by Gregory Pivarunas

Created on: June 19, 2009

Many people debate about the subjects taught in school, teacher's wages, and fair grading systems. For the most part, the school district, under supervision of the state, controls these decisions. However, it appears that these school districts also want to extend their authority into the diets of their students, faculty, staff, and visitors. A ban on peanut products would help destroy the freedom of these people.

Peanut products are, indeed, dangerous to some people; in some rare instances, a severe enough allergy can even cause death. This is a serious matter, and these people, even though they are a small percentage of the population, should be protected from peanuts. However, who should protect them? If the school districts engage in such actions as outlawing the use of peanut products at their schools, they are usurping the parent's authority over their children, and their right to protect them. It becomes a battle over the true guardians of children: the parents, who are raising the children, and the school district, which teaches them. Instead of becoming embroiled in such a dispute, the schools should allow the parents to take care of this problem. Any other action is a rebuff to the parents, implying that they are not suited for their role as caregivers to their children.

Further, any ban on peanut products would punish the majority of people, who are not allergic to peanuts, for the benefit of a few people. This is a poor way to take care of such a problem. It also takes away the freedom of these people to choose what they want to eat. People who are allergic to peanuts should be aware of their situation, or if they are not old enough to understand the problem, their guardians should take care of it for them. People cannot make the world safe for everyone; there are inherent risks in going to school, to parties, or to a friend's house. Peanuts might be served there as well. If school districts are able to ban peanut products, other public areas should also have the same restrictions place upon them. Supermarkets should place peanuts in a cordoned section of the store, and only allow access to them by supervised adults or authorized personnel.

There are better solutions to this problem. The school districts should work with parents to ensure that they properly document their children's ailments, and also to inform the children of health risks associated with peanuts, if they are indeed allergic. Instead of making more problems for people by banning certain products, which are safe for many people and harmful only to a few, school districts should focus on education to prevent problems from occurring.

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