You've Got to be Kidding

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

How can you be 'allergic' to a smell?

I think that strictly speaking, you can't be allergic to an odor. But certain odors can act as irritants to certain people, causing irritation to nose, eyes, lungs and throat. Irritants can also do things like aggravate asthma.

An irritant =/= an allergen, but some people will say "allergic" anyway.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by 33girl

why are homerooms in an elementary school determined by the kids' intelligence level? That's a really good way to make a division between the groups.

I took it as the child was in a gifted/talented class, which in some elemntary schools puts the children in thier own class for certain classes (english, reading, social studies). It isnt necessarily about making a division

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

How can you be 'allergic' to a smell?

Ask the people who are deathly allergic to peanuts. I subbed for a class where you couldnt bring ANY peanut/nut product because one kid was deathly allergic. The brother of a childhood friend would get anaphalaxis if he even smelled peanut/peanut butter on your breath.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

I took it as the child was in a gifted/talented class, which in some elemntary schools puts the children in thier own class for certain classes (english, reading, social studies). It isnt necessarily about making a division.

That's still a division based on outcome and sometimes intent.

Saying "you all are the gifted/talented" goes with saying "you all aren't the gifted/talented" and the subsequent "you all are a step below the "normal" kids who we just told aren't the gifted/talented."

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by epchick

Ask the people who are deathly allergic to peanuts. I subbed for a class where you couldnt bring ANY peanut/nut product because one kid was deathly allergic. The brother of a childhood friend would get anaphalaxis if he even smelled peanut/peanut butter on your breath.

But that's an allergy to peanuts, not to the smell itself. That student was not allergic to the smell of peanuts; his allergy to peanuts was severe enough that it could be triggered by inhaling (rather than ingesting) peanut allergens. The corollary would be if the teacher in the OP's post was allergic to olive oil itself, or to the lotion, not just to the smell of the lotion.

[Prettyface08]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I use that product sometimes and don't smell anything. Perhaps people are using too much of it.

Eh. I don't think so. I don't like product weighing my hair down. Even if that were the case, that means the little girl was wearing enough of it for the teacher to smell it. Not that it justifies her being kicked out of class.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Blended classes can sometimes stunt the growth of both types of children and sometimes it is a benefit for each set to be taught at their level. However this article makes it appear as though the "slower" class is FILLED to the brim with black children. WHY? The only "black" child allowed into the higher level class for that grade is the "mixed" child? WHY? Is having a white parent this schools' only requirement for gifted or excelled classes? Are the other kids labeled "bad" and "stupid" for having a different skin color? What is the REAL deal? Isn't anyone at the school wondering why that is that way and testing the children to ensure there is not a racial bias?

At the best there are 2 other black kids in the grade or something and article should have clarified that point. At the worst, the school really does have racial issues.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

That's still a division based on outcome and sometimes intent.

Saying "you all are the gifted/talented" goes with saying "you all aren't the gifted/talented" and the subsequent "you all are a step below the "normal" kids who we just told aren't the gifted/talented."

Its the same way in HS with the AP classes. There will always be the GT classes and the non-gt...i don't see the problem wi th dividing them into diff classes. Its not about being a "step below."

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

But that's an allergy to peanuts, not to the smell itself. That student was not allergic to the smell of peanuts; his allergy to peanuts was severe enough that it could be triggered by inhaling (rather than ingesting) peanut allergens. The corollary would be if the teacher in the OP's post was allergic to olive oil itself, or to the lotion, not just to the smell of the lotion.

My relative's doctors call it allergic...and though personally I haven't heard of someone being DEATHLY allergic to smell, I can tell you for a fact that some people have bad enough reactions to fragrances for them to be considered debilitating in some cases. For her it's severe headaches and nausea along with the typical allergy symptoms like itchy/watery eyes and an effed up nose. And this can be triggered by shampoo, scented lotion, air fresheners, cigarette smoke, etc. I think it's perfectly believable that the teacher was allergic...but that doesn't excuse her way of going about it. There are many ways she could have handled the situation without singling out one student.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

Its the same way in HS with the AP classes. There will always be the GT classes and the non-gt...i don't see the problem wi th dividing them into diff classes. Its not about being a "step below."

I agree that it is the same as AP. Those of us who were in AP classes were "tracked" into those classes early on. We didn't just end up in those classes overnight but instead were in gifted and talented courses/programs for years. Schools that don't have a formal program called "tracking" still use a track system if they have classes divided by something other than age and grade level.

It's not about being a "step below" to us but the problem with tracking isn't about our personal opinions.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

However this article makes it appear as though the "slower" class is FILLED to the brim with black children. WHY?

Black kids are disproportionately represented in the lower tracks in school systems across the country. There are a number of causes and correlates often including and not limited to discrimination on the basis of social class and/or race.

I went to a predominantly white elementary school and there was a learning disabilities and physical and mental disabilities class with only (or mostly) Black kids in it. I went to predominantly Black middle and high schools and I expected the kids in the lower tracks and "disabilities class" (which was one room with no windows ) to be Black kids. I felt sorry for these kids and also the ESL kids who were Asian and Hispanic. They got bullied and laughed at.

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

How can you be 'allergic' to a smell?

i'm allergic to shrimp () and i recently smelled it cooking and it made me sick...it felt like a milder version of what would happen if i ate it.

[SWTXBelle]

Can I claim to be allergic to Axe? Because teaching middle schoolers means I'm exposed to a great deal of it, and I hate it.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by dreamseeker

i'm allergic to shrimp () and i recently smelled it cooking and it made me sick...it felt like a milder version of what would happen if i ate it.

I would die if I ate it. Seafood is one of the worst ones.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Can I claim to be allergic to Axe?

If you do, don't put the babies in the hallway without notifying the parents first.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Can I claim to be allergic to Axe? Because teaching middle schoolers means I'm exposed to a great deal of it, and I hate it.

Large quantities of Axe cause reactions in everyone. It's completely foul.