It's no joke! Cobb school bans peanuts (FReep the poll! Please!)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 8.7.02 | MARY MACDONALD

[Dianna]

The more important point, though, is that the person with the problem has the responsibility to protect himself. If he cannot function in normal society, it is not normal society's problem to accommodate him.

The person with the problem is a child at school. You propose that the child himself ought to be in charge of policing the actions of all his classmates? "Johnny, I can't play with you unless I see you wash your hands after eating your PB&J"? "Mary, if you ate peanut butter at lunch you cannot pass me papers!"

Do you think we ought not provide any special assistance for blind or deaf people? Crosswalks ought not have those little chirping birdie things so that blind people know when to cross the street?

All those imperfect people out to go hide in their houses and stop causing us so much trouble.

[HIDEK6]

The person with the problem is a child at school. You propose that the child himself ought to be in charge of policing the actions of all his classmates? "Johnny, I can't play with you unless I see you wash your hands after eating your PB&J"? "Mary, if you ate peanut butter at lunch you cannot pass me papers!"

That's not a bad idea. I recall a sixth grade asthmatic classmate of mine requesting that we not smoke in his presence. We knew him, so we didn't smoke around him. Problem solved.

We sure didn't have to get the state involved in banning smoking in school!

Do you think we ought not provide any special assistance for blind or deaf people? Crosswalks ought not have those little chirping birdie things so that blind people know when to cross the street?

I don't think it should be the law of the land that society must provide accommodation for every problem experienced by those who think others are responsible with providing them everything they want.

And I've never heard of chirping things. I would think that if crosswalk light manufacturers wanted to offer a chirper as an option, and if the owner had an intersection that a lot of blind people used, that owner may want to buy that option.

[Dianna]

The heart of the discussion is choice.

I disagree. Are we, as a society obligated to provide reasonable accomodation for those who are "handicapped"? I think we are as a moral issue. But this is no longer a choice, it's been legislated and overlegislated in many different areas. Is it reasonable to ban peanut butter? Maybe not. Perhaps separate tables and a little extra vigilance would be enough.

[1rudeboy]

All right, I'll bite. I'm tired of talking peanuts anyway. Please point out my subject-predicate conflicts.

[Dianna]

That's not a bad idea. I recall a sixth grade asthmatic classmate of mine requesting that we not smoke in his presence. We knew him, so we didn't smoke around him. Problem solved.

Problem solved because you were a reasonable kid.

People act like jerks or are careless so we respond with rules and laws and then half of us rebell because we don't like to be pushed around. I don't know what the answer is. We certainly aren't becoming a "nicer" society because of it all.

[Dianna]

And I've never heard of chirping things. I would think that if crosswalk light manufacturers wanted to offer a chirper as an option, and if the owner had an intersection that a lot of blind people used, that owner may want to buy that option.

The owner being the state or county, and bingo you've got chirpy things at the crosswalks. I'd like society much better if it were the 10 of us in town getting together to put in a wheelchair ramp at the general store so that old widow Jones can go shopping. Or a group of local parents deciding not to send peanut butter to school because Susie's little one is allergic and that's personal to us. But we're not that way anymore.

[Publius6961]

I disagree... no longer a choice, it's been legislated and overlegislated... is it reasonable to ban peanut butter? Maybe not. Perhaps separate tables and a little extra vigilance would be enough.

You seem conflicted.
Is eating peanut products anywhere still legal? is it a choice or isn't it?
When were peanut products banned by legislation?

Are not your last two statements expressions of choice?

You will note that the professional compassionate with a personal agenda did not include accomodation as an option at the beginning of this thread.

[Dianna]

Is eating peanut products anywhere still legal? is it a choice or isn't it? When were peanut products banned by legislation?

Are life threatening allergies a disability as per the ADA? I don't know. If they are, or can be argued to be, then I'd say the school probably has no choice but to do "something". Whether a ban would be deemed more reasonable than separate tables given the risk is something I don't know. Ask a Judge.

[Publius6961]

Ask a Judge.

Thank you for the distillation of a long thread into the few meaningful key words.
And it was not even necessary to drag the word "children" into it!

[Search4Truth]

"Ninety-five percent of children's food allergies are due to cow's milk protein, egg whites, wheat proteins, soy beans, shellfish, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts (like walnuts). Other common allergens include corn, peanut butter, citrus fruits, chocolate, and food additives."

Allergies in Children What to Do

This school's logic then dictates that we eliminate all of the above foods from schools. Checkpoints with specially trained dogs and detectors can then be placed at all points of entry to ensure a "Allergen Free Zone".

[Tennessee_Bob]

I think I'm a year ahead of you...

[Ravaged Nation]

Pardon me, I didn't realize this discussion was about you eating peanuts at school amongst children.

[Terriergal]

Would you feel the same way if the fish toxins that cause you trouble were airborne? Say from a neighbor's lunchbox.

They are.

[Terriergal]

I would just leave the area. Seems pretty simple. If the school doesn't cooperate (let you leave the area and give treatment as necessary) then you force the issue. But I would not force others to NOT eat something that bothers me.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Schools aren't voluntary. This is the real problem.

[texson66]

Sounds like a urban legend. If some people are aware of their own severe reactions, do they have the right to have peanuts banned on flights? Or is it just the threat of a lawsuit that prompts airlines to fold. How about perfume, after shaves, etc. Where does it end?

[texson66]

Well, then, I propose that schools round up the kiddies with these special allergies and assign them to a special class so that NO allergic reactions could take place. If it means putting them in a special trailer for class, PE, cafeteria,so be it. But let the other kids eat PB&J sandwiches at school!

[Terriergal]

I agree it's a problem that schools aren't voluntary - that we should have more choice. But even so, if I thought my life was in danger I'd scream bloody murder before they made me sit there and further endanger it. I had life threatening asthma as a child and being around fish triggered it. I know there was one time I thought I was going to die, but mom and dad didn't know how bad off I was because I was in bed and unable to get out, and unable to call for help. I couldn't sneeze or cough, just laid there concentrating on not getting excited or panicking, and concentrating on breathing as best I could. Yikes.

I outgrew the asthma except where fish is concerned... I don't cook fish and I don't visit restaurants where much fish is cooked. I can handle now a little fish aroma with only a minor reaction. I did take allergy desensitization series for about three years as well. People with kids with severe allergies should look into this for their kids.