[b]It sure would, Gail. However, I drove by the airport this morning, and I didn't see any pigs on the runway, so I'm not holding my breath...LOL![/b]
But if you lived on an island, where all pigs had wings, it is more possible that some pigs would need to be shown how to use their wings? Told that flying was possible? That maybe they needed to be led by example? I would guess there would be plenty of pockets of these pigs that wouldn't figure out what their wings were for if the land they were living on was flat, with readily available food, and all their other resources were handed to them. Without truffles around, I'm not sure about if pigs have an innate characteristic that promotes curiosity.
Anyway, pigs who lived up with hills, had to forage for food, had more challenges happen in their life, are more apt to discover their wings, even if accidentally. But the use would be discovered, flourish, and become part of their skill set.
The question is, is it incumbant on the pigs in the hills, who go out for a swoop around the island, to land and meet those flatland pigs? Do the flying pigs have a responsibility to let the flatland pigs in on the info about their wings? Surely, eventually flatland pigs might one day stumble upon the notion they could fly if they ever looked up. But keeping it's head buried in the mud below itself is much more to their liking..... looking up is hardly worthwhile. A flying pig sharing information is a quicker way for them to learn.
And it is true, that even when shown, a flatland pig might still prefer it's mud, not want to fly, and be content where it is. But, plenty of other pigs .... even if it were just one at a time.... would get a taste of flying.... and even begin to enjoy it, seeing that it isn't as hard as it looks, can show them new things, meet new pigs from other parts of the island, and give them a whole new perspective on a lot of things..... including the pigs that want to keep their noses in the ground.
Point?
Why aren't we telling FAAN to put different guidelines? Suggesting? Urging? Questioning why they don't?
If we want a counter balance, why do we sit back and silently complain about it to eachother?
Honestly, many things that we complain about don't come from our apathy here on the boards. But, out in the real world, we do apologize for, don't want to inconvenience, don't want to stick out, don't want to be labeled "the .itch"....etc.
We are the peacemakers right? It is up to us to smooth everything out. To keep the well oiled machine running.
And I would ask WHY?
This thread has deteriorated into yet another IDEA/IEP vs 504 thread. I'm am tired debating that right now. It isn't about the merits of the point of that. Anymore comments I make about it, won't help. I just don't have the energy for it. It isn't that I don't see it. But right now, it isn't happening.
All I really wanted to do was explore some things. The ideas that I'm talking about, sure it would be great in conjunction with things like IDEA/IEP/504 --- but the principle can stand alone. Even for those people who disagree with the formalization of their child's disability.
Why don't we as a FA community expect more?
Why don't we, just plainly, as a parent, expect more?
Why don't we expect more, voice it, and not accept less than, when it comes to the lives of our children, with the same fervor that other parents glom together and get angry if their kid can't eat a cupcake?
Why do we take it in silence --- we are talking about the lives of our children?
We want others to think that our kids are more important than a cookie..... but do we do things that undermine that?
There are pigs that fly..... they just have to be shown that they have wings, and shown how to use them.
Just watch "Kids in the Hall"..............

[b]I understand the thread derailing, but I think, if I'm not mistaken, you wanted some help in whether or not your stance on not sending in the safe treat box was something that was do-able or not do-able (my language is limited these days, sorry ).[/b]
Partly. But also in a larger legal issue. I'll try to give an example.
Let's say your child wears a green shirt to school. He comes home at the end of the day, and tells you that he couldn't participate in a class activity because he was wearing green. HUH? Well, all the other kids were wearing orange. I can't participate if I wear green.... can't you send me in wearing an orange shirt... or one like theirs?
Would you go to the teacher and ask them what was up or would you go get an orange shirt?
If the teacher said that your son wearing a green shirt means that either he gets separated out or nobody gets to do the activity because to do it you have to wear orange.... what would you do? Would you say too bad.... my son gets to wear whatever shirt he wants? And, btw, you know how many near riots have occurred because a school wants to implement a dress code ..... god forbid Suzie not have the right to express herself through her thigh high mini skirt.........
I guess my thinking is that there is a bigger premise that is applicable to what we as a FA community are faced with. Just the plain merits of excluding a child. Is it legal? If it isn't, why do we tolerate it, with or without specific IEP/504?
We've talked about Rosa Parks here. How about the after affects? Did she get back on the bus and go to the back again? She fought for a principle, did anyone tell her to go back and sit down after it all, and what did she do? Did she feel satisfied to have made her point but then not sit in the front because the driver told her things hadn't settled down enough and it would just make things easier if she went to the back?
Some people here have fought horrific battles with their schools.... gone through a lot to get what they have. What is it worth if you do the same things that a parent without one does?
You fight for the right to life for your child.... the accommodations that are necessary for them to attend school.... go to the mat for principle and law contained in IDEA/504..... but then still send in something that lets them out of their contract.
It doesn't make sense to me anymore as a parent of FA children, as a parent in general believing in the rights of children as a whole, and as a tax paying citizen who is tired of my tax dollars being used to pay the salaries of those that would exclude, isolate and discrimminate in the name of pandering to social groups rather than what is legal in this country.
If it is okay for a school to treat your child differently based on their FA's in an exclusionary sense, and you sanction it and promote it with things like snack boxes, what is next?