Playing devil`s advocate a bit here, I`d like to draw an analogy. Dd`s kindergarten teacher once told me that if a child complains twice about abdominal pain, she sends the child to the nurse, because teacher does not have a medical background and cannot be the one to decide if it is indigestion (no big deal) or appendicitis (a true emergency). She was not in a position to make that decision. So I can see where the district would say that teachers are not qualified to make the call if epi is necessary or not, and therefore to give it. I am not defending it, and can definitely see why you would be upset. But I`m pretty sure that the current AAAAI recommendations are to epi if it is a reaction. Again, each child is different. When I have time I will look on the AAAAI website.
I can understand your concern that your child might not report symptoms out of fear of getting an epi, but also have to comment that I believe that can be prevented. I believe that to some degree fear of epi is a learned response, and depends on how the parents present the situation. I never had that issue with dd, because of how I portrayed getting shots. It is just part of life. It hurts for a few seconds, but makes you feel so much better if you are having an allergic reaction. Also, from the age of 2 on, I made sure to bring her with me for every flu shot, even though it is way easier to go without bringing a toddler. I wanted her to see me get a shot, and see that it is really no big deal. Whenever dd had to get immunization shots or a blood test, I would bring a wrapped present and give it to her the minute the needle was out. I just think you really need to teach your child that they must report symptoms and that a shot only hurts for a few seconds and makes them feel better after. I believe that when children are terrified of needles, it is usually a learned behavior. There are so many ways to prevent that. If the parent is fearful, the child picks up on that also. I have seen parents clutching their kids as immunization shots are given, as though the parent thinks the child is going to die from the shot. It always astounds me when they then comment that their child is terrified of shots as though they can`t see why. (Not saying you would do that, just saying I have seen that so many times.)
Lastly, the majority of people who die from anaphylaxis have never had a history of a severe reaction. That is food for thought. I`d much rather have them epi my child who didn`t need it than have my child become a Nathan Walters or Sabrina Shannon or any one of a number of children who got epi too late. Our memory thread (is it on this new board?) is full of children who got epi too late or not at all.