[Sca-cooks] OOP More schools ban Peanut Butter

[Daniel & Elizabeth Phelps]

Nicco said:
I am in favor of finding a way to protect the vulnerable
few . . . and at the same time considering the majority.

I agree. It is, or should be, an ongoing topic of discussion. I really miss 
peanut butter. We are fortunate that Margret's allergy is only moderate, I 
am not sure what my attitude would be if it was severe. But at last word 
from the pediatric allergist, she's most likely going to be stuck with it 
her whole life.
I suspect, although I don't think it has been mentioned in this version of 
the discussion on this list, that one of the reasons that peanut butter is 
so popular in schools is that it is a cheap protein. As someone trying to 
stretch a middle class income to feed, clothe, and house four people, I can 
appreciate this.
Also, I do apprecitate the moderation of your tone. What really bothered me 
about that story was the hatefulness of some of the comments that people 
made, posted anonymously on email lists, I believe it was-they would not 
have been that brave to say something like that to a parent's face, I bet. 
One of the things I treasure about the SCA is that we (most of us, anyway,) 
try and behave like adults when discussing things.
A solution? I dunno, we have pretty much come to one that works for our kid, 
I can't presume to suggest what other people would do. So, we keep talking, 
I guess. Thanks again for giving me a forum to air my views.
YIS,
Isabella de la Gryffin
Oldenfeld, Trimaris

Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.
Frank Zappa

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like 
administering medicine to the dead.
Thomas Paine
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nick Sasso" <grizly at mindspring.com>
To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 8:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] OOP More schools ban Peanut Butter


>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Nichola said:
> <<I just want to comment on this coming from the schools side....
> ...
> We have to take 100% responsibility for these kids while they are in our
> care.
> ...
>    In a nut free school, teacher has a Hershey bar, (Check the label it
> is there), touches kid with allergy that doesn't have smart parents that
> said anything.... KID DIES....  Do you want to stand in those shoes when
> it comes time to make that phone call?>>
>
> See, that kind of thing is the thing I think that folks miss. I know *I*
> didn't consider it until I read the article, and then having done so, it
> *completely* freaked me out, because I have been the care giver for 
> toddlers
> myself, and there is absolutely *no way*, that if one of them has 
> something
> like a peanut butter sandwich, that you can guarantee that every child in
> that group isn't going to also be "exposed" to that peanut butter.
>
> Anyone who has seen a 6 year old eat a PB&J sandwich *knows* that the 
> peanut
> butter *is* (not might, *will*)end up on everything within reach of that
> child.    > > > > > > > >
>
>
> I think I am still struggling with the logic of the solution enforced:
>
> Maybe 13 out of 1,000 children (1997, JAMA) will have a significant peanut
> allergy . . . so the 9,987 children without said allergy are put into a
> situation of "food quarantine" for the solution of protecting the 13.  I
> again find it lacking in creativity, motivation and/or ANY consideration 
> of
> the overwhelming majority of people who are not affected by this 
> condition.
> Certainly there are other options than a "zero tolerance" edict that is
> lobbied, demanded and nearly extorted by some of the parents/families of
> these children who have this very serious and very dangerous condition.
>
> A society or sub-society that wields such absolute power in 
> decision-making
> has a real possibility of unhniging the vast power of the majority to
> innovate and generate new, powerful solutions to such problems.  Fear of
> litigation drives so much policy in large social institutions that 
> liability
> insurance and enforcement resources drain from the R&D resource pool of 
> $$$
> and motivation.  I am in favor of finding a way to protect the vulnerable
> few . . . and at the same time considering the majority.  I don't mean to 
> be
> anti-draconian, or insensitive but if sequestration of the child from all
> peanut contact (including magazine pictures) is the only solution for 
> safety
> of a given child, then perhaps home-schooling would be an appropriate
> response until the sensitivity abates to a more survivable level, or a
> better solution is developed???
>
> pacem et peanut,
> niccolo difrancesco
> (I know I am treading in political waters, and working to stay respectful
> and gentle in the conversation)
>
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