Mrs. Q had a guest blogger yesterday who wrote about having children with food allergies and the issues this raises concerning school lunches (Food Allergies) The issue arises as to whether it is the responsibility of the school to provide alternative lunches for children with food allergies and/or ban the allergens from the school to protect just one student with allergies. One parent writes that her autistic 8-year old (not potty-trained, btw) has gluten allergies and the school refuses to provide special food for him, despite the fact that he qualifies for the free/reduced lunch program. Other respondents state that it is the responsibility of parents to provide these specialized lunches, regardless of financial qualifications.
I bring all of this up because it contributes to discussions I have had with many people since I became a teacher eight years ago. Whose job is it to raise the children? I have taught in two rural school districts where many parents had abdicated the responsibility of instilling basic manners and life skills to the schools themselves. I have heard horror stories from other educators of children sent to kindergarten who have not yet been potty trained because the parents can't be bothered and expect the teachers to do the job for them. I also refer to the episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution in which the principal at the elementary school and Jamie had to teach the children how to use knives to cut their food in the cafeteria.
What is happening in this country? Are we becoming (or have we already become) a nation of screen-staring, convenience food-swilling zombies? Is the world of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 coming to reality? Why is no one willing to take responsibility for his/her own actions/requirements?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Oh Virginia, Glad I found you from Mrs. Q's blog! My oldest child has a peanut allergy and I never expected the school to be totally responsible. I packed her lunch everyday. It was her responsibility to not eat from someone elses lunch, I didn't want her separated from the rest of the class, as I didn't want her to feel like an outcast. We did warn the teachers and staff and taought Everyone of the adults who would come in contact with her how to use an epi-pen. There were 2 to 3 kits in every school in which she was enrolled.
ReplyDeleteFrom a young age she learned to read labels.
We only had one incident. A teacher gave out candy as they were leaving to get on the bus, what you got is what you got you didn't get to pick...she got peanut taffy (black and orange wrapper cheap stuff)didn't know what it was, was starving on the bus and ate it, knowing she shouldn't and by the time she got off the bus 15 minutes later was ready to throw up and had the red rash on her trunk and was already having trouble breathing...out came the benadryl and epi-pen. It was scary.
Esp. for her. She NEVER again ate anything where she couldn't read the ingredients.
Was the teacher wrong? Yes. Was my kid wrong? Yes.
Did I expect the school to Raise my child no.
That child is actually 22 and married now. So this was a long time ago.
I am really upset with the movement to have the schools feed All children. Yes, it is out there, Janet Poppendick's book Free For All has a lot of people thinking that we should move to feed all the kids. Personally I say no. I personally favor the Canadian way now that I've learned of it, where everyone brings their lunch. That leaves the responsibility of what the kids are eating up to the parents.
Where it should be. Maybe school lunches should just be for those who can't afford to pack a lunch. Those truely in need.
What has this country come to when parents can't be bothered to teach their kids the basics of life. How to go potty, how to use a fork and knife, how to say excuse me and please and thank you. Let alone, a cow says moo and where milk comes from...
btw I'm also from KY