Peanut butter and jelly sandwich confiscated

[Hum]

In Viola, Arkansas, a debate is heating up, after a student had his peanut butter and jelly sandwich confiscated at lunchtime. The school has a no-peanut-products policy due to a few students with allergies, so the teacher helped the little boy get a new lunch and sent home a note explaining the situation to his mom.

That note didn't go over well, apparently. Soon after the incident, a 'School Nut Ban Discussion' group was launched on Facebook by parents conflicted over the policy.

Some parents believe allergy-free students shouldn't have to cater to a few kids' health sensitivities, particularly if it means cutting out healthy or low-cost snacks packed in their own child's lunchbox.

The mom who packed the confiscated PB&J sandwich thinks kids with allergies should learn "how to manage the problem" rather than live inside a "bubble," according to a local news report.

Other parents of special needs kids feel like they're playing second fiddle to those with allergies. "There are some autistic children that will only eat a PB&J sandwich or nothing at all," one parent opposing the ban argued on Facebook.

According to the Viola District Superintendent John May, this is the first push-back on a policy in place in his school for some time.

"The policy is in place to protect those with a severe, life threatening problem," May told Area Wide News, a Missouri-based news site. "Until we figure out something else, it would be foolish to drop the policy."

Over the span of a decade, reports of kids with peanut allergies have spiked by 18 percent, according to the CDC. Today, about 1 in 25 children suffer from the condition, and about 18 percent of them have had attacks in school.

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[PNWDweller]

*sigh* Yet more control over what can be brought into school.

Really...like he was going to give it to a friend who had allergies to peanuts.

[TPreston]

afik some people are so sensitive that they can become ill from inhalation

[Buttus]

wow, so they don't serve milk or cheese in that school? there's a hell of a lot of people allergic to dairy!

[Aasum]

afik some people are so sensitive that they can become ill from inhalation

Well, then just separate the kids with peanut allergies and let the rest of us have our fun. They already do this with kids with learning disabilities whats one more group.

[bj55555]

*sigh* Yet more control over what can be brought into school.

Really...like he was going to give it to a friend who had allergies to peanuts.

How do you know some little asshat won't try to give peanut products to an allergic kid or smear it on him/her or spike his/her food with it when turned away?

Controlling it is the responsible thing to do.

[bj55555]

wow, so they don't serve milk or cheese in that school? there's a hell of a lot of people allergic to dairy!

When severe dairy allergies become as common as severe peanut allergies, then banning dairy can be considered. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Anibal P]

When severe dairy allergies become as common as severe peanut allergies, then banning dairy can be considered. Thanks for the heads-up.

Peanut allergies are overrated, first most kids don't really have any allergies, and the percentage of those with super severe is infinitesimal, it makes more sense for those kids to learn to deal with reality than cater to them, because once they hit the real world it's up to them, not us to manage their allergies

[Mr. Gibs]

Peanut allergies are overrated, first most kids don't really have any allergies, and the percentage of those with super severe is infinitesimal, it makes more sense for those kids to learn to deal with reality than cater to them, because once they hit the real world it's up to them, not us to manage their allergies

Eh peanut allergy is quite common, and can be deadly.

Sure it should be the kids responsibility to make sure that the food he eats / gets doesn't have peanuts in it but we live in America so if a kid did have a reaction, his parents would sue the school to hell. So what does the school do? They cover their asses and ban stuff.

Don't blame the school, blame the complete lack of self (or parental) responsibility and sue happy culture of this country.

[Solid Knight]

Eh peanut allergy is quite common, and can be deadly.

Sure it should be the kids responsibility to make sure that the food he eats / gets doesn't have peanuts in it but we live in America so if a kid did have a reaction, his parents would sue the school to hell. So what does the school do? They cover their asses and ban stuff.

Don't blame the school, blame the complete lack of self responsibility and sue happy culture of this country.

Although peanut allergies are not rare, a condition that is severe where proximity can be an issue is extremely rare. I'm curious if they have a similar policy regarding latex.

[Hum]

Why not just ban all food & drink in schools ...

[dead.cell]

Am I missing something here? A friend of mine had peanut allergies too, but the peanut butter was fine for consumption as far as I can tell. It was the crunchy peanut butter with the actual peanuts that would cause problems. She said it had to do with a certain chemical, which isn't in regular peanut butter usually.

Of course, everyone is different, but I wouldn't have thought this to be that big of an issue... :huh:

I mean, it's not like we're bringing in bees. :p

[benthebear]

Peanut allergies are overrated, first most kids don't really have any allergies, and the percentage of those with super severe is infinitesimal, it makes more sense for those kids to learn to deal with reality than cater to them, because once they hit the real world it's up to them, not us to manage their allergies

Yeah, you're right. Since we're making kids deal with reality so that they'll be ready once they hit the real world, why don't we make them get jobs and pay taxes too? Screw the kids and screw giving them a safe and nurturing place to learn. I mean, it's not like kids will be kids, or like peanut allergies kill anyone.

[Ottawa Gamerz]

man is the peanut the most powerfull weapon in the world

[moloko]

*sigh* Yet more control over what can be brought into school.

Really...like he was going to give it to a friend who had allergies to peanuts.

you can give it to someone my son just in the area of peanut products starts to have issues breathing. It is noticable. If he touched by someone who has eaten out handled peanut products his skin breaks out in minutes and his throat swells up. so yes there is a reason for no peanut products.

[ncoday]

Yeah, you're right. Since we're making kids deal with reality so that they'll be ready once they hit the real world, why don't we make them get jobs and pay taxes too? Screw the kids and screw giving them a safe and nurturing place to learn. I mean, it's not like kids will be kids, or like peanut allergies kill anyone.

Safe is one thing, a sterile bubble is an entirely different thing and that is what this school is essentially trying to do.

[moloko]

Of course, everyone is different, but I wouldn't have thought this to be that big of an issue... :huh:

I mean, it's not like we're bringing in bees. :p

It is the same thing as a bee sting for some. My son has an epi-pen there at the school in case some retarded parent gives there kid a peanut product and they just happen to touch my son. someone touched him one time that just had a peanut product and he swelled up and had issues breathing. so big deal?

[Hum]

How about an 'allergy-free zone' for the at risk kids ? Keep the normal kids apart.

[IntegralDerivative]

How about an 'allergy-free zone' for the at risk kids ? Keep the normal kids apart.

THIS, or just make a special canteen for them.

[bj55555]

Peanut allergies are overrated, first most kids don't really have any allergies, and the percentage of those with super severe is infinitesimal, it makes more sense for those kids to learn to deal with reality than cater to them, because once they hit the real world it's up to them, not us to manage their allergies

Kids have plenty of time to learn about reality. We're talking about 5 year olds in kindergarten that can barely wipe their own asses yet.

[Rippleman]

let the kids bring anthrax, as long as my kid is resistant to anthrax, who cares if the other kids are affected?

[Growled Member]

Just don't feed the little buggers at all. That'll teach them. Or either do Hum's suggestion.

[Rippleman]

Safe is one thing, a sterile bubble is an entirely different thing and that is what this school is essentially trying to do.

yup... no peanut butter is living in a bubble..

[Edrick Smith]

I like how everyone is shouting "Keep them away from the regular kids" problem solved. Here's the problem they're in such a large diverse group that sometimes there needs to be blanket coverage. I'm sure tons of you on here have medical, mental, physical, what have you issues that you wouldn't appreciate especially at that age being called "non normal" and segmented.

[bj55555]

Safe is one thing, a sterile bubble is an entirely different thing and that is what this school is essentially trying to do.

On the one hand, banning peanut butter is creating an unwarranted sterile bubble for 5 year old Kinders that need to learn how to deal with the "real world" in which peanut butter exists EVERYWHERE from school playgrounds to crowded subways to the break room of your typical office building. The real world is just flowing with so much peanut butter it's practically up to our necks. It's never too early to teach kids how to take on personal responsibility because they might not know what to do 25 years later when their co-worker from accounting walks into their cubicle with a PB&J sandwich in his hand and accidentally drops it on them--in the "real world".

On the other hand, 10 year old 5th graders should be protected from learning what their pee-pees are for because we know kids putting their pee-pees together NEVER happens in the "real world".