Going too far? Banning peanut butter sandwiches because of ONE childs allergy...

[Nubclear]

My son should be able to use his school for gunpractice. I mean, why should the schools be able to reorganize MY sons life just so some kids who aren't immune to bullets can live?

This is why we should privatize the education system.

[JohnT]

Take a guess who has come 180 degrees on this one?

This topic is really bringing out some interesting (read: , ) perspectives.

Imran, I wonder what they would say if this kid was son of the richest person in town, a CEO worth $125,000,000? Or somebody making "just" $350,000? Would they be complaining about how one rich brat forced a school to do this because Daddy was too cheap to send him to a private school?

To the Left it all comes down to affordability... if the parents can afford it, they should send him to a school that is more able to meet his needs (or cough up the dough that the public school has to shell out for this).

And, you know, in this case that is precisely the right answer - for once, I agree with my "brothers" across the border. Assuming this childs family isn't capable of readily paying for special schooling, then me AND my daughter, as a beneficiary of the public school system, are responsible for taking reasonable measures to allow as many children as possible the right to learn.

Being denied peanut butter lunches at school for a year or two is not a grave handicap, even if it affects other poor people whom rely on the cost and convenience of PB to quickly make their kids lunch. In fact, if approached right (something the school obviously did NOT do), is that situations like this help teach children about charity and sacrifice* - if Sophie were to be a child in this classroom, that is how I would approach it.

Personally, I would be ashamed if I were to look a 5 year old in the face (FIVE!!!) and say "my daughters right to eat a specific, non-required-for-her-health food obviates your right to an education and a normal social life." Because the child is the one whom you are telling this to - not the parents. If I got in front of the PTA and whined about this, I would probably be ashamed through the rest of my days.

*Anybody remember my thread re: moral teaching in an irreligious household? Is this not the perfect opportunity to demonstrate to her the meanings of these words?

[JohnT]

Originally posted by MRT144
i say let the kid die. he wasnt cut out for the world before him.

I'm sorry to say but this is an absolutely disgusting sentiment.

No, wait: I'm not sorry. That was beneath you, MRT, and the others on this thread (if y'all exist - I'm not going back to check) whom posted the same.

[MOBIUS]

Nut allergies are some of the worst there are!

A year or two ago in the UK a rising star in British Athletics (don't laugh - this is a serious story!) died because he ate a chicken sandwich...

...that had be cross contaminated by the maker using a knife that had previously spread peanut butter!

Personally I think it is f*cked that some of you are whining about 'losing your freedom of choice' when a child's life is at risk.

The child is 5 for christ's sake, kids that age swap their food, eat stuff that's dropped on the floor - all sorts of sh*t... The kid could DIE!!!

So stop for one second and think about what it would be like to be in the shoes of the parents whose kid is so afflicted (through no fault of their own) wondering if he might accidentally eat something containing nuts and die...

F*ck it! If it is that important you can force feed your brats with peanut butter till it comes out their ears once they return from 'school diet nazi hell'!

You can guess which way I voted...

[Alexander's Horse]

nuts and peanut butter are banned in most pre-schools here. Kids with the allergy can die after contact with even a minute quantity.

I don't mind the ban if it saves little kids from suffering.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat
"the right to eat peanut butter sandwiches"
Is that in the constitution?

That what I was wondering earlier, myself.

[Skanky Burns]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
nuts and peanut butter are banned in most pre-schools here. Kids with the allergy can die after contact with even a minute quantity.

I don't mind the ban if it saves little kids from suffering.

[mrmitchell]

Peanut allergies can cause reaction from just smelling it, if the case is severe enough.

If that's so, then, yes, I value one LIFE over a bunch of brat's sandwiches. In fact the kids will probably like not being able to eat peanut butter--I hated the frigging stuff. A ban at my school would've been awesome. "Mom you can't give me a peanut butter sandwich, it's banned!"

[TCO]

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet


It'd be more tragic if he died though, wouldn't it? Or perhaps the bullying he'll receive as a result of this will drive him to suicide? It's a Catch-22.

If he died of peanut poisoning that would be sad. If he commits suicide over being teased, he is a wimp like you.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Osweld


Yep, and some of the more bratty kids will make a new game - "trick so-and-so into eating peanut butter and die!" but all the sane ones realise the fact he could die and support it.

Atleast that's how it worked in my school. Heck, I once got beaten up by my grade 3 class mates for taking peanut butter cookies to school.

Why don't we just make the kid carry a sign around his neck that says "NO PEANUTS!" That would help remind the other kids not to feed him. No one would tease him, I'm sure.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Osweld


Well, that too.

Wonder why...

[TCO]

Originally posted by MikeH


So a perfectly normal kid with a problem that can be easily managed without any negative effect on the other children should be forced out of normal school? Very harsh solution it seems to me.

Put him in the John Travolta bubble.

[MrFun]

Life, liberty, and pursuit of peanut butter . . .

or something like that, I guess.

[TCO]

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Wouldn't it make equal sense to say that since so many of the kids are absolutely desperate to eat peanut butter sandwiches that they should go to a private school so they can indulge themselves?

This kid is going to a public school. Every reasonable effort should be made to see that he can attend it in safety. I think a rule that peanut oil isn't allowed is perfectly reasonable.

To me, the bottom line is that no child will be harmed if the peanut oil is banned. If the peanut oil is present then one child in the school will be exposed to the risk of death. The banning of peanut oil is a small price to pay.

You are a socialist moron.

[Soul Survivor]

Mobius just brought up a great point, cross contamination.

What if the kid eats someone else's food which was cross contaminated by their parents? What if one of the janitors is eating peanuts while cleaning up but leaves a few behind or they fall underneath something and the kid eats them? What if some other kid brings in some cereal with nut oils in it?

LAWSUIT! "Why oh why didn't the school do something to protect my child!"

If the kid's allergy is so severe, there needs to be constant supervision. Yes its taking away the kid's rights, but last I checked abortion is legal - so don't start *****ing about this.