Hi Cindy,
I think that you should continue to push for the peanut free classroom and continue to ban "may contains".
The teacher has been lazy and ignored your requests for no "may contains". If you were to give in now, the teacher will assume that she can continue to act this way in the future as the parents will give in. IN a future year, if another PA child is in her class, once again she would not make any effort as she would assume that eventually the parent will give up. By you not giving up, she will realize her strategy is not working, as the principal must not be pleased to hear that the teacher has been allowing all this unsafe product into the classroom.
Since it appears the teacher has not been checking lunches for "may contain items" as had been requested by you, it appears that you can no longer trust her to be diligent in prodiving a peanut free environment so this is not the time to let down your guard. If the teacher was responsible and took the allergy seriously you could consider allowing "may contain" items, but from what I have heard so far that would be a mistake in this situation.
Since she does not take it seriously, it leaves it to you and the principal to keep it a safe environment.
Anyway, I may not have mentioned it but I am sorry to hear you are having such difficulties these days and I hope that things improve as we approach the holiday season.
[This message has been edited by erik (edited November 26, 2002).]

Cindy,
I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with your son's school [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
I can really relate to your teacher troubles. PA or no, we all run into teachers that don't make a good match for our kids. I did find your point about the age thing interesting though. This is my belief...
Younger teachers are less set in their ways and more willing to learn and CHANGE in order to accomodate students or parents. Teachers who have been around for a long time are often very good, experienced teachers, but they are set in their ways, and are unwilling to change. Some even have no more patience left and are just killing time before they retire. Many years experience does not neccessarily make a good teacher. I'm 31-and been an EA for 10 years...and if I get to that point I hope I have enough sense to find a different profession.

Cindy,
Glad to hear we're OK! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Cindy - a quick question. I've been following this thread - and I may have missed it - but I'm wondering how you handle "home baked goods" - ie. when a child brings a homemade muffin in?
A friend in BC who has a PA daughter was telling me that the entire school went Peanut-free this past September - and that at first they said "No Home-baking" because of the possibility of cross contamination. After a huge uproar from parents - they now allow home-made items in - but only when accompanied by a note stating that the item is nut-free.
Is home-baking allowed in Jesse's classroom -
how do you handle this?
mae