School board bans treats

kxmb.com ^ | 08/30/07 | AP

[TornadoAlley3]

BRANDON, S.D. (AP) Mom's brownies and other homemade goodies have been banned from grade schools in the Brandon-Valley School District.

The ban is intended to protect kids who are allergic to nuts.

The "no shared treats" policy means no more suckers, cookies or even apples. And it means shared treats will not be allowed at Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's parties in grade-school classrooms.

School district officials say the ban will be strictly enforced.

Although the district no longer allows shared treats in elementary schools, students may bring their own snacks from home.

The ban does not apply to Brand Valley middle school and high school classes.

[Al Gator]

And one more thing, if this ONE KID is so terribly allergic, he should be in a SPECIAL SCHOOL.

I mean hey, who is to say this ONE KID doesn’t run into some peanut smoke from a neighboring house on the way to or from school?

Oh, I see, we just force everyone on his route to give up all nuts to accomodate him.

This is insane.

[mmichaels1970]

This has already happened in my district. We can send gift bags with things like Pencils & Erasers in them for birthdays, but no snacks.

Also....you're not gonna believe this....as I was taking my 6th grader to orientation this year in the parking lot we were talking about the cafeteria. She told me about "no nut" zones that they had actually set up in the lunch room. I'm a bit surprised as to how far this has gone. I just don't remember people just dropping dead in elementary school when we had PB&J in our lunch boxes. I can't say that I'm all up in arms about it, just a little confused.

[netmilsmom]

>>And one more thing, if this ONE KID is so terribly allergic, he should be in a SPECIAL SCHOOL.<<

I know of children who are terribly allergic.
The parent’s go through h@ll connected with it.

Yet, when I suggested, right here on FR that those children should be homeschooled, I got grief.

I don’t know about anyone else, but if my child were in such danger that inhailing peanut smell could endanger his/her life, NO WAY would I trust that every third grader made him/herself a nut free lunch.

I don’t really care what the other parents do. I care about my own kids and would NEVER trust that the “nut free” rule is 100% enforced.

[netmilsmom]

Homeschool.

[TornadoAlley3]

Well, my child is highly allergic to bee stings, I say we ban recess and all outdoor activities at school. Makes sense doesn’t it?

[mmichaels1970]

all of a sudden half the country’s allergic to nuts

I guess the future of peanuts at Major League Baseball games (and NFL) is in jeopardy. We just drop our shells on the ground and, especially here in Cleveland, the wind takes the particles wherever they decide to go. Pro sports has some pretty deep pockets too...lot's of liability risks. I wonder which league will be sued first for selling peanuts at their games.

[mmichaels1970]

I apologize in advance for turning lots into a contraction.

[netmilsmom]

>>This has already happened in my district. We can send gift bags with things like Pencils & Erasers in them for birthdays, but no snacks.<<

Actually, I like this idea and already do it with my girls. They are not in school but take gift bags to Slovak Dance, Polish Dance, CCD and GS for their birthdays. They have fun making them up from dollar store goodies.

Take a class of 30 children, mix in holidays, 100th day of school, fundraiser parties, every birthday and what do we have? Sugary snacks almost every day. And don’t forget those juice boxes!

No wonder kids are getting fat.

Oh and remember, no gym, no tag on the playground.

[small voice in the wilderness]

I've often thought the proof that we have officially gone over the edge would be a National Walk for Food Allergies. (" WHO? Who won't wear the Food Allergy Awareness Ribbon????")

I'm not laughing now. This weekend in Houston, there is the first National Walk for Food Allergies. *chuckle...sigh*

[mtg]

Although the district no longer allows shared treats in elementary schools, students may bring their own snacks from home.

It won't be long before that's changed.

[MEGoody]

Why not let those who have the allergy take personal responsibility for their own safety?

Depends on the severity of the allergy. Some kids are so allergic, they can even have a reaction if they smell nuts or get 'nut dust' anywhere near them. And the allergic reactions can be quick and deadly.

This does seem to be a recent phenomena. I never heard of such things when my kids were in school. I do wonder how much our "sterilize everything/protect the kids from everything" culture has contributed to the seeming increase in the number of kids suffering from allergies.

[netmilsmom]

My girls are highly allergic to mosquito bites. My younger daughter nearly lost her leg to three bites. I’m not kidding.

I am an awful mother. I spray them all over with DEET. *Oh the HORROR!*

Homeschooling is so much easier than trusting that some teacher is going to remember to spray them before they go out on the playground.

[mmichaels1970]

As I think about it, I don't really remember and abundance of treats of any kind for birthdays. I remember them for holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and especially Valentines Day but not really for birthdays.

You know what they did...I remember now...the teacher would actually spank the child once for each year he was old. Then give him a "pinch to grow an inch". Oh man, I think I must have been suppressing those memories.

[mmichaels1970]

I do wonder how much our "sterilize everything/protect the kids from everything" culture has contributed to the seeming increase in the number of kids suffering from allergies.

Hence, my justification for the enforcement of the "5 second rule" with my kids. You know what that is right, or is it just a local thing?

[netmilsmom]

>> Oh man, I think I must have been suppressing those memories.<<

LOL!
I went to Catholic school. I’m suppressing a lot too!

[Politicalmom]

This is ridiculous. Everyone suffers because of a few children.

My kids’ school has done it right. The kids are asked to bring non-nut in-class snacks, which is easily done, and there is a peanut free table in the cafeteria at lunch.

[netmilsmom]

We had a five second rule until we got a puppy.
Now if it’s on the floor for five seconds, the dog is sleeping.

[Gabz]

I do wonder how much our "sterilize everything/protect the kids from everything" culture has contributed to the seeming increase in the number of kids suffering from allergies.

That has been my contention for years.

It seems to me kids who are living in "sterilized" environments tend to be the sickliest. Those that are allowed to just be kids, meaning playing, getting dirty, having pets, etc., tend to be less prone to allergies and other illnesses.

[Publius Valerius]

By... not... eating... food... laden... with... nuts.

A brilliant solution except for the fact that deadly reactions to peanuts can occur in folks who haven't eaten food with peanuts. Again, even simple contact with other people who have eaten peanuts can produce deadly allergic reactions.

Care to try again, this time without the sarcasm?

[mysterio]

Fighting the nanny state should be a requirement of all 2008 candidates.