In America, we're endowed with the unique opportunity - despite how we might otherwise perceive it as children - to have access to government sponsored education. True, there exists tremendous disparities in the quality of these institutions across the US, but a foundational principle underlines our culture: access to education is a right, and legislation for educational reform is applauded and valued.
When our educational system falls short of its goals, we swiftly act to correct the imbalance. But when it also demonstrates discrimination and ignorance, I, and I'm sure many other individuals, become a bit frightened and outraged. Such was the case when I read over an article (http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_0n_401.htm) concerning a blatant demonstration of stupidity at middle school in Missouri. A diabetic child, taking a glucose tablet to maintain proper glycemic control, shared them with friends. A teacher, noticing the incident, took possession of the later alleged "drug", and subsequently, after much-ado with the principal and superintendent, culminated in the diabetic child's six-day suspension after sharing OTC medication. Not only that, but the child had a permanent record placed in his file stating the illicit incident and was targeted as a candidate for a drug abstinence program.
This occurred despite letters from the state's diabetes' advocacy group, numerous medical professionals, and the manufacturers of the glucose tablets attesting to the fact that the sugar discs were no more a drug than the candy teacher's handed out for turning in homework. Evidently, to all the teachers and professionals within the district, the tablets were still drugs.
For upcoming medical professionals like myself and already tenured individuals, this demonstrates a unique challenge we must recognize. Not only must we educate individuals with particular disease states on how to manage their conditions, but we must also fervently educate the community at-large. When we all help in creating an environment that nurtures health and wellness, we all benefit...and we can avoid an educational system that demonstrates an exorbitant level of stupidity.
When our educational system falls short of its goals, we swiftly act to correct the imbalance. But when it also demonstrates discrimination and ignorance, I, and I'm sure many other individuals, become a bit frightened and outraged. Such was the case when I read over an article (http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_0n_401.htm) concerning a blatant demonstration of stupidity at middle school in Missouri. A diabetic child, taking a glucose tablet to maintain proper glycemic control, shared them with friends. A teacher, noticing the incident, took possession of the later alleged "drug", and subsequently, after much-ado with the principal and superintendent, culminated in the diabetic child's six-day suspension after sharing OTC medication. Not only that, but the child had a permanent record placed in his file stating the illicit incident and was targeted as a candidate for a drug abstinence program.
This occurred despite letters from the state's diabetes' advocacy group, numerous medical professionals, and the manufacturers of the glucose tablets attesting to the fact that the sugar discs were no more a drug than the candy teacher's handed out for turning in homework. Evidently, to all the teachers and professionals within the district, the tablets were still drugs.
For upcoming medical professionals like myself and already tenured individuals, this demonstrates a unique challenge we must recognize. Not only must we educate individuals with particular disease states on how to manage their conditions, but we must also fervently educate the community at-large. When we all help in creating an environment that nurtures health and wellness, we all benefit...and we can avoid an educational system that demonstrates an exorbitant level of stupidity.
Someone's on the verge of winning a Darwin award...
ReplyDelete