concern for the child. Everything I've seen so far is only about inconveniencing them or their kids. The media does sensationalize but it seems the reasons for the protests are pretty accurate. JMO

 

[JBean]

I have yet to hear a quote from a parent that expresses concern for the child. Everything I've seen so far is only about inconveniencing them or their kids. The media does sensationalize but it seems the reasons for the protests are pretty accurate. JMO

The protestor signs say:
No dogs
Who is paying for all of these special measures?
Our children have rights too
Ask your 1st grader
School Board Approves Clorox wipes for our kids faces-We say NO!
Why are we in the dark?
Where is the happy median?
How much academic time has your child lost?
Our kids are special too!
Do you know your own kids rights? use them!
What's Next? Where does it stop?

Still looking but haven't seen anything about protecting the girl with the allergy. But certainly the signs I cannot read could say something about protecting this girl .

 

[Steely Dan]

The protestor signs say:
No dogs
Who is paying for all of these special measures?
Our children have rights too
Ask your 1st grader
School Board Approves Clorox wipes for our kids faces-We say NO!
Why are we in the dark?
Where is the happy median?
How much academic time has your child lost?
Our kids are special too!
Do you know your own kids rights? use them!

Still looking but haven't seen anything about protecting the girl with the allergy. But certainly the signs I cannot read could say something about protecting this girl .

BBM

:waitasec:

 

[belimom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsVViq9rdmo

This mentions that some believe that the rise in allergies is due to our becoming neurotic about germs. I agree. We're letting our immune systems get weak and it's causing problems for a lot of people. Antibacterial soaps are a big reason, IMO. I stopped using them when I found out they kill the beneficial bacteria on the skin too.

bbm

I agree. But I also think there's another cause. And I know I'm going to be blasted for it but I'm going to post anyway: vaccinations. I believe that there are genetic triggers in some people for certain things - which may include allergies, autism, etc. When you inject someone with something, the immune system and normal ways your body protects you against it cannot work b/c it bypasses the digestive tract, going straight to the bloodstream.

Interesting link: http://www.peanutallergy.com/blogs/general-peanut-allergy-blogs/vaccinations-cause-peanut-allergy

I may be wrong but that's what I believe, at this point in my life.

:truce:


ETA: I'm not trying to get into the vaccination debate here - just wanted to bring that site here as well as maybe point this out, in case it's true...

 

[JBean]

bbm

I agree. But I also think there's another cause. And I know I'm going to be blasted for it but I'm going to post anyway: vaccinations. I believe that there are genetic triggers in some people for certain things - which may include allergies, autism, etc. When you inject someone with something, the immune system and normal ways your body protects you against it cannot work b/c it bypasses the digestive tract, going straight to the bloodstream.

Interesting link: http://www.peanutallergy.com/blogs/general-peanut-allergy-blogs/vaccinations-cause-peanut-allergy

I may be wrong but that's what I believe, at this point in my life.

:truce:


ETA: I'm not trying to get into the vaccination debate here - just wanted to bring that site here as well as maybe point this out, in case it's true...

I hear what you are saying but we just can't detour into vaccinations in this thread. It is a highly controversial and passionate topic.
So, while the issue of vaccinations is certainly a timely, provocative and interesting discussion, lets not do it on this thread.

I know that was not your intention at all, but one repsonse leads to the next and so on. I think there are some vaccination threads going on somewhere else though.

Thanks for your cooperation.

 

[Steely Dan]

I hear what you are saying but we just can't detour into vaccinations in this thread. It is a highly controversial and passionate topic.
So, while the issue of vaccinations is certainly a timely, provocative and interesting discussion, lets not do it on this thread.

I know that was not your intention at all, but one repsonse leads to the next and so on. I think there are some vaccination threads going on somewhere else though.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Doc Who Tied Vaccine to Autism Ruled Unethical - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[JBean]

BBM

:waitasec:

Although, what if there are children that are afraid of dogs, as many are, or have an allergy? Ah 'tis a slippery slope trying to accomodate the masses LOL.
OTOH, what about seizure or other types of specialized dogs? If there was an epileptic that had a seizure dog, would they not want that child to have their dog at school? or is it just specific to peanut sniffin' types of dogs?

 

[BuzzieCat]

BBM

:waitasec:

"No dogs"

I bet that's referring to the peanut-sniffing dog that I still would like to know about but the media doesn't bother following up on because that would be too much work, I guess.

 

[Melanie]

By reading this thread, I can say for myself that I need more education on this deadly allergy. The school seems to be wavering (rinse your mouth out, don't rinse your mouth out). If they are going to advocate for this child, they need to be educated as well.

Is the goal to set fear and panic into the children who attend school with the student? While I don't believe that was the intention, it certainly going down this path.

I can honestly say I don't know what the answer is. I know what I'd personally do in this situation, but others would disagree. If a single peanut could kill my child, then I'd keep him at home and he could attend his lessons via video conference. Yes, I know this isn't the ideal situation for any child. But the question is - would I want him to be alive or dead.

MOOOOO

Mel

 

[Melanie]

"No dogs"

I bet that's referring to the peanut-sniffing dog that I still would like to know about but the media doesn't bother following up on because that would be too much work, I guess.

Interesting - is there such a thing as a peanut sniffing dog? If so, then why can't the student bring a (peanut sniffing) dog to school -- just like a blind person has a seeing-eye-dog.

There are handicapped rules that would prohibit discrimination.

Just curious.

Mel

 

[BuzzieCat]

http://www.clickorlando.com/education/27139755/detail.html

This one's interesting. It has quotes from the girl's parents and indicates that the peanut-sniffing dog will check for traces of peanuts. But this article was updated back on March 11 so perhaps is not accurate after the school changed its tune.

"Wait confirmed that a peanut-sniffing dog will be at the school on Friday to search for areas that may contain traces of the allergen, and she added that the costs are not paid for by taxpayers."

I agree that I think it would be a good idea for the girl to simply have the dog with her. I have read articles indicating that some other peanut-allergic children have dogs to alert the child of the presence of peanuts. But I guess that would raise a whole 'nother stink at the school, and the dogs might not be available to all who need one.

 

[katydid23]

"No dogs"

I bet that's referring to the peanut-sniffing dog that I still would like to know about but the media doesn't bother following up on because that would be too much work, I guess.

At our old school, after the girl had her second brush with death, and after the ambulance took her away, they brought in a peanut sniffing dog. He alerted on a 7 yr old's hoodie, which was draped over his chair.. Specifically the front pocket. There was nothing there but the poor kid was devastated. He felt really guilty even though he was not sure what happened. But the other kids were scolding him and he felt horrible anyway.

I am not saying allergic kids shouldn't be in school, just pointing out the complex ways that others are also affected.

 

[BuzzieCat]

http://www.news-journalonline.com/n...school-deal-with-how-to-handle-allergies.html

Ah even more interesting IMO.

"Meanwhile, school officials are waiting for results from a March 11 visit to the Edgewater school by a black Labrador retriever trained to sniff out peanut residue."

States the girl's parents arranged for this themselves at no expense to taxpayers to try to find out why their daughter was having reactions that required her to go to the school clinic so frequently. Also, some parents were concerned because they believed that this girl would get priority with the school clinic over the other kids. So I guess the dog is not a routine thing.

 

[angelmom]

Sounds like a lot of rumor, stories being brought home from first graders (hardly the most accurate of reporters, especially on topics like time and frequency), and innuendo.

Quote from the little girl's mother:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/n...school-deal-with-how-to-handle-allergies.html

"The truth is we were not aware of 98 percent of what they're protesting," Bailey said. "If these things are truly happening, we are just as upset about them as they are."

IMHO, it does not sound like the school is handling this well.

Starkey hopes school officials will meet with parents as well to hear and address their concerns, and Bailey is willing to be part of that. The superintendent said information will be shared with parents as the review of the situation is completed.

Is it not possible to meet more than once? To explain the situation, accept input, and then meet to share the plan?

Personally I would be POed if I were banned from my child's classroom and someone was putting Clorox on her face. I'm not saying they're really using the Clorox, but that is one of the rumors. And I don't totally trust schools who say, "Oh, we never did that!" because you know they are probably CYA for some teacher who ran out of regular wipes.

The irony about the dogs...

The superintendent said the school was cleaned carefully after the dog left to ensure children with animal allergies won't be affected when they return to classes Monday after Spring Break.

I honestly don't have an answer here, but I think the media has blown it way out of proportion when it is clear the little girl's parents are not the ones who are feeding it to the press.

 

[Nova]

Without taking the bandwidth to requote both your last two whole posts Nova, I agree with the majority of it; however, I don't think you realize that we have subsequently learned that in this case in Florida- the girl's allergies weren't so life-threatening that peanuts being on the clothing or such was an issue. Nor were the children in her class, (only her class was affected, not the entire school) required to rinse out their mouths. Only normal, reasonable precautions like hand-washing and not bringing P, B & J sandwiches and such to school. This was a case of major over-reacting by the parents who were unwilling to be the slightest bit inconvienienced and accomodate her.

Thanks, Linas. I did realize that as it was revealed in the thread. But I thought that, as usual, we were discussing hypotheticals as well as this specific case. (And in one case, I was responding to a post responding to my original post, etc.)

And while I still think allowing disabled kids to mainstream when possible benefits the entire class as well as the disabled person, I think we have to allow for the possibility that there may be kids who are just too much at risk to accommodate. I don't have access to Lexis at the moment, but I assume there have been court cases where courts have recognized it may not be possible for every class to accommodate every disability.

 

[Nova]

yes and she clarified that in the article I quoted so we would not have to presume or assume as you say you did. The change was made prior, but no one bothered to ask about any of this. They just started picketing for the girl to be removed from the school because their children were being inconvenienced,were being denied party food and peanut butter.But had they taken a moment to talk to the school officials, they could have saved this girl from further humiliation. Actually I would guess some of these parents are pretty embarrassed about their behavior.

If their goal was to save the girl's life by removing the girl from the school, I can understand where they are coming from. But that was not their intention and I am embarrassed for them. LOL.

I didn't watch the video so I didn't realize there had been literal picketing.

This would have been my sign:

 

[Melanie]

At our old school, after the girl had her second brush with death, and after the ambulance took her away, they brought in a peanut sniffing dog. He alerted on a 7 yr old's hoodie, which was draped over his chair.. Specifically the front pocket. There was nothing there but the poor kid was devastated. He felt really guilty even though he was not sure what happened. But the other kids were scolding him and he felt horrible anyway.

I am not saying allergic kids shouldn't be in school, just pointing out the complex ways that others are also affected.

Against popular opinion, I have to agree with you. A child with a DEADLY peanut allergy has no place in a public shool. An allergy is one thing (ie, swollen face), but once it hampers the breathing, there's no way no how.

JMHO.

Mel