Hello!

Are teachers becoming the bullies in the playground. My children are not allowed citrus as the I’d a staff member allergic to citrus. One person affecting hundreds what’s fair.


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  • Well, it’s not very fair if a teacher gets killed or hospitalised because your kids can’t avoid citrus for a few hours a day.


  • As a community we need to look out for each other, so I think asking people not to bring in certain foods in order to prevent an allergic attack is reasonable and not too much of an inconvenience.


  • How is protecting the well being of students who are in the care of the school or teachers who are employees in a workplace is tantamount to bullying or is an issue of public vs private school? Everyone has a right to be protected and safe in their place of employment.


  • Are you serious? I can understand if the teacher has a full on anaphylactic if they come close to citrus. Can’t she just avoid the playground when kids are eating? No different to peanut allergies I suppose. A lot of schools have banned nut products because of this. No different to our Christmas and Easter celebrations being minimised because of religions that don’t celebrate them. Always the minority buggering things up for the minority, not just at school either


  • I have heard of this before and I don’t find it too much of a bad rule but sometimes it does get a bit ridiculous, I think they should only have that rule if someone was really severe with an allergy, like can’t smell it, or touch it!


  • My son goes to a private school and they ask children not to bring certain foods if allergies are present. I don’t think it has anything to do with public or private schooling or bullying. Its about the health and well being of all staff and students.


  • How is not allowing citrus due to an allergy anything to do with teachers becoming bullies in the playground? Sorry but if the allergy causes anaphalayxis then I can understand the ban. If your child had a serious allergy to something I’m sure you wouldn’t want them exposed to it.


  • not sure what that’s got to do with public school but ludacrist anyway


  • Hope you managed to discuss this issue with the school. It is always the best way to get answers.


  • Think this is happening in both private and public schools these days. Don’t agree that a teacher who has an allergy should be able to affect the whole school as surely by that age the teacher is capable of not touching or going near the citrus.


  • I don’t believe they are bullying,it is just a situtation with the allergy.It may not seem fair to you though.


  • It is increasingly common that foods are banned at school because other children might be affected if they come into contact with it (eg no nuts for one class for us at the moment – no the whole school just the class the child is in). I can understand that because children aren’t always careful or use common sense to avoid problems, however, I’m surprised that an adult (teacher at that) is getting such a blanket prohibition. I wonder how they manage in other public places where people might have eaten citrus etc.I think it needs to be politely raised with the school rather than suggesting that teachers are bullies… perhaps staff are irritated by not being allowed nuts or something and are making this request to bring to the school community attention such matters as these so they can be discussed and the situation resolved to everyone’s benefit.


  • Allergies can be life threatening and protocols do need to be followed for children and adults. Maybe discuss this situation with the school. Is there a designated area for eating citrus foods, contamination control, etc? Schools are usually good at discussing issues and providing information to parents. Good Luck.


  • I tend to agree with the comments that have been made so far.


  • I wouldnt go as far as to call them a bully but It should only be banned from only the room that person is teaching in but only if its a life threatening allergy… Not the whole school as that seems a bit unfair As that is a staple in a lot of kids diets (do they also ban nuts and kiwi fruit etc for the safety of kids in the school?? proberly not my school doesnt but my sons kinder does).. .. But i guess till you have a member of the family that has a life-threatening allergy it might be a little hard to understand.. But people who are allergic should always have a epi pen or two on hand in case it happens so treatment is on hand if needed.. ..


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