A 5th grader at John Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School in Commack was suspended for one day. No, it wasn't for violent behavior or for smoking marijuana. Ten-year-old Sara Greiner was suspended for offering two friends a few drops of peppermint oil. In a letter to the girl's mother, the school's principal wrote that her daughter was guilty of "inappropriate and unacceptable behavior."
The student's mother is now hoping to get the school to remove the suspension from her daughter's permanent record. What do you think about this? Did the school's personnel act responsibly, or was the school guilty of "inappropriate and unacceptable behavior?" Please leave your comments below.
The student's mother is now hoping to get the school to remove the suspension from her daughter's permanent record. What do you think about this? Did the school's personnel act responsibly, or was the school guilty of "inappropriate and unacceptable behavior?" Please leave your comments below.
Comments
i must be missing something??
I also do not understand. Is it a problem with offering peppermint oil? I realize it is not a common item but I would consider it like sharing a piece of gum or candy….am I wrong in my assumption?
i think looking at the context and the 5th grader’s intentions of sharing the peppermint oil with her classmates should be taken into consideration when documenting this incident in the child’s permanent school record.
her mistake was giving it to other children; how would she know what allergic or other reactions they may suffer?? it was very irresponsible; her age, even she should have known better!!!
That is a relevant point about possible allergic reactions, but the girl’s mother said that if a child in school offers someone a piece of their peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it’s doubtful that they would be suspended. Yet there are some people who have extreme allergic reactions to peanuts.
My Lord, this is absurd. Think about all of the ridiculous additives in all of the food products we are sold daily and which we are implored to purchase through persistent advertising. This child shared an essential oil which is present (along with preservatives) in a wide variety of items from gum to candy canes. Give me a break. It’s pretty crazy. In some ways, we completely overprotect our children yet we allow them to sit in front of the boob tube which glorifies all kinds of dangerous behavior. This girl’s intention sounded innocent. Unless she was trying to intentionally poison her friends, I think this needs to be expunged for the record. It is also an opportunity for the school to teach children about the benefits and dangers of essential oils.
The principal and other school personnel should be evaluated. Nowadays, when so many capable people are losing their jobs, why not replace those who have no common sense. Do we want people like that to be responsible for the education of America’s youth????
Why did the girl have peppermint oil in the first place?
To answer Mikey G.’s question about why the girl brought peppermint oil to school: peppermint essential oil flavors candy canes and other edibles. Apparently, the girl put a few drops of the oil in water and enjoyed the tasty drink. Some of her friends asked to try it and she gave them a few drops as well.
Hi Folks,
I’m the mom! Sara has oil because a Girl Scout troop leader was a distributor and told us of how she uses it with her children. This is a legal product, made and sold in the USA. It is a food essence. I am a teacher, and I am Sara’s class parent. The Friday before the classroom peppermint oil incident, the other class mother and I were distributing peppermint candy canes to the class for the holiday party. There was no restriction on this. Peppermint is not one of the listed allergies for this class at all. As class parent, I know this because we receive that list at the start of the school year. Although I was unaware that Sara took it with her to school that day, I was not particularly alarmed when I discovered that she did. It was the day after the snow storm, and there was a 2-hour school delay. We had construction workers replacing our front door and a house guest flying in for the holidays. Sara had a little extra time to get ready that morning and must have thought to bring the oil. The school has compared it to an “over-the-counter drug,” the actual premise upon which she was suspended, which is ridiculous because it is a food essence and nothing else. I’m still angry.
Corrie,
Thanks so much for your reply. I applaud you for making people aware of this unfortunate event and pursuing justice for your daughter. In my humble opinion, your daughter did nothing wrong. And now that you’ve mentioned that there is no one in her class who is allergic to peppermint oil, it makes things crystal clear: your daughter was enjoying a tasty, natural oil and merely shared this with her friends.
I think some people in our society are unfortunately so divorced from real foods such as peppermint oil, which comes from a hardy, beneficial plant, that when someone uses this healthy, tasty oil, it’s considered strange.
It would be wonderful if someone who knows all the benefits of edible essential oils like peppermint could come to your daughter’s school and enlighten people on this matter.
Best of luck with getting this incident taken off your daughter’s permanent record, and please let us know what happens.
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Thanks so much for your e-mail.
Best,
Linda Tagliaferro
This sounds much healthier than pop or fruit flavored drinks. I’m sure she would not have been punished for offering one of those. I think the principal should have went on the internet and checked the health benefits and possible dangers of it first of all. I also think he should have talked to all the parents involved to see how they felt. The most he should have done is give a warning, but from what I see he should have commended her for choosing things that are healthy and encouraging her friends to do the same.