You are an ignorant and hateful woman. God help you if your child developes something in life and NOBODY supports your child or you as a mother. Disgusting outlook.

To Susan-2256455

How are the other children learning compassion? No one ever said that the children are not getting a good education. Just because they have to wash their hands & wipe their face, that means they are not getting a good education. That does not even make sense.

I cannot believe that these parents are not sympathetic to this child. I'm in CT and in when my kids were in the younger grades, we had peanut allergy kids ranging from rash to stop breathing and die. It was never a big deal for the kids to wash their hands after snack/lunch and also to have a no peanut butter/nut product snack rule for the classroom. Never, did any of us protest to get the child/children out of our school! Our kids just grew up knowing that some kids have allergies that could kill them and they need to wash their hands. The parent of the child/children also brought in wipes to the classroom so the kids could use them as well.

Those parents should be ashamed of themselves for behaving this way and to be teaching their children that it's okay to make another child an outcast! They need now to be grateful that their child is healthy and doesn't have a disease that could could kill them. I hope for them, that they never have to experience something like this but, what if they did? What if their child needed a blood transfusion and developed AIDS. Remember, we are all fragile for something horrific to happen. What goes around comes around. It's called Karma.

Shame, shame on you!

This is becoming too much. "Extreme Measures." Really? "30 Minutes to wash hands." Really? A shower shouldn't take 30 minutes. Handwashing in two sinks and a wipe of the mouth for 32 children should take maybe 5 minutes. And it's not like it's pointless. It's basic hygiene. Anyways, back to the point. The parents who feel their children are being "stripped of their rights" are really willing to make the parents of the little girl with the life-threatening nut allergy go attend 'a special school/program' of sorts simply because they think it's wasting too much education time? Grow up.

This is so sad that people wouldn't want to teach there children that it is OK to go out of there way to do and help others! This is a 6 yr old little girl with a life threatening allergy! Those of you who are against supporting this little girl WELL!!! you have issues BIG ONES!!! We are to teach our kids no matter what, do what ever it takes to help, keep her safe, and also teachs these kids an important responsability! thats a big one to teach these kids! little effort to do so and these adults have to whine about it...alls I can say you ought to be ashamed! To the parents of that little angel and the little angel her self...My prayers are with you!

I agree you are an idiot. As a teacher, when the swine flu hit last year we had to ask kids to wash hands multiple times a day, sanitize desks daily, etc. I don't remember ANYONE complaining that this was unfair and it took time out of the children's education. Why? Because swine flu could infect everyone. People have no compassion. We are a selfish society.

YOU SAD PATHETIC PERSON!

My young son suffers from SEVERE food allergies, not just to peanuts. We own restaurants in which we now are the only one who manufacturers and sells a completely allergen free pizza....SO THAT EVERYONE IN A FAMILY CAN COME AND EAT.

You have NO IDEA what it's like to come home and have your child want to "smell" what the non-allergen sufferers are eating since it's something that they really wish they could try.....Pizza, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Donuts, McDonalds.

People look through such jaded glasses and it's so sad.

However, in our case our son DOES sit with his friends at the regular cafeteria table....WHY?....we have educated our son from the beginning about his allergies and how to BE CAREFUL. Our school Principal made the same decision to remove snacks WHICH WE DO NOT AGREE WITH since we only asked that we be able to bring in a "like" snack for our son and that there be no nuts.

Most kids with food allergies can eat Lay's potato chips; Swedish Fish; allergen free cookies or cupcakes. However, it DOES take some understanding from the parents on both sides and sometimes parents can be over-protective which can affect their child for a lifetime.

I guess to conclude, when I run into ignorance such as this I ask one simple long-winded question: For the ignorant it's about your kids choice of which snack they WANT TO EAT...For us, it's about a snack that our child cannot eat -- OR THEY CAN DIE!

I want one of these ignorant parents to go through what we go through! I want one of these blinded parents to experience what we had to experience -- November 2009 our young son came home from a neighbors house...walks into our home....leans against the hallway wall....starts a croupe (sp) style cough....falls to the floor....I pick him up and bring him to the couch while my wife calls 911....I pull out the Epi-Pen and he looks at me and with very little breathe he says "no daddy....please no daddy" at that point I had to jamb a long needle into his thigh in an effort TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

SO....you are going to protest the fact that YOUR KID CAN'T HAVE A SCHOOL SNACK? I am not surprised since NONE of you have had to see your child say "no daddy....please no daddy."

My question is....how many of those parents protesting have kids that have ADHD. I can guarantee you there is more lost education time dealing with ADHD kids in the classroom (I can say this because my son was ADD) than there is in washing hands twice a day (which should be done anyway). How would they feel if parents were protesting their kids being in the classroom. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Please take this opportunity to teach your children some compassion. Children need to learn to make sacrifices for others...it will make them more compassionate people and thats something this world could use a little more of. "There but for the grace of God go I."

There are not special schools/areas that "deal" with it!! How would you feel if it were your child? You would want he/she to LIVE a full life: I would hope. Guess what her child as well as mine; also a severe peanut allergic (PA) child has a right and by law is required to have an education! You are saying the "few" children that are PA are not important enough to give them a safe environment and that their need don't matter! Selfish!! Does it actually hurt anyone by washing hands or other steps taken to protect someone else? NO, just gets rid of germs and in this case... poison as well! It is so sad that people just don't think of others unless it is them!

Absolutely appalling. You should be ashamed of yourself as should those parents in Edgewater protesting the use of common hygiene to prevent a deathly allergic reaction. With all of the problems we are having with bullying in this country, we need to teach our children compassion and caring. Furthermore, how could you possibly consider twice daily hand washing and mouth wiping extreme? These should be common practices, regardless of allergies! Here in NYC most schools won't allow any foods with nuts just to prevent a possible allergic reaction. It's not extreme, it's safe.

The parents at this school DO have compassion for the child and her allergy!!!!! All of you do not know all the facts!! Like how this child comes to school events like the school carnival, she went to Disney, goes shopping in the local grocery store, even trick or treating and eats at Applebees. So if this is life threatening does the parents have everyone she comes in contact with wash their hands, rinse their mouth out and wipe down the rides?

I have a niece who is 7 years old who has the same allergy. My sister has educated her enough to ask if there are peanuts in anything she goes to eat. She carries an epi-pen just in case.

They say if she smells peanuts she will die. I say shame on the parents for putting their child in harms way!! Their job is to protect her!! If this was my child I would have her home schooled which the county would pay for since she couldn't attend a public school. THe parents said they can't afford to pay for home schooling. The fact is that home schooling is paid for my the county so they are not telling the truth!

As for the classroom celebrations if there is to be no treats for any of the classes what gives her parents the right to bring in treats for her class only!! How is that fair to the other 6 years old the school!!

I can"t believe that parents will spend so much time and energy saying their kids are missing out on education. They are the cause of it. Some have pulled their kids out of school for 4 days, to prove What? Their children lost about 24 hours of education just so they can prove what point!?. Parents are the #1 role model. Sorry to say they are not teaching their children any morals with this matter. The only thing they are teaching is to be as selfish as they themselves are. What would they do if the child they love so much were to need help in any way? How would they feel if that poor little girl was to die because of their selfishness!

DISGUSTING!!! You are talking about life and death! Simple hygiene and handwashing not only prevents DEADLY ALLERGIC REACTIONS but COMMON COLD and FLU which means LESS TIME is taken away from thier education! It is a ridiculous argument!! Stop wasting your child's time standing on the side of the road holding signs and take this time to educate your child on humanity, citizenship and personal hygiene!!!

Give your children credit, they can do this. What is so terrifying? Your child will not be harmed by having to wash, or miss certain snack items. Your child needs to be safe and so does this little girl. Maybe you don't understand fully what anaphylaxis looks like or how quickly it can kill. While helping this little girl by making these minor accommodations, your child will learn love and tolerance.

We had a child in our community with similar life threatening allergies. We worked as a community, with his doctors at Johns Hopkins, to carry out a program allowing him to stay in school and be safe, too. Our children learned that they could make small sacrifices and save this other child's life. Oh! How important they felt. It became their crusade! Helping this one child really helped our children just as much.

The boy grew up, and grew out of many his life threatening allergies. He moved away but his family returns annually. They have spoken in many schools in the area. They are so grateful to this community. I have no doubt that the one child we kept safe by washing and going without popcorn and cupcakes for few years will repay us by doing great things. My children, who are in and going off to college, remember the whole thing....very, very well. They never mention the popcorn or the cupcakes.

They remember that they helped someone.

It disappoints me so much to see those we "trust" to report the news, do not even use their common sense when reading the news or interviewing. It is so hard to listen to "acclaimed" reporters discuss the issues. Really, wasn't it a while back when you reported on how it takes at least one minute, 60 seconds or a round of "Happy Birthday" for a person to wash their hands effectively! So let's do a word problem in math and ask for the elementary answer for the school's representative to tell the truth.

If there are 28 students who need to wash their hands twice a day. Their are two available sinks. Proper hand washing takes 1 minute or 60 seconds each. In addition, each child must also wash or wipe their mouth, dry their hands, throw away the towel, turn water on and off, and hopefully clean up their mess; so let's say 5 seconds. How long does it take for this class to wash their hands twice a day? How much time is spent weekly, washing hands by these students?

28x2= 56 hand-washings a day

Each hand washing takes 65 seconds

56 hand-washings at 65 seconds each = 3640 seconds or 60.66 minutes or approximately 1 hour.

Since their are 2 sinks, this time can be reduced in half resulting in a truly effective time of 30 minutes because we know children are like little robots and there will be no need for any supervision or direction and no mayhem.

Since there are 5 school days a week, a typical week will require us to multiply this 30 minute process by 5 resulting in 2 1/2 hours a week. Perhaps, someone should have called the school representative on her blatant misinformation.

Why do you continue to report such illogical reports and/or let those you interview lead you around by the ring in your noses like you think we all possess. I have switched on your show 3 times in the last month and all three times caught you in blatant errors on reporting. Today a had a minute to waste - obviously since I was listening to your reports - so I decided to send you a note in hopes that you will require more infantile fact checking before you take a stand as do good reports to the masses.

Please be responsible if you are given the privilege of reporting the news. It used to be an honor now its just nonsense dribbling from mouth of one seeking to exploit for popular ratings? No wonder, most people count on Comedy central and satirists for the REAL news.

To NOT THE CASE: So your saying that little girl can't have a normal life, like shopping and Disney world, because your against hand washing and oral hygiene?

As a first year teacher, I have quite a few concerns with this situation...

1. This child has every RIGHT to receive a public education as any other child in this country. So you can't bring in peanut butter birthday treats, big deal. Consider your own feelings if this was your child. Would your want you baby in a life threatening situation because an ignorant parent felt it was their child's "right" to put a classmate at risk with nutty foods?

2. Is this the 1950's? I thought segregation was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court? The young girl already must sit alone with only her para to eat lunch each day. How much more do you want her to feel distant and separated from her schoolmates? Really. Lunch and recess are just about the only time when kids get to unwind from academia and socialize for fun with other children. Socialization skills are extremely important in young school years. What if a beautiful, vibrant personality is being completely suppressed by a solitary eating environment. Again, would you want your baby to eat lunch alone day after day? No, you want them to have all the friends and positive experiences as possible throughout their day. Does the child with PA deserve to be alone?

3. What if teachers ignored YOUR child's exceptionalities? Oh, that child has autism, so kick her out. That boy hasn't taken his ADHD meds today, so send him home. Seriously- never going to happen? If teachers had this attitude, every single one of the students in our classroom would be "taking away others' rights" according to the attitudes of these FL parents. Similarly, children with other exceptionalities than allergies can also disrupt and take away instruction time in their own way...as even a group of chatty, unfocused children can. They're kids- they get off task sometimes, and they aren't supposed to be perfect.

4. As one mother thinks, it does NOT take 30 instructional minutes out of a day for elementary students to was their hands and wipe their mouths twice in a school day. As an intern in Kindergarten, it only took us a maximum of 10 minutes to do this- mind you, with a bunch of giddy kiddos who had never been in a public school routine before. Teachers know that young children need breaks throughout the day. Their attention spans scientifically don't last 8 hours, and guess what, like you, they need restroom breaks during the day. If these hand washing times, as I'm sure they are, are built into 2 bathroom/hand washing breaks throughout the day, they're not taking away any intended teaching time at all. In addition, hand washing is a good practice and kills germs. Yay for good hygiene.

5. Lastly, the "protest" is too much. Wow. A sign that reads "No Dogs." You should be ashamed of yourselves. C'mon people, really? As an educator, it almost brought me to tears. No child deserves that kind of ruthless pain ADULTS are bringing upon her. Judge the log in your own eye before you judge the speck in someone else's. In school, we strive to teach our students good citizenship, fairness, respect and equity. What are you modeling as a parent to reaffirm positive character building at home? By protesting, making a scene and alienating one student, you're totally making that progress regress. Is it your child or YOU, a grown adult, who really has the issue here?

For those of you who agree that every child in this free country is entitled to a public, quality education, regardless of his/her exceptionalities, I applaud you. Thank you for your positive attitude!

I think all these people should be ashamed of them selves to say this little girls life is not worth their child having to wash their hands.I would like to see how these people live it must be gross if they have such a problem with hand washing.what if it was your child that did not wash their hands and killed this little girl do you want that on your shoulders I think not. So come on people grow up and think of other I mean really what is this world coming to if we can not come together as a community for the life of a child all of you people should be ashamed of yourself. You should teach your child better morals than that...

SHAME ON YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!!

Bravo to all the posters who agree that the handwashing is necessary in daily life for many reasons, not just the peanut allergy issue!

For those opposed to 'wasting time' to wash hands, how do you feel when flu season rolls around or their is an outbreak of swine flu or Rota virus? Are you going to protest handwashing then? Not to mention just washing after using the bathroom.

Handwashing is very important. This is part of the school helping make a safe environment for ALL!

In response to the mom who felt it was too much to ask for children in school to wash their hands to help the peanut allergic children be safe, shame on you. I have raised 3 children and now am raising 2 of my grandchildren and I have always taught them to be compassionate towards others especially their fellow students who might be different from them. No one asks to be born with an allergy or disability whether physical or mental so why should they be treated as if it were their fault. God only knows what tomorrow holds and one day it could be our child in that situation. We have to teach our children to be compassionate towards all. If we as parents and grandparents instilled that in our children at a young age then maybe we wouldn't have to worry about kids bringing guns to school and shooting others who are intolerant towards them. My best friend has a child who is peanut allergic and her son had to be rushed to the emergency room after a school Christmas party due to ignorance on the teachers part. The school had already been informed of her son's condition and yet because of the same attitude as the woman who posted above he ended up in the hospital and nearly lost his life. He is the most precious 5 year old you ever want to meet and he almost died because of the same attitude as above. Why should he be singled out, why should he have to eat in a hallway away from all of his friends. He has the same right as all the others in that school including the right to not be singled out. The world is the way it is today because of parents like this woman who breeds intolerance. God forgive them.

There has always been someone who is different and it takes effort from good people to help them fit in. We have made it from the days of segregated schools to integrated schooling. We have built wheelchair ramps, food pantries and autism awareness. There are so many obstacles that we have overcome in the past to help children get through life as smooth as possible. This decade we are working on helping the growing number of young people with food allergies fit in.

If you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

I think all of these comments are nonsense. I have a son that has a severe peanut allergy and also other food allergies along with grasses, trees, and molds. When he was between 3-4 years of age he was tested and found to have a severe reaction to peanuts and at that time he had a slight reaction for green peppers but now he was tested resently and he has more food allergies and almost everything environmetnal. My son went to the school in question and the only thing I had to do was to make sure they had medication in the nurses office if anyhting was to happen. My son has known what he can and can't eat since he was 4 years old and in daycare. He is in middle school now and has not had any problems. I don't see how these type of plans will work when the child gets to middle school and high school. These schools are probably double the size and a lot more kids and these procedures will not work in that type of situation. Peanut is the MOST common food allergy and a lot of people do have it. I can't believe that someone would actually compare ADHD to a peanut allergy. Besides all of my son's allergies he is also ADD and I see no comparison to the two issues. A child that is ADHD or ADD gets no special treatment in school. I guess I should have my child taken out of PE because is so allergic to grass and trees but instead he gets penalized at school if he does not dress out and participate in what they are doing outside. If my son has any type of reaction or starts having breathing difficulties he could have a major problem because he also has asthma issues. I am not out there trying to change everything just for him and if his life was in jeopardy I would personally keep him home to protect him. I even have a friend that has a child with a life threatening problem and in a sense he has lived most of his life like a boy in a bubble. He essentualy does not have an immune system. At one point she tried to let him attend school but the risk became to great so she continues to home school.

I am not complaining about the hand washing but I do think that this whole situation is getting completely blown out of proportion but I guess some people like all the attention.

I too am a mom to a 7 year old with severe food allergies. Like this little girl my son cannot smell or touch it. At first I planned on home schooling so I didn't have to be a burden on others but after talking to our WONDERFULLY accepting school we decided to send him. It is AMAZING how compassionate his classmates are even begging their own parents not to send them to lunch with a cookie so they can sit with my son at lunch in his special room. They all look out for him and are so accepting and concerned about his condition.

It made me literally sick to my stomach seeing those innocent kids out there picketing being subjected to their parents (who are supposed to be their role models) PURE HATE! The still shots of that protest could have been made into black and white and been passed off for a scene from the 1950's!! it's DISGUSTING!

To all your ignorant people out there, THERE ARE NO SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO SEND OUR KIDS TO! And yes us food allergy parents have heard of an epi pen! apparently you've never had to STAB your child who is gasping for air and clinging to life while you yourself are scared and shaking It's not that easy to do.

I can't imagine if it came time for my child to go to school and we were treated like this being called a Dog! it seriously makes my chest ache at the thought.

There is a thing called Soy Nut Butter out there. If your child NEEDS that taste THAT badly switch to it! it's the same taste and same cost!

PLEASE teach your child acceptance of others regardless of who they are!

I could not agree with you more.

Thoughts from another teacher expanding on what was already stated:

1. Hand washing is a good thing.

2. Discriminating against a child who, by law, has every right to be in a public school (whether parents like it or not) is a bad thing. A teachable moment is being missed! In a situation like this, a community could come together and parents could be teaching their children to show compassion for each other. Instead, all those parents are teaching their children is how to bully on a large scale.

3. So, cupcakes are out. Are we not in the middle of dealing with numerous childhood obesity problems in our country? Has it gotten that bad that telling our kids to put the snack cakes down causes such withdrawals that we need to protest? Childhood obesity is an actual problem to fight that is currently resulting in the risk of potential heart-related diseases and health problems for all children.

4. I would rather teach my children the importance of sharing our time on Earth with all kinds of people (because the differences will never change) and making the most of it, than teaching them they should only think about themselves. I wonder who will want to help those ignorant parents, god forbid, they should ever have to go through something similar. It is always easier to throw stones when you are not the one in the situation.

5. Pictures of children holding up picket signs against a fellow 1st grader disgust me. Those pictures literally showcase the destruction of childhood innocence. They are too young to be a part of so much anger that I am sure they do not even understand. Those protesting parents are setting this little girl up to be shunned by her peers. Has anyone considered how the little girl might be feeling about herself at this moment?

6. No one can control what the parents do. They are protected by law and it is no one's choice, agree or disagree, what type of school they put their child into, but their own. What we can control is how we react to the situation. With that said...

News Flash Parents: Taking your students out of school to protest that they are losing precious educational time in school is simply stupid. School is for learning about the rigorous courses, becoming a well-rounded healthy person, and learning how to work together in a larger picture of life. Ganging up on a family who never wished such an allergy on their daughter to avoid your children washing their hands is acting anything but educated. Sometimes the largest lessons are in what we will do for each other.

7. I cannot even believe that we are giving those parents 15 minutes of fame as a reward for their ignorance. It is the kind of thing that makes it so easy to lose faith in humanity and yet, makes it so clear to see why so many students act the way they do. We are knee deep in wars and natural disasters. Imagine what could happen if those picketing parents put their minds to something useful and actually used their energy to help someone other than themselves?

I AM FLABERGASTED at the reaction of these selfish, unsympathetic, uneducated parents that think the student with food allergies should not be allowed in class!! As a mother of a son with a special need (low vision) I would NEVER expect nor would the school that my son attends reactions as these people have reacted. Yet another reason to attend private school!!

Instead of arguing about this topic how about teaching our kids compassion, understanding and acceptance of those that are less fortunate than others. As a parent I am just appalled at the behavior and expectations from parents these days--and to have your children "picketing" in front of the school displays poor judgement and lack of intelligence from those parents.

Get with the program folks or you will be the next one on the news when your child is making "bigger" headlines than this.

I am shocked and saddened to see the parents reactions and picketing due to a students deadly peanut allergy! If this was their child, wouldn't they want the same protection??? What are these parents teaching their children by having them at the picket line with them because another student has a peanut allergy????! This poor little girl not only has to live with a scary peanut allergy, but must have to feel pressure and rejection from her fellow students. My daughter has a student with a peanut allergy in her class, and it's NO problem whatsoever to accommodate him. The washing hands twice daily will minimize sickness as well. I hope the school continues to support and embrace this young child!

I'm so glad that I came to this site and read these posts. I have 3 of my 4 children who have a peanut allergy. They live a normal life for the most part. One was life flighted halloween day (before trick or treat) due to eating a treat that had peanut butter and was not clearly marked that it had such. I've been so discouraged by the mean spirited people who have no sympathy for our children. They have a condition that requires special attention....just as ADHD, Diabetes, etc would. It is not in their control and their is no medical treatment for it...YET!

Thank you to the teachers who have stood up for these children for it really is a burden on them not the kids. Every child we have asked to wash hands or keep their food away for our kids was more than happy to help. When my daughter went to the hospital I learned how selfless kids really can be. Maybe I'm just blessed to live in a caring community.

How absurd do these parents protesting and supporting the protesters sound because their kids are being asked to wash their hands. To spend time calculating how much time it takes for that to happen...really? If my kids aren't washing their hands at school I will be really upset (allergy or no)! That's disgusting! And if my kids came home with food all over their face I wouldn't be too happy either. I'm sure they wanted hands washed when H1N1 was going around!

The child eats in her classroom by herself. The kids can eat PB in the cafeteria. You want to have a classroom party? There are plenty of foods to choose from and our school encourages healthy choices. But if you want a treat bring in some ice cream, pizza, fruit snacks, yogos, gogurts, fruit roll-ups...the list can go on. There are plenty of choices out there.

Remember the saying, "It take a village to raise a child"? Well these people are making it clear that its every man for himself. God forbid anything happen to any of their children and someone stand by and say "That's unfortunate but I don't need to disrupt my day to help". And by the way ignorant protesters. Read your signs...the saying is "Happy medium" not "happy median". Go find something more important to keep in school, not junk food. How about the arts, music, althletics, new equipment for teachers.

Again, thank you teachers for keeping my children safe!

People need to look at both sides of it. Allergies suck. No doubt about it. But what happens when that girl hits 18? Is she going to demand that her college campus or workplace go through such extreme measures? Or is she going to take responsibility for her own allergy and get allergy shots and treatments to lessen or completely negate the affect (they have such stuff, I was offered that for my wheat and tea allergies)? What she is going to practice in the future is what she should be starting to practice now.

Plus, FAPE stands for Free and Appropriate Education. Personally, I doubt that smell alone can set off a deadly reaction, or opening a loaf of bread or standing next to someone drinking iced tea would have done me in years ago, but for the sake of argument I'll go along with it. In that case, "appropriate" sounds like she should be kept from all sources of transmission until the above-mentioned shots and medicines can take affect.

Speaking of transmission, what does this family do during the 18 hours a day the girl is not in school? How do they take her grocery shopping? Walk through the food court of the mall? Cross paths with a family who just finished Grandma's famous peanut butter cookies? Why is this girl absolutely fine during the rest of the day?

And if I understand peanut allergies correctly, the allergy is to all legumes. Yet I've heard from many families who claim a peanut allergy yet still admit to feeding their kids green peas (a closely related legume). Why would families risk a reaction if the allergy is really as severe as they claim?

KRISTEN, ADRIENNE, AND KRISTY... thank GOD there are normal, caring individuals like yourselves who can TAKE A SECOND to feel someone else's pain- put yourself in someone else's shoes-- some of you need to go to that school in Florida and tell them what's up!! : ) I have 3 kids, and so far, no allergies, but dammit... I'd do what I had to so my babies' friends are OKAY in school, or wherever

Maggie Thank you. It is hard everyday sending a child to school even though there are precautions does not mean one day we will not have a reaction.

really? it is already been proven it is life threatening and they and seems like you don't care either way anyway! what would that solve? research first .

There is a school in my area that has 1 child attending that also has peanut allergies. The school has banned all foods that may potentially contain peanuts.

LIFE THREATENING ALLERGY. Do you get what that means? Think if it was you. Very selfish outlook. PROTECT ALL CHILDREN, especially those with medical concerns.

PEOPLE if it was YOUR kid with an allergy you'd CRY cuz you want them to be able to lead as normal life as possible... WHICH INCLUDES attending public school.... POOR MOMMIES, your kids have to wash their hands twice a day so SOMEONE ELSE'S WON'T DIE... how selfish are these parents that can't GET WITH THE PROGRAM.... a little girl DIES or your kid washes his hand. Like I said, if it was YOU or YOUR kid I can GUARANTEE you'd be on the other end....

The whole RIDICULOUS and WHEN WILL IT STOP thing.... people don't DIE because they drink Milk, Cheryl... it's lactose INTOLERANT... not LACTOSE DEATH! Get real, this is a LITTLE baby girl with a REAL medical issue--- hey- let's just ALL be ignorant and send EVERYONE with an allergy or medical issue to an isolated island and then NONE of you will ever have to concern yourself with someone else's well being!

Maggie 3225646: MILK ALLERGY is an allergy to the milk protein. Lactose intollerance is the inability to digest the milk sugar. Lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Educate yourself. And side note - your ignorance has nothing to do with THIS little girl with peanut allergies. She has a far worse scenario, so focus.

This type of issue always seems to bring out the ignorant in the computer literate. It puzzles me that people with such limited intellect can even figure out how to post a message, much less form sentences, so kudos to the barely functional. I am happy to see the logical, educated and compassionate comments far outweighing the intolerant ones.

@maggie - Actually you can be allergic to milk. Lactose intolerance is to the sugar in milk but you can have an allergy to the protein in milk which can cause anaphylaxis. Everything else you said is accurate.

You are ridiculous! This is a life of a child!!!! Most allergies are not life threatening but for those that are precautions need to be taken you idiot!!! My son has been secluded and eats in the hallway for his lunch...would you like your child to eat in the hallway everyday? Think before you speak...please. Ignorance does not excuse stupid comments. You may want to read the constitution! All men are created equal allergies/disabilities or not! How are your rights being compromised? It is pathetic that the other kids are willing to help and do right and the parents are being Jerks!!!

All due respect, it stops when there are not life threatening allergies. As for your comparison to a milk allergy, which I can sympathize with (I knew someone who died because of one) there is a difference. A peanut reaction can be triggered by just a trace of peanut oil coming in contact with the child's skin. A milk allergy is triggered when it is ingested. So, there isn't a need for a ban of milk in schools.

I beleive it's unconstitutional to take away anyone's rights! How can you begin to even decipher who's rights outweigh others???? Thankfully there is a disability act for your kind of thinking. How is handwashing and mouth rinsing taking away someone's rights anyway, it's called good hygiene!

I suppose you think that stopping for school buses or school crosswalks are infringing on your rights. I guess you don't see the benefit of handwashing either.

I am so proud that my child was completely appalled at these parent's actions. He felt horrible that a child who already lives a life of minor isolation due to her allergies is now being further isolated by the willful actions of others. The amount of time spent washing hands is quickly made up by the amount of sick days these children do not have because of their good hygiene. They should be thankful their kids are receiving an opportunity to shine and show their support for someone. It is unfortunate they are wasting that opportunity.

I pray for that little girl's emotional pain she must be feeling right now.

Thank you "Proud-3226195"!!! I am so glad there are other parents who are disgusted with the residents of this town! I would be embarrassed to call myself a resident there! How selfish of these parents to take this stand against this beautiful, fragile child! I also am proud of my own kids who had open mouths watching this segment! They were completely surprised that people could be so callous! What an opportunity this could have been for showing your child how to be compassionate, accepting and caring for another human being! I also agree that washing their hands twice a day only contributes to cutting down germs and sickness of the other students.

It takes a village to raise a child--I guess not this particular village! To involve your kids in picketing outside the school! I am outraged! They are being taught only selfishness and hate towards another human being! Wow! How naive I am that I would think people would not put their own small inconvenience ahead of a child's life!

Does it take away too much time in your life to hold the door open for someone in a wheelchair? Does it take too much time to help a blind person cross the street? Come on!

AMEN! I agree wholeheartedly. While watching this piece on the Today Show, the main thought I had was that they should be washing their hands regularly anyway!

Thank you! Well said!

A generation of children that have so much opportunity, access to material things we wouldn't have conceived of owning when we were children, can't accommodate a fellow classmate out of compassion? Practice a little humility? Become generous as children rather than really understanding what life is all about only when they become adults? Shame on the parents picketing the school, complaining about parties in the classroom? I'm sorry... don't "parties" take away from learning time? Isn't the greatest education EXPERIENCE? The parents protesting are fools and teaching a terrible lesson. And it looks like they are out of luck... this little girl is protected. She has the right and deserves the same opportunities in life experiences. Don't make it a bad one!!

If they are attending full day classes, I am quite sure they are getting lunch. If a snack is such a concern for you have one waiting on the table for when your child gets home (only a couple hours after lunch).

Trust me they are stil gettinga snack, the parents are just ticked because they have to make sure that its a peanut free snack. And just a little look into the rest of he world, most schools (the ENTIRE school) is a peanut free zone! But if you listen to the special at all their main concern is the amount of time spent washing their hands...really? ugh, parents, most of them are idiots. (I'm an expert on the stupidity of most parents, I've taught for almost 10 years)

Seriously we're whining about kids not getting a snack! They get lunch and they're only there for what 6 hours a day. I'm only 29 and the only time we ever got a snack at school was during the ISTEP tests! That clearly was NOT the important issue in this story it was the total ignorance of truly selfish people!

snack is not the issue...LIFE is. my children go to school all day long and no snack offered for no reason but they are not offering them! wahhhhh they will not starve i promise, my children come home everyday live and well... i provide them with a snack immediately and they are just fine. no harm done just as no harm in washing hands or any other steps in looking out for other and protecting them. my children like washing hands and taking care of others everyday without thought! they will grow to wonderful and compassionate adults...who could ask for more?

This story was NOT newsworthy. The children in the video holding signs stating that their rights were being violated looked as if they had not a clue as to why they were there. The whole tempest was clearly initiated by uninformed and I might add MEAN-SPIRITED ADULTS. All children should was hands at least twice in school day anyway, and as far back as I remember children have always lined up to use the lavatory at set times throughout the day. Hand washing is a normal part of toileting, or at least it should be. Hands should be clean after 15 seconds or a chorus of "Happy Birthday". Those mothers should be ashamed. Moreover, it is high time that they understand that their children need to learn that life is NOT all about them!

I think a very important point is being missed here. A child could potentially die from a peanut allergy & many have. I think schools should take certain precautions to ensure the safety of children, but ultimately this responsibility rests on the parents. How severe is the allergy? Are you willing to put complete trust in the school? What if a child had peanut butter on toast for breakfast & a small amount is on their clothes? How can a school provide 100% protection to any one child? Is the school nurse in the school every day & every hour? Personally, I would not risk my child's life if they had a life threatening allergy. Home schooling is an option and most of the time it is free. If parents have to work then hire a tutor. I think it is unfair to make another child's safety the responsibility of a 7 yr old. This can very well traumatize that child especially if the sick child had an unfortunate exposure to the peanuts or allegens. They may feel responsible for that child's death. Too many parents put too much of their child raising into the hands of teachers, school nurses, coaches etc. If you cannot be with your child, then please don't give birth to them. Sometimes, I think that successful people have children as the icing on the cake, rather than love of the child. By the way, most snacks are made in facilities that contain peanuts, so even a seemingly safe snack could be dangerous.

a mask and gloves???? Seriously???? why should this little girl have to do that when all it takes is the other kids to wash thier hands and face after eating. They should be washing thier hands after they go to the bathroom anyways! Whats wrong with proper hygene??

Logic - Air tight suit is probably for children susceptible to a great number/all airborne pathogens. That far exceeds this childs concerns, which is one- peanuts. Also, would you honestly send your child to school for SEVERAL years wearing gloves and a mask? Really? Even if the way around it was to simply have all the children do what they should all be doing in the first place, e.i; wash their hands?

I have a daughter with a peanut allergy. When she starts school in the fall she will have to eat lunch at a seperate table from her friends. Isn't that going to be hard enough for a 5 year to understand? She already has a complex about her allergy. A face mask and gloves? Really? She doesn't have a contagous disease! She is a little girl with feelings who did not ask to be burdoned with this allergy for the rest of her life. School is hard enough these days for our children. Why do uneducated, inconsiderate people have to make things harder. Washing hands is a small task to keep children like mine safe. I feel sorry for kids with allergies. But I pitty the people who feel like washing hands for one child isn't fair to the rest. Get over yourself! All the problems we have in the world today and people want to complain about hand washing!

I am disgusted by these parents. Instead of teaching their children about acceptance, they are teaching them how to discriminate against people who have circumstances beyond their control. I have four children and the fourth, a 1st grader, has severe, off the charts, never grow out of it peanut/tree nut allergies. Her classmates are not only very accepting, but they look out for her in the lunch room. Do these people who have their children on the picket lines not know what is going on in the world around us. Are they not thankful to be alive and living in a free country? God forbid their child should have to wash their hands one extra time in a day. If this is how they treat a 7 year old girl, I would hate to see how they treat a Veteran. Great parenting.....NOT!

What kind of parent would send their child into such a potentially dangerous situation? She should be homeschooled. I agree with Confused parent-what if she DOES have a fatal reaction to an accidental exposure? Will the child who caused it be made to feed guilty?

I'm sorry, but having the children rinse out their mouths is going way too far. She should be homeschooled if it is that dangerous to her. I wouldn't take that chance with my children.

And I wish I could hear the same sympathy for ADHD children on here. Instead, a rambunctious child who is "interfering" with the other children's learning is drugged up.

Fifteen seconds is not enough time to properly clean one's hands. AT LEAST 20 seconds is requried.

Funny, I thought the same thing. Why does it always have to be Florida? Makes me so sad. I am not sure who I feel worse for. The family of this child who most certainly do not need nor deserve this, or the kids who are learning very dangerous lessons about intolerance from their parents.

Yes, FL again. Didn't one of the sigsn say "Where is the median"...?

I live in Florida and my daughter has a peanut allergy. Its mild but it can get life threatening overnight the doctor says so we have to take precautions. The kids in my daughter's class wash their hands and don't bring in peanuts. There were some complaints but the school has been very supportive.

This is just another example of ignorance breeding ignorance. Parents should be teaching tolerance and compassion. Nothing will change if the adults do not teach these things to their children. As for the snacks, we need to teach our children healthy choices, apples, oranges, grapes, carrots, etc... these are all peanut free. By doing so we not only make a safer environment for all of our children , we help all of our children to be healthier. Hand washing is a non factor, or at least it should be, it is just good practice when you are in an environment with so many little people.

I am absoluelty greatful to all the parents going through this and putting it out there. I am a childcare teacher and mother of a 18 month old, my son had a allergic reaction to peanut butter sandwich when he was 7 months. It was given as a small pieces for a snack, he broke out in hives all over his face and body. Thank the lord it was not that severe as death. I have been so protective to the issue of food allergies. The fact is that any child and adult may get food allergies and we all must be acknowledge on it with respect. Whether its in your family or in the community, it is just as important like other medical conditions. Alot of you mentioned, that it is hard on the parent that has the child with the food allergy, when it comes to public places like restauraunts, grocery shopping and schools most definelty. I try to accomodate my son by keeping him away from nuts, or its allergin family. It is hard, we keep track of it all and are constantly checking labels on ingredients and making waiters at restauraunts aware that we have a child with peanut allergy. I just believe that the issue of taking more time to clean surfaces and washing hands is better for all. It lets the children understand the cause and effect of an issue. Alot of you hit the best part about good and healthly hygene. The whole issue is not a interruption, it is a great aid in learning. I want my son to attend school one day and not wearing protective gear like an outkast. So if all teachers, children and there parents can do alittle extra hand washing and get the facts before they argue an issue it would be reasonable. Then as a team to come up with solutions for all children to be safe and have equal oppourtunity to get a public education.

I am an elementary teacher. I have a peanut allergy. So do a few children in my class. It is simple. We don't allow snacks with peanuts in the classroom. You have to keep all of the children safe just as you would want to do with the teacher or any other adult. It is amazing how fast someone with a peanut allergy or any food allergy can get sick and die. The only savior is an epi pen. The students in my classroom know that if I get sick they have to page the nurse for an epi pen. How scary is that? To avoid it, we don't have peanuts in our classroom and there has not been a problem at all. We care about each other and it is that simple.

On a recent vacation--2 days ago, we had to fly. What do airlines serve? Peanuts. I called and asked what they could do for me. Nothing. They told me to change my flight to the first one of the day so there wouldn't be peanut dander. However, that didn't work for me. I was told to tell the stewardess not to serve peanuts which I did. I wiped down my entire area and took a double dose of medicine for a week to help build up against the peanuts in the air. That is not a way for a person to live. She forgot and start passing peanuts out the entire plane. I had to remind them of my allergy, they announced to the plane as I was standing in front, collected the peanuts, and I had to take a double dose allergy pills so I wouldn't get sick and stop breathing, have to use an epi pen while flying through the sky. That is a scary thought. This is exactly how the little girl in the classroom must feel each day. People on the plane were not happy, but that is how it goes. You have to deal with situation that you are presented with.

Food allergies are deadly--they are not like seasonal allergies. You cannot get a shot to help it go away. The only answer is to avoid the allergy. The little girl and her family are trying to do just that. At the age of 6 it is hard to understand the risk that you are taking. Parents of these families need to step up. So what if their child has to eat and apple without peanut butter for snack and wash their hands and mouth. If my child was in school, I would want him to wash his mouth and brush after lunch. It is proper hygiene. Washing hands cuts down on germs. We wash hands after snack daily. It doesn't take 30 minutes of your day. And if it does take 10 it is a life lesson. Do some of these parents realize that there are many adults who don't wash their hands after using the restroom. It is gross.

These children are learning so many lessons that are going to make them successful in life. Respect others. Be responsible by knowing what you can and cannot have at school. Be thankful it isn't you. Safety is important. Wash your hands before and after eating. Brush your teeth because we must take care of them.

What are the parents of some of these students teaching them?

Worry about yourself.

Don't care for others.

If you don't get you way throw a fit.

As a teacher....that is not what we want to see from our future. I think the school board should protect this family and what they are doing. Maybe the parents of other students should be thankful. It isn't their child they have to worry about dying from someone else's mistake.

Life is short. Enjoy it. Don't let something as simple as washing hands and mouth while taking away peanuts cause so much anger. Be thankful you have a teacher and a school who cares about a child so much. I bet you would want the same for you child. I know I would.