Post by DaveI make no such promise to parents - I ask them if there are any foods that
their child cannot eat because of food allergies or religious observance so
that allowances can be made in the menu. I will ensure as far as I can that
if someone is going to become ill by eating something that they do not but I
do not say that that I can be 100% as I do not see the child 24 hours a
day - in these circumstances the child is also expected to take some
responsibillity for what they eat.
Likewise with religious eating - I can guarantee that I can plan for their
childs food but I cannot guarantee that if a Jew/Muslim wants pig products
that that I can stop them - I will talk to them and put it to them what
their parents have stated but I will not take the food from them.
What follows is a situation I have witnessed, how would you therefore
deal with it? (Thought experiment for people to do in their heads.)
You are at camp, typical size of scout troop, adult ratios etc. You're
not doing anything unusual.
Parents have said that their child must not eat sweets, lots of sugar or
items containing certain E numbers. This child is not allergic* to the
items and will not come to any lasting harm having eaten them, nor is it
a moral or religious choice imposed by the parents.
* by allergic, here, I mean with a reaction which could cause
anaphylactic shock or other physical medical problems, rather than an
intolerance or other reaction.
Do you let the child eat them, say having been offered them by a friend?
(Please answer that before the next item, don't let further
information below inform your answer.)
Child buys the items with their own money from the campsite tuck shop.
Do you let the child eat them, confiscate them or what?
(Please answer that before the next item, don't let further
information below inform your answer.)
You now know the child becomes hyperactive on these sweets, they are not
in any danger but can be hard to handle, and won't go to sleep the
subsequent night, potentially disturbing their patrol and maybe the
entire camp.
Do you let the child eat them, confiscate them or what?
(Please answer that before the next item, don't let further
information below inform your answer.)
You now know the child becomes hyperactive on these sweets, but will not
only be hard to handle but won't then listen to adult's advice. This
could cause a hazard both to themself and to others, as you will be
doing potentially dangerous activities (using axes, archery, climbing
etc) - dangerous when safety instructions are not followed. You might
need to assign one adult to supervise that child totally and they may
disrupt all activities that day.
Do you let the child eat them, confiscate them or what?
The child *wants* to eat these items, they are old enough to make their
own mind up that they want to, they know their behaviour afterwards but
they want to enjoy a foodstuff they like, they aren't breaking the law
by eating or possessing them.
Do you let the child eat them, confiscate them or what?
Now think back...
Did you change your mind?
Considering I know parents don't tell Guiders their daughter has a
learning difficulty which we could support (as opposed to letting her
struggle because we don't have the information needed) because they
"don't want her discriminated against", ditto potentially serious
conditions such as epilepsy, asthma and a severe heart condition, I'm
not convinced all parents will tell you why they've put down these
instructions, even if you reiterate why we ask these questions before
going to camp.
AEndr