Islets of Hope

Islets of News Diabetes Editorial
October 2005

Information on Your Child's Educational Rights

Download the American Federation of Teachers Declaration

Download Safe at School Principals

Sign the Safe at School Statement of Principals

Share School Success Stories with ADA

More Resource Links

NOTE:  The ADA’s Safe at School Campaign does not  deny the importance of a qualified nurse but seeks to pass legislation:

“..."that teachers, school administrators, school secretaries, and other personnel may be trained to provide diabetes care in the absence of a school nurse and so that students who are able to do so can effectively  self-manage their disease."

Do you have a school-aged child with diabetes?  We want to hear your story!  Tell us your child's school plan, if you are comfortable with it, and what steps you took to get your plan in place.  Send your inquiries or submission to the Editor@IsletsofHope.com.  See the "Contact Us" page for more information.

See our list of schools that have been reported by IOH parents as having discriminated against their children with diabetes.

Diabetes Friendly Schools

Scholarship Information

Page Three:  The Three R’s:  Ridiculous, Restrictive Resolutions:

Proposed Changes in Your Child’s Education Plan That Do Not Make The Grade

     In 2004, when the AFT passed a resolution directly opposing diabetes care training (or involvement by any school employee who is not a registered nurse), the American Nursing Association (ANA) echoed their support in 2005.  Most schools in the nation do not even have a registered nurse onsite fulltime it at all, and none employ nurses for extracurricular activites.  Painting an even grimmer picture for our children, the ANA recommends that if a child is experiencing severe hypoglycemia (a life threatening situation) and no nurse is around, school employees should simply call 911.       

     What the ANA suggests is exactly what happened to my daughter with near fatal consequences. Due to untrained teachers not permitted to intervene, even in an emergency or in the absence of a health tech, there was literally no one at the school to help my daughter.   Because the health tech was not onsite, Elizabeth’s teacher, ignoring the symptoms and Elizabeth’s request to have her blood glucose checked, failed to recognize the danger of Elizabeth‘s situation. Having been instructed to do nothing without explicit approval from the remote district nurse, that is precisely what the teacher did -- nothing.

     There are many who support the ADA’s goals, including, American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Dietetic Association, Children with Diabetes, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and the Pediatric Nurses Endocrine Society.  Many school employees also would welcome better resources and the ability to help our children without such severe restrictions.  If you are interested in joining those who support the  ADA ’s “Safe at School Statement of Principals” petition, you can add your own name to the growing list of concerned parents, teaching and health professionals.

    It is important to emphasize that not all states, and certainly not all schools or educators are failing our children; many provide wonderful, top-notch care.  And even one well-intended goal of the AFT is as follows: ”RESOLVED, that the AFT continue to lobby for at least one full-time licensed registered nurse in every school building.”  AFT clearly acknowledges that there is a problem in our schools but their solution is not practical; a nurse in every school is not reasonable or even necessary.  In the real world, parents, family, friends, licensed daycare givers, and even young children who are not registered nurses have mastered diabetes care.  With training and education teachers too will be able to provide competent care for a child with diabetes. 

     The nation already faces a crisis due to a shortage of registered nurses, and with nursing schools often having one- to three-year long waiting lists to attend, the situation is not likely to improve anytime soon.  We already have teachers in every school; let’s educate them instead.  

     We need universally safe school practices now! Our children’s lives depend on it! As parents, we should demand not only the three R’s (readin’, ‘ritin’ and, ‘rthmatic), but demand that as part of our child’s education, there should be three additional R’s -- Reasonable Rights and Resolutions for our children.

Editorial replies are welcomed.  See our Contacts page for details.

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THANK YOU ... to all the health, school, and teaching professionals already doing everything possible to help keep our children safe while they attend school.  We hope that your compassion and acquired diabetes care skills will inspire others to become more involved in helping children with diabetes receive an education in a safe environment.

   Gosselin/Freidman
Taking Diabetes to School:  This color illustrated book for elementary age children contains an instructive story of a grade-schooler with diabetes who tells his classmates about the disease and how he manages it. The story offers sensitive insight into the day-to-day "school life" of a child with a chronic illness.

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Page Updated 12/09/2005