OK, I'm behind. The new semester started this week and DD has rotated to home ec. The home ec teacher was not prepared to discuss specifics at the start of year 504 meeting, so we agreed to schedule a meeting later. Well, I got busy at work, the holidays, etc. and realized just before the start of the semester that nobody had scheduled the meeting. We scheduled a meeting for last Wed. but school was cancelled for weather. We heard nothing that day but assumed that the meeting was cancelled. I think I heard from the 504C on late Thursday afternoon that he was trying to reach the teacher. I said we could meet on Friday as long as it was before 10:30. I heard nothing until about noon, when the 504C asked if I could meet within the next hour. Um, no. I said I would send an email. I've finally just drafted it. Let me know what you think. I almost think we need to request that she not be required to take the class.
Background
· DD has allergies to peanut, all tree nuts (for example, almond, pistachio, walnut, brazil nut, hazelnut, cashew, and pine nut), and to eggs.
· She reacts on ingestion and on contact with all her allergens.
· DD's anaphylactic reaction is believed to have been caused by something cross-contaminated with peanut.
· DD's last egg reaction happened when she was in second grade. She attended after-school care at ________ School, which also operates a preschool during the school day. The preschool class had a baking lesson that included eggs. The teachers cleaned up after the lesson. However, unseen egg protein remained on surfaces in the classroom. DD touched something (she believes it was the door handle) and rubbed her eyes. Her reaction included swelling of the affected eye, hives around the eye, and redness/tearing of the eye. Her caregiver reported some lip swelling, but DD's dad, who picked her up, did not see that symptom. She was given 3 teaspoons of Benadryl, and the reaction subsided.
Recipes
I've reviewed the recipes posted on Ms. Teacher's site. The table below lists which will be OK for DD to participate in (but not eat) and which would not be appropriate for her to participate in.
Recipe Comment Cinnamon Sugar Bow Knots OK as long as the biscuits used don't contain her allergens. Homemade Pizza OK Cheesy Pasta Bake OK Super Chip Cookie No (1 egg, chocolate chips) Pancakes No (1egg) 30 Minute Skillet Baked Ziti OK Breakfast Waffles No (2 eggs) Mini Fritattas No (10 eggs) Soft Sugar Drop Cookies No (2 eggs) Mini Cheesecakes No (2 eggs) Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins No (2 eggs, chocolate chips) Pizza Bubble Bread OK as long as the biscuits used don't contain her allergens Breakfast Coffee Cake No (1 egg) Mini Breakfast Fritattas No (10 eggs)
Questions/Concerns
· DD mentioned this morning (1/29) that there is a module in the course that uses turkey hot dogs, but that ingredient is not listed in the recipes on the web site? Are the recipes used that are not listed?
· DD mentioned that teachers use the FACS classroom to fry eggs. Is this done during class time? Is the area cleaned thoroughly afterward?
· There is some concern about DD being in the classroom for the recipes involving 6 and 10 eggs. There is also some concern about her ability to participate in any recipe involving eggs.
· DD will have anxiety being around her allergen. This can have an impact on her ability to focus and learn. We need to devise a way to deal with this.
· DD has indicated that she feels being sent to the library to work on an assignment from a text book during a lesson involving her allergen is punishment. I believe it violates least restrictive environment.
Action Plan
The following procedures need to be implemented
· DD cannot clean up after any lesson involving eggs.
· DD can observe but not actively participate in lessons involving 1 to 2 eggs.
· All students working on a lesson involving eggs must remain in the cooking area when working on the lesson.
· All students must wash their hands with soap and water before leaving the cooking area to work at another station in the classroom.
· All teachers who use the room to cook must ensure that they thoroughly clean up all egg and nut containing ingredients with soap and water.
· DD can observe the lesson where Ms. Teacher makes meringue as long as she is seated to at the back and as long as no students handle the meringue.
***took out name of school
If this is a required course, they either need to change the menus or allow her to take a different class.
That is a LOT of egg. Wow.
Yeah-- honestly, given the gap between the extant curriculum and the modifications that your DD needs-- uh, yeah-- I think that the better thing might be to sub her into a different class/module.
POWDERED forms of egg-- BIG problem. Just something to consider as well. (Like there wasn't enough already.)
I'd say that this comes quite close to fundamental nature questions, honestly-- it'd be okay for you (and for them) to substitute something else, as there are a LOT of modifications needed to the basic curriculum for her to safely participate.
Too short a time to make it happen adequately without a lot of resentment from the teacher, that'd be my guess.
Is your DD to actually consume any of this stuff?
I'd think "absolutely NOT" myself, given what else you've posted, but that might also need to be made clear if she stays in the class.
Yeah, it is a lot of egg. Let's just say that I'm not confident in the teacher. I reflexively become suspicious of anyone who expresses confidence in dealing with these allergies when they don't deal with it 24/7. Here's an email from the teacher that doesn't exactly allay my concerns.
Good morning,
I wanted to touch base with you before our meeting next week. I remember that we met at the beginning of the year as well. Please be assured that I have had other students with allergies and am aware of the precautions. The recipes on the website aren't always used and some of them are for the 8th grade classes. I have a list of all students' allergies. When there is something we are fixing that the student can't have or be around, they sit out and watch. Sometimes a student has to leave the room and do an alternate assignment. This is basically all I need to know. I will see you next week, but hope this will get things brought out in the open sooner. Please let me know if she is to sit out and watch or needs to leave the room. I will see you next week!
Mrs. FACS Teacher
Quote from: CMdeux on January 29, 2014, 01:23:03 PM
Is your DD to actually consume any of this stuff?
I'd think "absolutely NOT" myself, given what else you've posted, but that might also need to be made clear if she stays in the class.
Oh she's not to consume anything made in the class regardless of whether it has egg in it or not. I don't trust that any of the kitchen tools would be adequately cleaned because the students clean up as part of the jobs their assigned in the lesson.
Wow.
Uhhhh-- several comments here.... I will quote (feel free to edit out if needed):
[spoiler]
QuoteGood morning,
I wanted to touch base with you before our meeting next week.
Well, a gold star for her for THAT much, at least.
QuoteI remember that we met at the beginning of the year as well. Please be assured that I have had other students with allergies and am aware of the precautions.
Really? "Allergies" or
allergies? Which "precautions" would those be, exactly? Might be a smidge different for a student with a very high tolerance for ingestion of shellfish versus one with contact anaphylaxis Hx for egg traces. Just saying. Maybe understanding that "one management plan fits most" isn't exactly how kids with 504 plans are SUPPOSED to be treated would be a great start here, YK? Better still, understanding that not all food allergies are precisely equal to one another in their particulars would also be good.
QuoteThe recipes on the website aren't always used and some of them are for the 8th grade classes.
??? So the website can't be used as a guide to what goes on in class. Well, at least now you know. Um-- so what this means, effectively is that SOME recipes aren't on the list at all, then? Since things are substituted? GREAAAT. NOT.
What IS going to be happening in class, then?QuoteI have a list of all students' allergies.
Again-- a list. Of allergies. Does this list also include details about reaction history and probable threshold doses? No? Well, then, it hardly tells you ALL that you need to know, then. Does she also have their 504 plans? Er-- or at least your DD's?
QuoteWhen there is something we are fixing that the student can't have or be around, they sit out and watch.
Well, see-- this won't be a problem then because that is why you have a 504 plan. If they can't "be around" it's not clear how "watching" works, either. Personally, some things my DD can watch from the safety of home on, say, YouTube. Like making peanut brittle. Whipping up an omelette or working with meringue powder.
QuoteSometimes a student has to leave the room and do an alternate assignment.
Okay-- but she MUST understand that this is not inclusive, and is probably an illegal way to accommodate students with disabilities, right? PLEASE tell me that she understands what is wrong with this. PLEASE.
QuoteThis is basically all I need to know.
Oh, it tells ME plenty, as well. Tells ME that she doesn't have as much a clue as she (clearly) think that she does. :dunce: Only a very ignorant person would make that statement in a situation that involves FOOD.
QuoteI will see you next week, but hope this will get things brought out in the open sooner.
Well, gee whiz... it's not that there haven't been a few months.... the phone and e-mail run both directions.
Quote
Please let me know if she is to sit out and watch or needs to leave the room.
SERIOUSLY?? How on earth are you supposed to even KNOW that given the information in place given this missive?? Clearly, she also ignored your salvo re: your DD feeling that "alternate" assignments and seating are punitive.
QuoteI will see you next week!
Mrs. FACS Teacher
[/spoiler]
I can see why this inspires very little confidence, Maeve. :disappointed: She flatly ignored the very real risk in light of reaction history after a
very similar type of exposure
at another school setting. Yikes. :bonking:
I just double-checked and this is a required course. DH had a good question about the sitting out/alternative assignment suggestion: how does this impact grading?
CM, I had all the same thoughts you did reading that email. I should note that this teacher attended the beginning of the year meeting and left behind her copy of DD's 504. Yep. She left it sitting on her chair. She was also unprepared to talk about anything more than generalities when we spoke with just her after the group meeting. She directed me to her web site. It gets better. This whole FACS program is a module-based system with various stations (sort of like cubes) in the room that was purchased from an educational company. DD had FACS yesterday but I wasn't too concerned because it was the first class of the semester and that's usually a house-keeping day. So DD mentions that there's a module involving turkey hot dogs. None of the recipes on her site lists turkey hot dogs as an ingredient. So does this mean there are other lessons involving food for which I will not know the ingredients?
Well, and there is also the "equal educational benefit" to consider-- not clear what sort of "alternate" assignments are available. Are they options for all students? Or only for students with disabilities?
Yeah, the part about sitting out--just wow.
So clearly never glanced at the 504.
I hate it when someone says I'm confident because there are other kids with allergies in the past and this year.
For me, I know how differently my family handles allergies vs some others! It is also dangerous to transfer "xx egg allergic kid was ok, therefore your dd should be fine too" mentality that comes with the territory.
I would be a bit worried with all that egg.
Maeve, we got out of it and it is required by the state. The allergist wrote a letter stating that. Under no circumstances should ds participate in home Ec class because due to anaphylaxis. It gave ds a medical exemption for his file and the state.
He still does sewing but not cooking. He has an independent study class for cooking. Basically he has en extra section of band for six weeks.
Ds is dairy egg and peanuts. It's too stressful and complicated to be a worthwhile experience for any of you. I took the stance of "I will have to teach the teacher how to cook for him so that she can teach him. I don't have the time to do that and it could be lethal if the teacher mixed up part of my instructions, therefore I will just teach ds at home." I also explained he was going to need his own cooking station and that class sizes and other students scheduled would be impacted bc of him being in there.
I started it off and ended it with that there's absolutely no way he's taking this course from a health and safety pov. I then asked them if a note from the dr would work for the medical exemption.
I also talked to the band teacher who was fine with him going to extra band lessons /classes and made up an independent study syllabus for guidance (took all of 5min by email).
Good luck with that class! Ugh!
She's coloring so far outside the lines because she knows she's got fundamental nature on her side. Ignore me if I'm heading into territory I'm not welcome but an alternative might be the better course of action here if you're not of a mind that DD needs this particular home ec course from this one teacher, and yeah I know the part about requirement. That's for later. Now I would determine what is appropriate for DD (i.e., is this bs worth the effort? benefit is what exactly?) academically but in an ideal world this teacher gets hemmed in solidly on what 504 means. No vague, subjective garbage at her whim. Fundamental nature is not mutually exclusive of substantial adjustment, nor is substantial adjustment an overextension of obligation towards eliminating discrimination between benefit offered to unaffected peers.
Oh and home Ec is a line item in the 504: student will not participate in the cooking portion of home Ec.
Right there in his official documents so the state can't give them crap. :thumbsup:
The thing is, we didn't get anything in the 504 about home ec at the review before school started because teacher was unprepared and I couldn't find the recipes online (on teacher's web site and not the home ec dept web site, so unless you knew teacher, you're SOL). The other info on the district's site about the class was utterly worthless syllabi. So this partly my fault in dealing with this.
DD said the cooking is in a separate classroom from the sewing. DD's profile in Clarity showed about 20 FACS (home ec) assignments listed as overdue. They'd been added in the last week and are "overdue" because the teacher used first semester dates. I'm curious if the assignments listed are what they'll do this semester and in that order. It looks like they do four cooking labs interspersed throughout the semester. One is the bow knots recipe, one is cupcakes, one is fritattas, and one is listed as pasta (which may or may not be possible). Unfortunately, it's not set up the way it was when I was in school, when you had cooking for 9 weeks and then sewing.
So can you get her pulled from the class w a medical note?
I'm not sure if I can. There's always the question of what they do with her if she's exempted from the class? There's no other semester-long class she could take. She's already in a year-long strings class. Given the fact that there's one strings teacher, who also teaches guitar, and also given that the school is at 126% capacity, I am reluctant to ask the strings teacher to create an individual study program for DD (also reluctant given she's not practicing and is getting Cs on her graded work). She also currently has a 100% in home ec for the two assignments that have been graded. At least they'll be sewing next week.
What do you think is going to wind up being a reasonable solution, then?
It doesn't sound as though some of the cooking projects are going to be very safe-- and honestly, I get the clear sense that the teacher hasn't got a clue, so SHE isn't going to come to YOU for advice on that score. She doesn't even see the risk, and isn't communicating with you about it ahead of time as a result. Do you think this is because she likes to plan on the fly? Or is it that she can't be bothered to convey info to you? Or that she thinks that she shouldn't HAVE to?
Submit the doctor's note excusing from any cooking or food prep. Then see what they come up but we're going to be prepared for shenanigans, right? So contingencies are in place for substitute. I think they need some galvanizing like a taser to the rear--in bureaucratic form, of course.
Quote from: CMdeux on January 31, 2014, 11:17:53 AM
What do you think is going to wind up being a reasonable solution, then?
It doesn't sound as though some of the cooking projects are going to be very safe-- and honestly, I get the clear sense that the teacher hasn't got a clue, so SHE isn't going to come to YOU for advice on that score. She doesn't even see the risk, and isn't communicating with you about it ahead of time as a result. Do you think this is because she likes to plan on the fly? Or is it that she can't be bothered to convey info to you? Or that she thinks that she shouldn't HAVE to?
That's just it. I don't know what a reasonable solution would be. I agree that there's really no way for her to participate safely, sitting out and observing makes her condition readily apparent to her peers, and being sent to the library to do an alternate assignment seems punitive (but might be the only viable solution).
Honestly, I wish they'd drop home ec altogether. It's not as if kids in our entitled neck of the woods are ever going to use these skills. ~) I wish they had a computer programming class instead. That's far more useful.
Can you and your DD (and/or DH) come up with a some kind of more meaningful "alternate" assignment that won't feel like punishment to your DD?
Can you try to negotiate with the teacher for a way to make the "alternative" a possible assignment for students other than your DD, too? Like maybe a budgeting assignment, or a shopping list creation spreadsheet or something like that. Using web-skills to search for a recipe, etc. maybe for particular dietary needs/wants (low sodium, low-carb, gluten free, dairy-free, no-sugar, whatever)...
I sent an email to the allergist's office this afternoon. I got an email reply within an hour, but it was to let me know that our adored nurse practioner who handles these issues is off on Friday. I should hear something on Monday.
While drawing up the email laying out my concerns and asking for a letter exempting her from the cooking lessons, two possible options popped into my head. (just the hands-on stuff). There's other lessons in cooking that are not hands-on (such as the one she recently got 100% on). I thought perhaps she could be in the non-cooking room observing what that class is doing or she can go to the library and in the evening we can replicate the recipe at home with safe substitutions and I can videotape it for the teacher. Her class is starting with sewing next week because the 8th graders have their Iron Chef competition. So I'm making an assumption that when her class is in the kitchen lab that the 8th graders are in the other room. I can't see what harm there would be for her to participate in their lessons when her class is doing cooking.
Those are just thoughts off the top of my head.
I received an email back from DD's allergist's office, and they feel she can participate with accommodations (and obviously cannot eat what's made).
I spoke with DD about how she felt about that. She's fine with doing that except for the frittatas recipe during which she does not want to be in the classroom. DD seemed disappointed when I told her she could not eat anything made in the class, including the recipes without egg. This class couldn't come at a worse time developmentally. She's been flirting with pushing the risk boundaries (e.g., she pushed back about me not letting her eat dinner at La Madeleine with her GS troopmates), and this is going to be a challenge because she's really chafing at being "left out of everything" as she put it to me the other day.
Here's the email I just sent the school:
Mr. 504C and Mrs. Teacher,
I'm sorry that it took a while to get back to you. I reviewed the recipes on the web site, consulted with DD's allergist's office, and touched base with DD. The allergist's office thinks that DD can participate with modifications; the allergist stated that the greatest risk would be from ingestion and that a reaction from egg residue would result in localized hives. DD's last reaction to egg was to an imperceptible amount of egg residue; it resulted in hives and some swelling and redness of the eye she rubbed the egg protein. I think you should know what her last reaction was so that you can know what to look for in the classroom.
I noticed in Clarity last week that the assignments for FACS were listed (but with first semester dates). Will the same recipes from the first semester be used this semester? I saw that the following recipes were used last semester: cinnamon bow ties, frittatas, cupcakes, and pasta. Can you confirm if these will be done or provide information on which recipes will be used this semester.
I'll list what general accommodations are needed and then accommodations specific to the recipes.
General Accommodations
• DD cannot eat anything made during the cooking labs.
• DD cannot handle eggs or items that come into contact with eggs. This includes washing pans, etc. and cleaning of lab surfaces.
• DD should be allowed to leave the classroom at any point she feels unsafe during a cooking lab.
• Should DD show signs of a reaction, she should go the nurse with an escort if the reaction is localized hives so that she can be given Benadryl/Zyrtec as treatment. If she shows signs of anaphylaxis, she should remain in the classroom, and her allergy action plan should be followed (administer the EpiPen, inform the nurse, contact 911 for transport to the hospital, and inform her parents).
Recipe-Specific Accommodations
• Cinnamon Bow Ties: There are no accommodations needed. DD cannot eat the finished product.
• Frittatas: DD would prefer not to participate in this lab; we'll need to find an alternative assignment.
• Cupcakes: DD can measure the dry ingredients but should not add the dry ingredients to the wet, stir the batter, or pour the batter into the muffin tins. She can handle the baked cupcakes to ice them (so long as the icing does not have egg in it). If the cupcakes contain chocolate chips, she cannot handle the chocolate chips (most are cross-contaminated with nuts).
• Pasta: There are no accommodations needed if this is the baked ziti or cheesy pasta bake listed on the web site. If the recipe is lasagna, DD can help boil the noodles and heat the sauce but cannot layer the pasta or make the cheese layer. DD cannot eat the finished product.
DD said that tomorrow will be a cooking lab and that the class will be making the cinnamon bow ties. DD can participate in that lab; I'll send a note into class with her providing my permission in case this email doesn't get to you before class.
Once we have the listing of which recipes will be done this semester, we can finalize the accommodations and add them to DD's 504 plan. Thank you for your help and cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call me. My work phone number is listed below and I can also be reached on my cell phone at.
That sounds like an absolute mine field. I'm surprised the allergist's office doesn't see this as more of a risk. It sounds like she'll have to be highly excluded. How hard for her and you....
Did the allergist say anything about reconsidering this if she has any reactions?
I do think the allergist took an objective, measured view of the risk. The allergist (a well-respected researcher) would definitely support pulling her from the activity if she has reactions.
We're between a rock and hard place. This is a required class and there are no options to put her in something else for the semester. The cooking is not done all at one time but rather interspersed throughout the semester. She will definitely not participate in the frittatas lab, and will likely be sent to the library to work on an "alternative" assignment. I'm not sure what's more punitive: sending her to the library or allowing her to participate with reasonable accommodations.
A friend's son who is a year older than DD attends the same school, has the same allergies, and sees the same allergist, he participated safely in the cooking labs last year without any problems. His mother has a much tighter comfort zone than I do; they have only started eating out at restaurants in the past couple of years. I fall on the fairly conservative side of the comfort zone; though, I know that I'm not nearly as conservative as others.
@daisy I think Maeve is just finding what works for her daughter at this age with her history. Her school may also have shown a history of support for 504 accommodations with regard to her daughter's safety. Some schools are more with it and actually fulfill the duties they're charged than what some of us with the difficult administrations have experienced. At our schools I've had some uneven decision making because I trust more staff and programs better than others, adjusting risk/benefit accordingly.
Exactly-- the problem here seems to have been getting info from this particular staffer, who wants to (apparently) make decisions that are outside of her pay grade.
:bonking:
Well, I just got a call from the 504C. They've read the email and have some questions but he in particular wanted to know if it were possible for DD to wear gloves to further protect her and ensure she can remain in the classroom during the labs. Bless his heart. He's so focused on keeping her safe and making sure she's included in the lab so way that he completely misses a major unintended consequence: namely, that all the kids in the class will be aware of her allergy and this could open her up to being teased or bullied. (I won't get into how this doesn't really protect her because can still rub her eyes with the gloves; it would only protect the skin on her hands.)
I was on another call when this call came in, so the 504C dropped this info in a voicemail. So I'll take the weekend to compose a nice reply in my head that is not dripping with sarcasm.
I don't think what I've asked for is too over the top. I get the sense that other allergy parents are more lax. I will not trade making DD a social pariah to ensure her safety, though.
Can they all wear gloves?
Quote from: twinturbo on February 07, 2014, 03:25:27 PM
Can they all wear gloves?
Brilliant suggestion! That is the only way I'd do it.
I've seen the amount of nose picking in my older son's class. There's more than allergies that makes me scream no about food projects. Who knows about potty breaks, wiping. Ugh. :footinmouth:
What grade is your dd in? This sounds like middle school. Have you asked her what she wants to do? By middle school, it seems like she should have input into the decision---trying to get a medical exemption versus trying to make it work.
I don`t think they are going to agree to all wear gloves and if they did, somehow word could get out that they all have to wear gloves due to dd. That could be really embarassing. I think that if your dd really does not want to take the class, there must be some way to get a medical exemption. Even if it is a required class, if a class were unsafe and you can get a doctor`s letter saying that, I don`t see how the district can refuse the accommodation of coming up with a substitute. Maybe an online class in another subject? I don`t think they can force someone to take a class that jeopardizes their safety just because in general it is a required class. Kids in a wheelchair don`t have to take regular PE even if it is required. They can take adaptive PE. They should come up with something like that for your dd if she does not want to take the class due to the allergies. I would really talk to her about this. I think if your dd does not want to take the class, they are really obligated to offer some alternative other than having to be excluded for lab after lab in various ways. But is is really up to your dd whether she wants to try and make it work or not.
Beach Girl,
I have included my daughter in deciding how to handle this. I waited to reply to the school until I spoke with her and I discussed the doctor's email with her as well. I've included her in decisions about her allergies from a fairly young age, but she's pretty mature for her age.
Please read the thread. I've posted more than once that this is a required class and that we have no option to change it for another class. I've also mentioned that cooking labs are not done consecutively but rather are interspersed throughout the semester. So we do not have the option of finding either additional band, etc. for her to do during those times. We're also dealing with a severely overcrowded school. DD's safety is important but I personally also believe in being cognizant of the challenges the school has in trying to meet her needs (and that she's one student out of 1,640). This middle school has, to date, been very good with 504 accommodations and thought of some we didn't think to ask for (such as purchasing a "skin" for use just by her on her keyboard in keyboarding last year, purchasing a lab coat and goggles for her use in science). They have shown good faith in the past and I should work in good faith with them.
:banghead: :banghead:
Teacher still will not provide list of what recipes will be used. Provides (through 504C) the link to all the recipes but she indicated in a previous email that not all those recipes are used and that some are for the 8th grade home ec classes.
Now, I find out from DD that she feels like she's being singled out by the teacher. In the first week of class, they were provided with a form parents had to sign indicating we'd read the teacher's rules for the class. The form also included a section to list the student's allergies. This was given out on Tuesday, the due date for the form was the following Monday but their next class and first opportunity to hand it in was Thursday. I'd not completed the form on Thursday and when DD enters class that day the teacher calls out to her in front of the class, "DD, allergy form?" When the form was finally handed in the teacher could not read my handwriting in one part (you can see for yourself in the picture below; the word in question has a box around it), the teacher called DD to the front of the class to go over the form. DD has been able to figure out that two other students have allergies because the teacher called those students over to a corner to discuss their allergies (but DD said teacher's voice is loud so she could overhear that one kid is allergic to soy). DD said that the other kids allergies are "not as severe". How would DD know this unless this was also openly discussed in class?
I had some communication back and forth today with the 504C. He's acting in good faith but I'd had it when he forwarded the same link to the recipes I'd been provided before in response to another request for specific information. It's the teacher who's the problem here. So in response to that link, I emailed him back (and BCCed DH) stating that if I did not get the recipe information I'd requested that I want DD removed from this teacher's class. That was before I knew about the teacher singling DD out and making her disability apparent to her classmates.
The teacher called out to DD in front of the class "DD, allergy form?" before the deadline for the form to be returned and then when she supposedly couldn't read my handwriting, calling DD to the front of the class to discuss it with her. However, the other kids with food allergies, she's pulled aside in a corner of the classroom to go over it (though DD says the volume of her voice is loud enough that DD could overhear). There's another incident that left DD feeling as if she'd been singled out but she cannot remember the specifics.
DH and I are likely going to request that DD be removed from this teacher's class. However, I will not have the rest of DD's schedule upended to ensure she take home ec. Her other teachers are awesome, and she's thriving in their classes. The school system may just have to exempt her from the FACS requirement and let her do another study hall for this semester.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e86/bramblemaeve/IMG_2354_zpsa752ec5d.jpg)
er-- yeah.
If she's so great with allergies, then she should have been able to fill in the blank nicely on that form, even if she COULD genuinely not read your writing.
Wow.
Retaliatory much?
I'd mention that with the 504C, honestly-- that your DD is feeling as though there has been retaliation because of her allergies.
Not because you want to sound combative-- but because this is NOT acceptable conduct with young adolescents. I mean, it's not acceptable with younger children either, but with this age group in particular, it's about fitting in and not having your differences called out by the adults in your life...
ouch to the "called to the front of the room" over "allergy form." :-[
Yeah, it seems she's being a bit, how shall I say it? Reactive.
Oh I should mention that this calling out DD for the allergy form happened AFTER I had received an email from her that stated "I wanted to touch base with you before our meeting next week. I remember that we met at the beginning of the year as well. Please be assured that I have had other students with allergies and am aware of the precautions. The recipes on the website aren't always used and some of them are for the 8th grade classes. I have a list of all students' allergies. When there is something we are fixing that the student can't have or be around, they sit out and watch. Sometimes a student has to leave the room and do an alternate assignment. This is basically all I need to know. I will see you next week, but hope this will get things brought out in the open sooner. Please let me know if she is to sit out and watch or needs to leave the room. I will see you next week!" That email was sent 17 January and DD was called out on 6 February over the allergy form. I sent an email outlining what precautons would be needed on providing info on DD's past reactions on the evening of 6 February. DD handed in the form on 10 February, which is when she was called to the front of the room. Of course, the fact that DD reacts on contact, etc. was also discussed at our meeting in August, was included in a one-page handout I created in addition to the 504.
I know time is of the essence and that it is hard to schedule meetings with school personnel . . . however, this teacher needs to be set straight, IMHO.
I read condescension and bitterness all the way through her words and actions.
And I'd have to agree that we would want our child out of this teacher's classroom as well.
~ ~ ~
Based on our experiences and yours -- and some I've heard about thru the grapevine . . . sounds to me like the county needs to work, over all, with it's middle school FACS/FLE program and the "cooking" part -- to reconsider what it should be and the type of modifications that may be needed for food allergy as we go forward. (Oh, and don't get me started on the lack of nutrition and meaningful lessons in the class . . . would like to see them learn how to prepare fresh fruits and veggies, duh!)
My thought is this: You've satisfied the condition of attempting negotiation. An accommodation is a change in elemental form. The change you are negotiating is not around the subject of food preparation but what will be prepared and how. There's been less than zero reciprocation, from what you described (a) a refusal of teacher whose job requirements include reading 504 plans (b) ignoring direct requests for curriculum syllabus (c) rejecting any attempt at developing effective, necessary modifications to program that did not not alter fundamental nature (d) violating FERPA outright (e) at least some retaliatory statements.
You are measured, careful and extremely intelligent. There's been nothing I've seen anything you post that would lead me to believe otherwise. The bridge has already been burned from the other side. All choices involve moving on to another solution at this point, therefore it would not be out of line to start documenting in exchange with the teacher what has transpired in specific violation of 504, FERPA in your customary measured manner. It will not matter if this teacher individually understands at this juncture because in order to move the next chess piece in place the attempts at this level in the chain of command need to be concluded.
Here's a draft of the next missive:
Mr. 504C,
Mr. Maeve and I would like to respectfully request the removal of our daughter, DD, from Mrs. Teacher's class and that she be exempted from FACS. We understand that there is likely not another class in which DD can be placed during this block. As such, we request that she be placed in an additional Resource block so as to minimize disruptions to the rest of her schedule. She is thriving in all her other classes and has bonded with those teachers. Further, the other classes in her schedule are her academic classes, including one for high school credit, and have a direct impact on her high school course of study. We request that this action be taken for the following reasons:
• FERPA violation
• Retaliation/bullying of DD because of her allergy
• Unwillingness to provide the information needed to create appropriate accommodations to ensure DD's safety and participation
On January 17, Mrs. Teacher sent Ms. Maeve an email in response to a meeting scheduled for January 22 to discuss DD's food allergies in advance of the start of FACS in the spring semester. In the email, Mrs. Teacher stated, "Please be assured that I have had other students with allergies and am aware of the precautions. The recipes on the website aren't always used and some of them are for the 8th grade classes. I have a list of all students' allergies." Ms. Maeve had previously been directed to Mrs. Teacher's web site for the recipe information. Ms. Maeve reviewed those recipes and indicated in an email to Mr. 504C dated January 16 that she had reviewed the recipes and had questions about how the class operates. Please note that Mrs. Teacher states that she has "a list of all students' allergies."
On February 4, students in Mrs. Teacher's FACS class were provided a form (see attached photo) that parents were to complete and which was to be returned no later than Monday, February 10. On February 6, Mrs. Teacher called out to DD in front of the class "DD, allergy form?" before the deadline for the form to be returned. I had not completed the form, so DD did not have a copy to hand in. DD handed the form in on Monday, February 10, the due date provided when it was distributed. After handing it in and during class on Monday February 10, Mrs. Teacher called DD to the front of the class to discuss the form with her because Mrs. Teacher told DD she could read Ms. Maeve's handwriting. (The word in question has a box around it in the photo.) When dealing with the other students, Mrs. Teacher has pulled those students aside in a corner of the classroom to address issues. Though, DD says the volume of Mrs. Teacher's voice is loud enough that DD and other students could overhear, and DD was able to overhear that one of the students is allergic to soy.
It is our belief that the February 6 incident represents a FERPA violation because Mrs. Teacher disclosed DD's medical condition to her classmates who did not have a need or right to know the information. We further believe the February 6 and February 10 incidents, indicated a singling out of DD because of her allergy. Discussion between student and teacher about allergies was handled differently for DD than her allergic peers.
Ms. Maeve received a phone call from Mr. 504C on Friday, February 7. Ms. Maeve was unavailable at the time and Mr. 504C left a voice mail in which he asked whether it would be possible for DD to wear gloves during cooking labs to ensure her participation. Ms. Maeve returned Mr. 504C's call on Monday, February 10. Mr. 504C mentioned that he, his admin, and Mrs. Teacher were discussing what can be done so that DD can participate in cooking labs and that wearing gloves was suggested. Ms. Maeve replied that this was not a viable solution because it would single DD out and that having the class all wear gloves probably wasn't feasible as well because the students would likely figure out why they were wearing gloves. During the conversation, Mr. 504C said that Mrs. Teacher had sent him a list of the jobs/roles for cooking labs and that they were trying to determine which DD could perform. Ms. Maeve said that she had not received such information, nor had she received information as to which recipes would be used which she found to be unacceptable. Mr. 504C said he would forward the list of roles to Ms. Maeve right away. Ms. Maeve received the email with the job duties at 12:37 p.m. Ms. Maeve replied at 12:39 p.m. thanking Mr. 504C for the information and again requesting information on which recipes would be used in class so as to tailor which duties DD can perform. Mr. 504C sent an email at 4:04 p.m. with a link to the recipes on Mrs. Teacher's site. Ms. Maeve sent an email at 4:09 p.m. stating that she had reviewed the recipes on the site in December and that she did not understand why she could not get information on which recipes would be used this semester.
We believe that we have acted in good faith to work to school staff to obtain accommodations and have repeatedly requested the specific information that is necessary to create those accommodations. However, we have yet to receive that information and have found staff unwilling to provide that needed information. In addition, staff were meeting to discuss accommodations for the class without seeking input from DD's parents.
In summary, we request that DD be removed from Mrs. Teacher's class, that she be exempted from FACS, and that she be placed in an additional Resource section for that block for the semester. We request that this action be completed no later than February 21.
:yes:
:thumbsup:
QuoteMrs. Teacher called DD to the front of the class to discuss the form with her because Mrs. Teacher told DD she could read Ms. Maeve's handwriting.
You want "coudn't" instead of "could", I think.
Strong letter (as usual :thumbsup:), no real suggestion other than Mrs. Teacher suggested DD sit out instead of participating as an 'option', and Mrs. Teacher not reviewing 504 at time of meeting or previous to this class to become versed in the plan. Staff could help reduce redundancies of effort and streamline communication by using the 504 information already in place to fine tune accommodations. But not at the cost of making the letter too busy. There's nothing wrong with it at is.
Gonna see it and raise one letter of clarification from OCR to NSBA response to OCR's "Dear Colleague" letter on bullying. It point-by-point clarifies NSBA's (mis)perception that Dept of Ed's expectations for SD's responsibilities to address bullying was too broad. http://www.nsba.org/SchoolLaw/Issues/Equity/ED-Response-to-NSBA-GCs-Letter-to-ED-on-OCR-Bullying-Guidelines.pdf (http://www.nsba.org/SchoolLaw/Issues/Equity/ED-Response-to-NSBA-GCs-Letter-to-ED-on-OCR-Bullying-Guidelines.pdf). Russlyn Ali's response is a work of beauty to be appreciated like fine art.
Thanks for the catch twinturbo. While we have in the 504 that we must be notified ahead of time of lesson plans involving food. I had planned to discuss specific accommodations for home ec at our start of year meeting/504 review. The teacher was unprepared/unwilling to go into specifics at that time and referred me to her web site for the recipes. It was agreed we would meet before the start of the second semester to discuss accommodations. I lost track of time and didn't email about scheduling it (though the school should have been on top of that as well) until the week before the semester start. A meeting was scheduled and was snowed out. The 504C tried to reschedule but it seems this teacher is quite hard to schedule. Two days after our snowed out meeting, I got a call to see if I could meet within an hour. I said no. My DH wanted to be present and he'd been at the house the whole morning waiting for the school to call but he had to go to the office. I was in the middle of something for work and could not drop it.
Since then it's been emails back and forth.
So there's more to add from this afternoon: DD had home ec today. When she arrived to class, she sat at her usual table with her friends. Her teacher called her over to her computer and told DD to sit across the room (far away from the demo table) at a table by herself because today's lesson would be a measuring demo in which the teacher would make cookies containing egg. DD asked why she couldn't sit with her friends and said that she could not handle or eat the cookies but that she would be fine sitting with her friends closer to the demo table. The table the teacher tried to exile her to was far across the room and likely would have made observing the lesson nearly impossible. I think I'll be adding that to write-up.
Twinturbo, thanks for the link to the letter. I'm reading it now.
I'm really sorry that happened to your DD, maeve.
On the other hand, I guess that does prove the point that there is some retaliation happening, though-- nice that you weren't given notice, either. :-/
Yes the suggestion that dd just go elsewhere seems a denial of FAPE.
Yeah, I think that your dd needs an exit strategy from this situation. What's the plan for next week if she's still in the class? Can you have her go to guidance until it is sorted out? Or even the nurse? Or even have her fake sick to the nurse for one day to get her out of there? :misspeak:
Oh there's more. I got a call from the 504C on my cell phone at 4:24 p.m. today but I'd left my phone in the car and didn't see it until 4:40 or so. He said that he had been given a list of the recipes that would be used in 7th grade class and that he's putting them in one document, and that he and the teacher were discussing would modifications/substitutions could be made to ensure DD's safety. I haven't called back yet. I have a headache (from this and pulling my ponytail too tight) and I want to discuss with DH and he's on the bus home right now.
Gee I need a drink. This is honestly the first time I have encountered a teacher so resistant.
The SD fire drill scramble begins. ~)
:disappointed:
I would SO come over so that you and your DH could go pop out and have that drink, Maeve. :heart:
I think that yellow is right-- you need a strategy to limit damage for your DD. Kids are often so slow to realize that what just seems like, well-- a hard-a$$ teacher who is nitpicky...
is actually subtle bullying. Saw this with the Harpy wrt to DD. MAN, am I ever glad that I got her out-out-out of that class.
I haven't sent my missive to the school yet. But it could still be scrambling because I did send an email yesterday just after my last request for the recipe list that stated "If Mrs. Teacher does not provide a list of the exact recipes that will be used in the class, I want DD removed from her class. I have been concerned about Mrs. Teacher since August when she was unprepared to discuss specifics about the class and left behind her copy of DD's 504 in the conference room." It was an impulsive email but it now seems prescient because I sent that before I knew of what had been going on in the classroom. So it's possible, the teacher knew of that email before class today. Let's just say that her actions have only hardened my position that DD be removed from her class.
CM, DH doesn't drink. I do have a bottle of Sancerre in the fridge and I may have to have a glass after I lay in supplies for the impending snow storm.
The stress of stuff like this is so huge. It really takes a toll emotionally and physically I have found.
(((Hugs)))
Maeve, will your allergist write up a medical note tomorrow for you to get her out? Then they can at least just follow the doctors orders.
I might also consider asking pediatrician for letter that addresses exclusion AND bullying of child . . . by her teacher.
Sheesh . . . I'm so sorry.
Enjoy the real snow. The teacher's snow job ("I know all about food allergies") won't be nearly as impressive once you're done with her. ;D
Quote from: yelloww on February 11, 2014, 06:46:42 PM
Maeve, will your allergist write up a medical note tomorrow for you to get her out? Then they can at least just follow the doctors orders.
Got the note from the doctor's office but it's written to say that she's excluded from the cooking portion of the class.
I haven't sent off my missive yet but I did just send off an email to the 504C in response to his phone call. I told him I already had the recipes all in one document and that what I had requested repeatedly was a list of which recipes would be used. I attached my document that had the recipes neatly formatted as well. I copied my DH and the teacher on the email.
OMG, they actually coughed up the list of recipes in response to the email I sent this morning. This still doesn't address what to do about the teacher. I'll need to talk to DD after I pick her up at school.
They've waited so long that now they are in corner -- the ingredients have long since been purchased and the lesson plans made.
ugh.
Quote from: ajasfolks2 on February 12, 2014, 08:45:06 AM
They've waited so long that now they are in corner -- the ingredients have long since been purchased and the lesson plans made.
ugh.
This is a semester-long course. I would be very surprised if these were not the exact same recipes used in the first semester. Therefore, I cannot understand why this teacher could not provide this information at the beginning of the year. Oh yeah, I know why, she knows how to handle food allergies and wants to use her approach. She needs to realize that one child with allergies is not the same as another child with allergies. As the autism community says, if you've met one child with autism, you've met one child with autism. It's the same in the allergy community.
...which, er-- would be why this particular child has a 504 plan.
:rant: :bonking:
My reply to the email providing the list of recipes:
Mr. 504C,
Thank you for the information. I'll look at it in conjunction with the list of jobs you provided the other day and will provide guidance on how DD can participate. We want to ensure her fullest participation possible, that she is not excluded, and that her safety is ensured without overtly exposing her allergy status to her peers who have no need to know and without removing her unnecessarily from a lesson.
Maeve
The teacher was copied on the response. :evil:
Beautimous. :evil: