Over the last two days, we’ve witnessed a flurry of action, emotion and disbelief as Clawson Public Schools Board member, Linda Grossman resigns for joking, during a public board meeting, that children with food allergies should be shot. As a public official, this is flat out unacceptable. As a decision maker, this sets the tone for other board members and the community also not take a life threatening disease seriously. Lastly, this is the opportunity we can take full advantage of and use this national attention to be heard. Once the video clip of the “shoot them” statement hit the internet, The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Action Team (FAACT) immediately sent the school board a letter outling their grave error and offered their services to assist them in finding resolution. Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) shared a statement and offered educational resources. Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) – A Division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s President and CEO, Cary Sennett, MD, PhD offered his time to speak to Clawson Board of Education President via phone or email. Clawson Public schools also posted a letter on their website concerning this inappropriate event. Placing our upset aside, we need to look at our opportunities right now. We have choices….
Be Heard
We can simply be angry and complain or we can take this example of how our society simply does not take life threatening food alleriges seriously and do something. When I watched the above video clip, my heart broke up into a thousand pieces. Over the last fourteen years, we’ve worked so hard to educate others. I witnessed hundreds of new allegen related products and foods hit the market, national organizations grow, more food anaphylaxis conferences born, laws passed and online resources blossom. Yet, I watched in disbelief as the same ignorance I met fourteen years ago was played out…again. For me, after my response of, “well, Ms. Grossman just lost her job”, I felt a great sadness. I felt sorrow that we are still at the bottom of the mountain trying to climb up. Then I realized that the giant wave of energy ignited by that video was a sign that we are truly half way up that mountain. Fourteen years ago, we did not have the tools that we have now and the loud voice that was just heard would have been a dull roar.
BE in AWE of our Community
I was in awe, beyond our national food allergy brethren, (pay attention to my bias here) of our community of parents, when I read about how Gina Mennet Lee, food allergy school consultant immediately posted about this issue and directly contacted each school board member. I watched the facebook conversations between Tricia Gavankar, Owner Rock Food Food Allergies, and others as they shared school board responses. I read mulitple posts from outgraged parents who bombarded board members with opinions. People were educating this board-which I believe is very much in support of positively managing and supporting students with life threatening food allergies. Other community memebers have been contacting the media in hopes of this story making headlines.
Be the opportunity.
With this energy and force under our wings, let’s consider educating our own school boards and communities. I really was inspired by this recent blog post, “Five reasons we shouldn’t joke about kids with food allergies, ” written by Dr. Matt Greenhawt, Board-certified in pediatrics and allergy and immunology at the University of Michigan. Not only does he invite Clawson board member to spend the day at the University to learn more about food allergies, he briefly shares why joking is not accepable and what it truly means to live with life threatening allergic disease.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
Hi Caroline,
Thank you for this thoughtful post. I think there are so many lessons here. This whole ordeal has highlighted that fact that there is much work to be done in creating a safe and inclusive environment for students with food allergies. As I stated in my posts, beyond from the food allergy aspect, I was also upset to hear her so casually use the word “shoot” in this setting. In light of the many school shootings we have had in our country, it is just not acceptable.
I agree with you, more education is needed here (for the adults involved) and I think we’d all like to hear a formal apology.
I also found the fact that no action was taken until there was outrage expressed (more than a week after the comment) to be disheartening. The Superintendent was seated at that meeting and stated in a t.v. interview that she was upset at the comment. I would’ve like to have heard that concern expressed immediately and right at the meeting.
I am, however, proud of the food allergy community. This was an example of advocacy at its best. By expressing our concerns, this school board member was forced to take action and resign.
I am very thankful today for our community and for people like you and those you mentioned in your post.
Thanks for all you do, Caroline!
Thank you for posting this, Caroline. Living in Michigan, although not in the Clawson school district but it is a mere 4 miles away, I have really been watching this unfold and explode. It is so embarrassing that this happened in my state. And frustrating, for the obvious reasons. But it fills me with such a profound sadness that these people are out there, and one day I am sure my son will have to deal with them. Thank goodness he’s only 5, and we have lots of time to prep him in how to handle these kinds of people. But it still terrifies me.
You really hit the nail on the head with this issue, and I would love to post a link to this page on my site. But only if it’s ok with you, of course!
Marla, yes, please share! Anything I post is open to all to use. I know what mean, my state seems to make headines for bad comments too. I am grateful for our community’s voice. I don’t anyone on the board saw this response coming.
Gina, thank you always for your insight and conversation. I wondered if Ms. Grossman was privately spoken to prior the internet “leak”, or was it something to be swept under the table?
I also would like to hear a statement and public apology. She needs to let her students and community know that she made a mistake and now she needs to educate herself and others