The Controversy

Schools are challenged to promote the physical health and academic well-being of their students. Severe food allergies pose life-threatening risks to 8% of school children. Schools ban weapons; should schools ban peanuts because they are an allergen? Parents of students with peanut allergies want to protect their children from unnecessary exposure and some pressure school leaders to make appropriate accomodations. A ban on peanuts would affect parents of students with allergies, their classmates, teachers and school personnel, and has the potential to affect society as a whole if the ban of peanuts and other food allergens move to other public places like mall, airports, and so on. Schools have pressure coming from parents of allergy afflicted students, parents of their classmates, and the government's law made to protect the disabled. Parents want to keep their children safe and healthy, schools are afraid of liability and lawsuits, and other parents want to maintain their previous lifestyles and diets. The country must deal with the increase of the allergic population and make accomodations for them that are both reasonable and effective.