Allergies and Accomodations
Obviously I don't have much time to blog lately, but I saw a story on the news yesterday that got my goat.
The story was about all of the accommodations that are being made in schools for children with food allergies. Everything from peanuts to eggs to dairy to wheat... the list is almost unending.
In Matthew's class this year, there were so many serious food allergies. There were many foods that we just could not bring in to the classroom.
Was it a pain for me to have to make sure the allergic foods were not in his lunches? Yes. It sure was. But outside of it being difficult to offer him a lot of variety, we did fine. Matthew loves cheese, and was perfectly happy having cheese for lunch every day.
So I certainly am aware of the reality of the situation -- not only in its' scope, but also its' seriousness.
In the news report, a father was stated (and I paraphrase), "Why should 29 children have to alter what they do because of ONE child with an issue?"
OH BOY! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!
Let's take food allergies out of this for a minute.
Why should my child who has almost perfect behavior at school have to suffer because there are children who do not have perfect behavior?
Why should my child who has extremely high cognitive skills have to suffer because there are children whose cognitive skills are not as high?
Why should a child who is poor have to suffer because most of the children are not?
Why should children with perfect speech have to be patient with those with speech impediments?
Why should children who excel in athletics have to compensate for those who are lousy at athletics?
EVERY child has strengths and weaknesses. MANY children have special needs of one kind or another, from food allergies to speech problems to ADHD to autism to mental retardation. The law requires that a free and appropriate public education be provided to every one of them. Not just to the ones for whom it is convenient.
I hope the man in the news story has a perfect Stepford child. It is likely that he doesn't. But I still hope that the parents of his child's peers offer him more compassion than he is willing to show others.
The story was about all of the accommodations that are being made in schools for children with food allergies. Everything from peanuts to eggs to dairy to wheat... the list is almost unending.
In Matthew's class this year, there were so many serious food allergies. There were many foods that we just could not bring in to the classroom.
Was it a pain for me to have to make sure the allergic foods were not in his lunches? Yes. It sure was. But outside of it being difficult to offer him a lot of variety, we did fine. Matthew loves cheese, and was perfectly happy having cheese for lunch every day.
So I certainly am aware of the reality of the situation -- not only in its' scope, but also its' seriousness.
In the news report, a father was stated (and I paraphrase), "Why should 29 children have to alter what they do because of ONE child with an issue?"
OH BOY! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!
Let's take food allergies out of this for a minute.
Why should my child who has almost perfect behavior at school have to suffer because there are children who do not have perfect behavior?
Why should my child who has extremely high cognitive skills have to suffer because there are children whose cognitive skills are not as high?
Why should a child who is poor have to suffer because most of the children are not?
Why should children with perfect speech have to be patient with those with speech impediments?
Why should children who excel in athletics have to compensate for those who are lousy at athletics?
EVERY child has strengths and weaknesses. MANY children have special needs of one kind or another, from food allergies to speech problems to ADHD to autism to mental retardation. The law requires that a free and appropriate public education be provided to every one of them. Not just to the ones for whom it is convenient.
I hope the man in the news story has a perfect Stepford child. It is likely that he doesn't. But I still hope that the parents of his child's peers offer him more compassion than he is willing to show others.
posted by Susan | 8:16 AM
2 Comments:
Well said. It is sad what that dad is teaching his son.
Amen! Unfortunately, there are many people that can't get past their narrow view of things to really look into the seriousness of food allergies. Kids with food allergies can DIE with exposure, and it's nothing to bawk at. If it were his kid affected, his tune would be drastically different.
Thanks for sharing!
Post a Comment
<< Home