Twofebboys
02-24-2010, 10:50 PM
My boys are older...but I use to post here...I was known as Twofebboys and I am back!
Not because I am breastfeeding but because I am helping out a woman at our elementary school that was asked not to breastfeed by the school's leadership. This mother is an asset to our school...she has decided not to volunteer anymore.
Needless to say I hit the roof and immediately sat down to write a note to the area superintendent and several school board members...and I wanted to let you know what I wrote about just the breastfeeding issue:
"The main root of the issue was school leadership asked her not to breastfeed her baby at school in public areas and the parent was not willing to be confined to an office to do this. This was simply shocking to me. As a mother who breastfed both of my children, I was appalled and offended. The parent was also told “that nursing offended a staff member and if I did not comply, preschoolers could be barred from the building”. The simple fact is that this request violates North Carolina State Law § 14‑190.9. which states “Indecent exposure. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding”. But the more complicated matter is the environment that has been established by the school's leadership. There are questions that come up from this kind of response to a parent such as, how can a school be so inflexible and unwelcoming of families to the point that they are turning away willing and valuable human resources? Is this an acceptable atmosphere to have in a school when layoffs are occurring in our school system and parents are stepping in to fill these voids? Does the school leadership really understand the many roles that parents are taking on and is school leadership willing to work with these roles?"
So, I just wanted to say...I still got your backs nursing moms!
Not because I am breastfeeding but because I am helping out a woman at our elementary school that was asked not to breastfeed by the school's leadership. This mother is an asset to our school...she has decided not to volunteer anymore.
Needless to say I hit the roof and immediately sat down to write a note to the area superintendent and several school board members...and I wanted to let you know what I wrote about just the breastfeeding issue:
"The main root of the issue was school leadership asked her not to breastfeed her baby at school in public areas and the parent was not willing to be confined to an office to do this. This was simply shocking to me. As a mother who breastfed both of my children, I was appalled and offended. The parent was also told “that nursing offended a staff member and if I did not comply, preschoolers could be barred from the building”. The simple fact is that this request violates North Carolina State Law § 14‑190.9. which states “Indecent exposure. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding”. But the more complicated matter is the environment that has been established by the school's leadership. There are questions that come up from this kind of response to a parent such as, how can a school be so inflexible and unwelcoming of families to the point that they are turning away willing and valuable human resources? Is this an acceptable atmosphere to have in a school when layoffs are occurring in our school system and parents are stepping in to fill these voids? Does the school leadership really understand the many roles that parents are taking on and is school leadership willing to work with these roles?"
So, I just wanted to say...I still got your backs nursing moms!