Sunscreen Ban Causes 10-Year-Old Girl To Get FRIED

[jmra]

I'd like to know more about the nature of the field trip. If it was an outdoor activity in the sun all day, I can say from personal experience that one application of sunscreen wouldn't be enough for me. I burn easily and have frequently gotten burned due to forgetting to reapply sunscreen (usually at the beginning of the summer when I've gotten complacent). It doesn't have to be a water activity; a day at the zoo or a field day without much shade would do it too. When you figure in the time between when the girl left home and when she was likely getting the most sun exposure, applying it before school just isn't an adequate option. Usually about 4 hours is the limit, assuming water isn't involved. If sunscreen was applied even as late as 8 a.m., it'd be wearing off early enough that she wouldn't have protection from afternoon sun.

To be fair, I don't wear sunscreen every time I go outside. But if I'm going to be out in the sun for several hours at this time of year, I WILL burn if I do not apply and reapply sunscreen. My oldest has my complexion and is the same way.

What kind of sunscreen are you using? A generous coating of waterproof spf 50 should last all day. I used to spend 10 hrs a day on a flight line with a single application in the hot Southeast without burning and I am very light complected.
But, if I felt that my child needed additional applications you can bet your bottom dollar I would be on the field trip applying that application myself.

and your method is the only one that works
No, but it is an effective method that would have kept the child from being burned.
and too bad if this mother is a single mother working an hourly job
I have yet to meet a single mother working an hourly job who couldn't make it to their child's field trip if they made it a priority.
and too bad if this child is has a pale complexion and blond hair (which means easier to burn if you don't catch my meaning)
You might want to search my posts for a pic of my oldest son.
you keep saying that you want the parent involved, but when the parent tried to get involved and send the sunscreen it wasn't allowed
Wrong, she didn't attempt to send sunscreen because she knew from the beginning of the year she couldn't. She could have gotten a prescription from the doctor for sunscreen which would have forced the school to apply sunscreen or she could have attended the trip. Instead she chose to do nothing until after her child was burned.....this is the problem with government schools, the won't let the kids have sunscreen or aspirin, but they'll sure as heck give them condoms and tell them how to get an abortion without their parents knowing.
This is simply not true. See previous post by N5WD

[Dave2]

I would be willing to bet if this same mother's child had been accidentally sprayed in the face by another child applying sunscreen she would be filing a lawsuit as we speak. People complain about the rules but ultimately the schools are darned if they do and darned if they don't.

If an organization can't operate without being sued, then perhaps it ought not to be operating at all, at least not with public funding.

You do realize anyone can sue anyone for any reason or no reason? Your statement is simply irrational.

Yeah, but not everything will stand up in court. They're avoiding one lawsuit/medical crisis (Johnny gives Suzy sunscreen and causes a rash or something) by inviting another (Suzy gets burned to a crisp).

[Fuchs]

I'm waiting for "the rest of the story" before I blame anybody.

Did the school confiscate the sunsceen the parent sent with their child?

Did the parent apply suncreen that morning but the child burned anyway?

Did the parent make no real effort to protect their child from sunburn?

Many people seem to be assuming one of these but the blog in OP doesn't say one way or the other.

[jmra]

I would be willing to bet if this same mother's child had been accidentally sprayed in the face by another child applying sunscreen she would be filing a lawsuit as we speak. People complain about the rules but ultimately the schools are darned if they do and darned if they don't.

If an organization can't operate without being sued, then perhaps it ought not to be operating at all, at least not with public funding.

You do realize anyone can sue anyone for any reason or no reason? Your statement is simply irrational.

Yeah, but not everything will stand up in court. They're avoiding one lawsuit/medical crisis (Johnny gives Suzy sunscreen and causes a rash or something) by inviting another (Suzy gets burned to a crisp).

And the lawyers will determine which poses the least liability and adopt policies accordingly.

[mamabearCali]

Don't know what kind of sunscreen you are using but unless my kids are at a water park, a good coating in the morning will adequately protect them all day in the sun.
Regardless if it is a bad policy or not, the mom knew the rules and failed to take appropriate steps to protect her child. That's on her, not the school.
I can almost assure you that this schools policy was the result of a lawsuit filed by some other irresponsible parent that expected the school to protect their child from exposure to said sunscreen.

I have used many different types of sunscreen. One coating per day does it when the temp is 80 degrees and they will be playing at a place that is partially shaded, like a park. When it is 100+ (like it often is in TX) my family needs one coat in the morning, one coat at noon, one coat at 3 pm. If I just did the one coat in the morning two of my children would be lobsters by the end of the day.

As I read the story the mom tried to protect her child. But the school policy gave her precious few options. It is a bad policy. It is a lazy policy. It is a policy for people who do not want to have to supervise children, but rather have a one size fits all perspective. I have taught in schools where we put sunscreen on three year olds everyday twice a day (kids unable to put it on themselves). It was a pain, but no one ever got sprayed in the face, and no one ever got fried.

[mojo84]

I find this policy of no sunscreen at school is ridiculous. Sunscreen is no more toxic than many other things found in schools. This is right up there with other zero tolerance bans such as "no peanuts or peanut products in the school" because one kid has a peanut allergy. No oranges or grapefruit in the schools because one kid has a citrus allergy. What about perfumes on girls, there are many perfumes that cause people to have allergy attacks. Kind of akin to no pop tart shaped guns. My daughter's closest friend that lives in our neighborhood has a sever peanut allergy. We've discussed the issue with her and her parents. They agree it would be ridiculous for the school to ban peanut products in the entire school because of her allergy. They've done a great job of informing the school and teaching their daughter to be on the lookout and be responsible for staying away from peanut products.


My very light complexioned daughter went to Fiesta Texas on a field trip with her grade. We lathered her up with 50 sport sunscreen before she went to school. She did not reapply as we told her to. The consequence was a significant sunburn on her face, neck and shoulders. She was scolded for not following instructions and being irresponsible. Now, if the school had not allowed her to apply the sunscreen, there would be heck to pay as I am 48 with light a complexion and I have already had to have several cancers removed as a result of sun exposure and poor decisions on my part.

There is a difference in being prudent with risk management and going overboard trying to eliminate all risk, which is impossible. This is another case of a lack of common sense in my opinion.

[Jim Beaux]

Which is nuttier - Banning sunscreen or banning patriotism?

A Coney Island principal has put the kibosh on patriotism — again.

Greta Hawkins caused a furor when she barred her PS 90 kindergartners from singing “God Bless the USA” at their graduation ceremony in 2012.

Now she has stopped pre-K kids from singing “Stand Up for the Red, White and Blue” at their June 19 moving-up ceremony.

she reportedly told teachers it might “offend other cultures.” PS 90 is full of immigrants from Mexico, Pakistan, India, Russia and elsewhere.

She later told Department of Education higher-ups the lyrics were “too grown up” for 5-year-olds, though she left Justin Bieber’s flirty “Baby” on the program. The DOE had her yank that one, too.

http://nypost.com/2014/06/08/coney-isla ... raduation/

[jmra]

Don't know what kind of sunscreen you are using but unless my kids are at a water park, a good coating in the morning will adequately protect them all day in the sun.
Regardless if it is a bad policy or not, the mom knew the rules and failed to take appropriate steps to protect her child. That's on her, not the school.
I can almost assure you that this schools policy was the result of a lawsuit filed by some other irresponsible parent that expected the school to protect their child from exposure to said sunscreen.

I have used many different types of sunscreen. One coating per day does it when the temp is 80 degrees and they will be playing at a place that is partially shaded, like a park. When it is 100+ (like it often is in TX) my family needs one coat in the morning, one coat at noon, one coat at 3 pm. If I just did the one coat in the morning two of my children would be lobsters by the end of the day.

As I read the story the mom tried to protect her child. But the school policy gave her precious few options. It is a bad policy. It is a lazy policy. It is a policy for people who do not want to have to supervise children, but rather have a one size fits all perspective. I have taught in schools where we put sunscreen on three year olds everyday twice a day (kids unable to put it on themselves). It was a pain, but no one ever got sprayed in the face, and no one ever got fried.

I listed a multitude of options that were available to the parent. She is the one who chose to put her child at risk by doing nothing.

[Captain Matt]

Are field trips still optional?

[jmra]

Are field trips still optional?

Absolutely.

[Texsquatch]

Don't know what kind of sunscreen you are using but unless my kids are at a water park, a good coating in the morning will adequately protect them all day in the sun.
Regardless if it is a bad policy or not, the mom knew the rules and failed to take appropriate steps to protect her child. That's on her, not the school.
I can almost assure you that this schools policy was the result of a lawsuit filed by some other irresponsible parent that expected the school to protect their child from exposure to said sunscreen.

I have used many different types of sunscreen. One coating per day does it when the temp is 80 degrees and they will be playing at a place that is partially shaded, like a park. When it is 100+ (like it often is in TX) my family needs one coat in the morning, one coat at noon, one coat at 3 pm. If I just did the one coat in the morning two of my children would be lobsters by the end of the day.

As I read the story the mom tried to protect her child. But the school policy gave her precious few options. It is a bad policy. It is a lazy policy. It is a policy for people who do not want to have to supervise children, but rather have a one size fits all perspective. I have taught in schools where we put sunscreen on three year olds everyday twice a day (kids unable to put it on themselves). It was a pain, but no one ever got sprayed in the face, and no one ever got fried.

I listed a multitude of options that were available to the parent. She is the one who chose to put her child at risk by doing nothing.

I gotta agree fully with Mr JMRA here. If you have a concern or medical reason, or fear of having your child sunburned, then do whatever it takes to get the job done. If school required doctor note or prescription, so be it. Is it a pain is the rear? Sure. Is it unfair or overkill just to get sunscreen in the school? Maybe. But so what? My child comes first and I'm not letting something this simple get in the way of his health or prevent him from enjoying the field trip.

I pay way to many taxes for public schools which I don't even use and I hope they get their bigger issues resolved before they waste more money worrying about sunscreen ethics.

[mamabearCali]

Why should nearly every parent of a blond child have to go and get a doctors note just because some school administrator wants to be lazy. I find that unacceptable.


I give a darn about my kids....that is why I homeschool. So any field trips we take I have complete control over. If you can I recommend it. However I recognize that not all can.

Sunscreen policy is a symptom of a greater problem. The one size fits all zero tolerance baloney that is running rampant in our schools. The toy guns resulting in suspension, the children being medicated to sit still, the no peanuts anywhere anytime stuff, the you may not defend yoursel policy, and yes the sunscreen policy is all part and parcel of the whole thing designed (IMO) to teach children that thinking is not required and that you will obey stupid laws because they are laws.