teachers sacked after giving a child peanut butter. They LIED to PARENTS!

[eragon]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130507/NEWS/705079937/1685#.UYkqB4-Aelo.facebook


am hoping link works, two teachers who covered up after giving a  child a peanut butter sandwich.

[SilverLining]

Oh my goodness!

[CMdeux]

Rick Wade, an attorney from Lincoln representing both teachers, told commissioners that the student's health needs were "never in jeopardy."

"They were never ignored," he said. "There was never any risk of harm to that particular student."

The teachers took him to the nurse, and the boy's mom picked him up, he said.

"The problem," Wade said, "was the full disclosure or lack of full disclosure by Ms. Gigstad and Ms. Watkins."

That has simply got to be one of the STUPIDEST things I've ever heard an adult say in a professional setting.

No, you idiot.  The "problem" was more than ONE problem. 

1.  peanut butter in this child's classroom-- which was apparently a no-no to start with or they wouldn't have tried to cover it up.

2. lack of discretion/care in handling the allergen in light of this student's known allergy

3.  When anaphylaxis occurred (as it evidently did-- ingestion = swelling + cutaneous symptoms), I have to wonder... just how long did it take the teachers here to "walk the child to the nurse" and call parents?

4.  Probably because the parents weren't told what had happened, (and maybe the nurse wasn't aware that this was an ingestion either), this child could have DIED from a lack of appropriate medical care during this reaction.

Stupid-stupid-stupid.

[twinturbo]

He is supposed to be representing the teachers so that's about the spin I would expect. Doesn't mean he's right. I think this incident is from last year.

[SilverLining]

Yes, it happened a year ago.  One of the teachers is now teaching in another district.

That student teacher deserves an award.  That is a VERY difficult position to be in.  And she put child safety first and blew the whistle.

[Macabre]

Yeah, I was trying to find the original thread to post this. I couldn't find it. There is sooooo much wrong with what happened---and with the response.

It makes me so angry.

[lakeswimr]

I think it also comes from not understanding the danger.  We want people to own up to mistakes if there are any (and to try to not make them in the first place.)  I've made mistakes myself so I want teachers to know that if a mistake happens, give the epi and call 911!  I don't want them worrying about telling me they make a mistake.  I want them worrying about making sure DS gets proper treatment.  It sounds like they did not get the seriousness of the situation.

And of course the lawyer is wrong.  People have died in just a few minutes from a reaction. While they were covering things up was prime time to TREAT the reaction.  Known ingestion plus symptoms, however mild, especially with peanut or tree nut allergy but with any FA means it could go to life threatening any moment, literally.  Glad the child is fine.

[Janelle205]

You mean, besides the harm of seeing adults lie about a medical condition and not taking a reaction seriously at an age where a child with a medical condition is learning to keep themselves safe and advocate for themselves?  Without even considering the potential reaction issues.

Yeah.  I can't see how that would be harmful at all. 

[SilverLining]

I don't want them worrying about telling me they make a mistake.

Unfortunately, as long as we live in an "I'll sue them all" society, people will always be afraid to admit to making a mistake.  In this specific case, what little I know, it sounds like the parents would have had a case, from day one, even if the teacher had been honest.

I am not excusing them for lieing.  I think we all agree that in this instance the lies at least doubled the risk to the child....maybe more then doubled.

But, when being honest will likely cost you your job AND result in you being sued, you're going to lie.

This was a special Ed class (I think?) using food for a class lesson.  That needs to be addressed.  I'd like to see those facts addressed in the suit. 

[PurpleCat]

and where was the school nurse to question the situation?.....and why was the child so quiet about what happened?   So so very wrong.

[CMdeux]

I have to think that the teachers were FIRST covering, and then seeking care.

Because they (apparently) didn't tell the nurse the truth, either.

That is, in my mind, what SHOULD have elevated this to criminal negligence.

[eragon]

I would also ask for the principal/head of school to come under question, after all the implementation of policy, such as health and inclusion and  staff training, are the responsibility of the leader.

They wouldnt have tried to lie about the situation unless they thought they could get away with it.

[twinturbo]

I'm not sure a seminar on not putting the PB sandwich you served to a peanut allergic sped student in the trash to hide from his parents and get everyone else to lie about it is going to pull those weeds out by their roots if you know what I mean. I'm assuming this kid was either non-verbal or not in some other way not able to either verbalize what happened to him, or not aware enough to personally convey what happened to his parents. That requires a special blend of callousness, deceit and dishonor to the profession.

[SilverLining]

. That requires a special blend of callousness, deceit and dishonor to the profession.

Absolutely.

I agree with your entire post, but this specific sentence, made me catch my breath.

[yelloww]

I'm glad that the student teacher spoke up so that the truth came out. (Of course it goes without saying that I'm glad the child lived.)

A few years ago, I spent $1000 out of pocket on counseling for ds after his teacher lied and tried to cover it up. It would not surprise me one bit if he's one day diagnosed with an anxiety disorder from that event.

As a parent and a teacher, those two teachers were downright negligent. Shame on them!