After an all-morning radio show devoted to Jaielyn Belong, a Delaware teen mom who is having difficulty securing breastfeeding accommodations when she returns to high school next week, WXDE needed more information. Mark Fowser, News Director at WXDE Delaware 105.9 News Talk Radio, took some time today to interview Dan Curry, the superintendent at Lake Forest School Districts regarding teen moms and breastfeeding within their schools. What follows is the transcription. If you would like to listen to the recording, you can do so by clicking here. (The image is the superintendents blog post released today reiterating the resources at DAPI and that they may not be able to support teen moms as much at Lake Forest High school.) Mark Fowser: This is Mark Fowser speaking on Delaware 105.9 Wednesday the 30th of January with Dan Curry who is the super of schools in the Lake Forest School District, good morning to you. Dan Curry: Good morning. Mark: Thanks for being on, I appreciate it. Dan: Sure. Mark: While it’s not the ideal situation, there are situations where the school, and we’re talking the high school level, um, teen mothers are a part of the student population. With respect to the idea of breastfeeding, what kind of accommodations Mr. Curry does the school make with regards to teen mothers? I guess we’re not talking about a situation where they can bring babies to school or that kind of thing but in general what does the district try to do and we’ll talk later about what it is bound to do by law if there are laws that apply here. Dan: We have, first of all, I think we need to understand that any school environment has a lot of females that are working within the school and lots of them have had babies and returned to work so we have no shortage of opinions. Among our school faculty, our nurses, our guidance counselors, and others as to what would be appropriate approach and what is necessary. That being said, a student who would make that request, we would offer some space. Now you need to understand I’m not sure what kind of space is expected or would be required if every room in a school is being used by an employee. We have to consider what space would that be, and how long do you need it and how often do you need it. Could be the nurses office? the nurses office has a bathroom? do you want to do that in the bathroom where other students have gone in and perhaps thrown up today? The nurse’s office has an examinating, examining room but in the examining room we store medicines, so we’re not going to allow you to go in there and close the door. When we’re talking about a student who is our responsibility then we have responsibilities for that student’s health and safety while they’re in that school which requires supervision. So those are those kinds of, our concerns. That being said we would if a student insisted they wanted to do that we would work with them to try to establish what would the schedule be like, when might you need to do this and how are you going to store it. I don’t believe it’s a taxpayer’s responsibility to provide a refrigerator. For storage of breast milk for a teenager who wants it. They can bring a cooler and they can store it. Now many of our employees who I’ve talked to about this they talk about their own experiences and how they pump before they came to work and they didn’t feel the need to pump during the day and they pumped right after, but that was their choice. Now let me also point out that within the state of Delaware we have some great programs specifically designed for teen moms, DAPI is the, and that’s D-A-P-I, I’m not sure what the initials stand for… Mark: Delaware Adolescent Pregnancy Initiative Dan: There you go! So our children, our girls who go to Lake Forest schools have the opportunity to go to the DAPI program, before they have the baby. And they get their education, they get guidance on parenting and when the baby is born they can continue to go to DAPI, they can take the baby with them and the baby will be in high quality childcare. They can nurse when they need to, they can pump when they need to. That option is available to every student, and that option has, of course, is obviously available to the student that has been talked about in the news today. And she chooses, from what I understand, not to take that option. Mark: But that’s also, isn’t that not in the high school itself, isn’t that a separate location Dan: That’s right, that’s a separate building, a separate location that serves all of Kent County. So, what she has, you know, she has a number of options that are certainly more specifically designed to accommodate that kind of request and as would any teen mom and when a teen mom chooses to no I don’t want that option, I want to go back to my home school, that’s all well and good too, but our ability to accommodate that request isn’t as easily fulfilled as it is in a specialty place. Mark: Is that because it hasn’t reached the numbers, I guess in some ways a positive indication, the numbers haven’t reached a level of people where a special accommodation would be needed or warranted to, you know, if it reached a certain number of teen mothers would there be some special room or special…? Dan: Well, we have no shortage of teen moms. But the request and the insistence to you know have a place to pump is unusual. It’s not that we don’t have them it’s just this particular request is according to the staff of the school is unusual. I don’t know if they’ve ever had such a request, to tell you the truth. Mark: Now, there are groups that actively promote breastfeeding vs. formula and they’re citing state laws that I guess they apply to workplaces vs. school settings. Is the school bound by any workplace guidelines to accommodate breastfeeding? What do you for employees vs. students for example? Dan: If, whatever the law requires, we would do. It’s not come up. It’s just not come up. We certainly have our share of recently returning mothers returning to work throughout our schools. And I have no doubt, if they need to pump, they can, they’re, you know, adults! They can make their own choice about Okay this is my work environment, where would I go to do this? No one has to come and demand to the principle, you, I want you to make a room for me. They know their work environment and they can give some thought to am I comfortable doing that in the teachers’ lounge? Can I on my planning period turn out the lights and lock my door and do that? They have some choices as an employee about to make judgment about whether they can execute that efficiently and privately. Mark: So in a way it’s easier for an employee vs. a student who is going from class to class. Has I know teachers have rigid structures, but so do students that are going class to class, a certain amount of minutes to get from class to class too Dan: That’s right. So a student, the question is, does the law that applies to employment and workplace requirements apply to student rights as well, I’m not sure. We’d have to ask an attorney that. And of course you know if you have two attorneys in a room, we might hear two different opinions. But you know we have a lot of folks who are expressing an opinion about what the law requires and the bottom line is I believe that the Lake Forest School District is offering what makes good sense. Trying to offer both advice and guidance. And saying okay this is something we can work with you on but you know we have limits as to the extent we can help you. And when you choose to return to our school, you know you are still a student you are still here to go to school And you know It is every one of the staff that I’ve talked to that have breastfed while they returned to work indicated to me that is was their choice because it made the most sense for them not to pump at work. That was their choice. And it was nothing they felt had to be done, and they didn’t think of it as something they had a right to do and that their employer had a responsibility to do, it’s a personal decision. But they also, with that experience, can guide a teenager, they can help answer the questions of a teenager of what their true needs are going to be and when they can do it and what are your desires with regards to privacy, what are your desires with regards to sanitation. And safety. You know, school nurses office to me, seems like one of the most likely places, but that’s where all the sick people go to. Mark: It’s like a hospital right? Dan: Absolutely, absolutely. So as a school, I doubt that any of the high schools that have recently been built and the state of Delaware designed with student needs and all the various programs in mind, I doubt that any of them designed a room specifically for that purpose. Mark: Well, this has been very interesting and I appreciate your time, DC of the Lake Forest School District and thanks for being on Delaware 105.9 I really appreciate it. Dan: Sure thing!
77 Comments
Emily Kirsch
1/30/2013 05:28:03 am
It is so profoundly obvious that this man hasn't a CLUE about breastfeeding. At all. I would LOVE to hear from the female teachers he spoke to who only pumped before and after work. How did that work out for maintaining their milk supply? What a joker. He's in for a rude awakening. And I can't wait to watch it unfold.
Reply
1/30/2013 06:43:41 am
Emily, my thoughts exactly on the "no clue" part. This man is so ignorant (as his comments prove) about the realities of breastfeeding. Now, ignorance can be remedied with education. However, if there is no desire to learn something new, then it is no longer called ignorance is it?
Reply
4/29/2013 10:26:20 pm
The best location for yacht charter in southeastern Asia, Thailand is famous for its rugged landscape, magnificent beaches as well as an exotic culture and lifestyle of the local populace 5/5/2013 06:24:48 am
There are certain vitamins, herbs and dietary supplements that can be used as home remedies for gout. The vitamins include B complex, E and Folic acid. Primrose oil is also known to be quite effective. 10/11/2013 12:05:46 am
This is one of the rare times I have seen an article about the subject. Good job! 9/17/2013 09:34:40 pm
I am impressed by the quality article you have shared on this site and I have learned how effective social blogging can bring awareness and changes in the society. Such good sites are rare to find on the internet and I am glad that I have landed here.
Reply
10/6/2013 03:23:17 am
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me
Reply
10/7/2013 11:47:45 pm
a huge thumbs up for your excellent info you might have here with this post. We are returning to your website for much more soon.
Reply
Sara
1/30/2013 05:58:15 am
Emily is right. This man has obviously never been around a breastfeeding mother. I am currently pumping at work 3 times a day for my daughter (during my two 15 minute breaks and at lunchtime), and if I do not, my supply significantly drops and it *hurts*. If the female teachers truly only pumped before and after work, I would be interested to know how it worked for their babies and what prompted those decisions... ignorant, mysogynistic attitudes from the principal and superintendent perhaps?
Reply
5/3/2013 06:42:01 am
I have never been a good public speaker and avoid speeches like a plague but when it came to my little sweetheart’s big day, I cannot simply evade giving out the father of the bride wedding speech, not when it seemed to mean the world to my sweet Angela
Reply
8/4/2013 07:30:55 pm
I absolutely appreciated scrutinizing your net diary. It was especially usually made and easy to understand. Unlike more connected diaries I have examined which are absolutely not that uncommon.
Reply
Dawn Papple
1/30/2013 06:09:59 am
What kind of room does he think is needed? My word! She needs a private area with an electric outlet.
Reply
Loki
1/30/2013 11:40:51 am
Since when is school 8 - 10 hours? Usually it's 6 hours tops
Reply
Kira =]
1/30/2013 06:10:33 am
I think it's awesome they have a program/facility like DAPI - Wondering why the teen mom has chosen to not take advantage of that program.
Reply
Dawn Papple
1/30/2013 06:49:18 am
Perhaps it's a matter of transportation. Perhaps she doesn't want her entire education to be surrounded by her motherhoodness. Perhaps it's a greater distance. Perhaps she wants to be around her friends. Perhaps she just doesn't want to. She has a right to go to school in her home school. She also has a right to pump.
Reply
Desiree
1/30/2013 11:42:55 am
Amen!
Loki
1/30/2013 11:43:18 am
a lot of perhaps here . . . meaning speculation
lisa
1/30/2013 02:27:46 pm
These programs are not like normal high school more like Gaead classes usually. And if she is a "book worm" will want to have a wide avalability. Of classes
Billie
1/31/2013 10:50:03 pm
She also had the right not to get knocked up in the first place. She had a right to say no. And because she didn't do those things, the school should be responsible for her being able to pump? She has another alternative. That's called "consequence." She decided to get pregnant by having sex. One of the consequences is going to a new school without her friends. She made that choice when she took her pants off.
A NANA WHO CARES
2/14/2013 02:03:44 am
IF SHE LOVES THE BABY SO MUCH WHY OH WHY DOES SHE NOT LET THE FATHER SIDE SEE THE BABY HE REALLY WHATS TO BE THERE FOR HIS SON BUT SHE IS HOLDING THE BABY OVER OUR HEADS AND SAID NO TO SEEING HIM! SHE IS SPOILD SHE WANTS HER RIGHTS BUT WHAT DOES THE DADDY RIGHTS!!!! 1/30/2013 09:34:57 am
It is my understanding from the grandmother that Jaielyn was in that school during her pregnancy, at least for their prenatal type classes. It is not as academically challenging as she needs, so she decided to come back to her home school being Lake Forest High.
Reply
Loki
1/30/2013 11:41:46 am
AMEN!
Reply
jaielyn
1/30/2013 06:24:15 am
well i have to pump enough to keep my storage milk up so he can eat during my time at school, unless the superintendent expects my son to go hungry??
Reply
Debra Haas
1/30/2013 07:35:32 am
You are right. You do have to keep up your stored breastmilk. This man obviously (as others have said) has never been around someone that breastfeeds. Going 8 hours without nursing or pumping would be extremely painful, and would have complications including supply drop and mastitis, not to mention the health problems that could be caused by your baby using formula. Also, a cooler is an extreme downgrade from a fridge. While a cooler is better than nothing, when kept in a cooler the milk will spoil faster because an ice pack can not support the same cooler temperature that a refrigerator has.
Reply
Aheiger
1/30/2013 09:28:28 am
Just wanted to congratulate you on wanting to provide your child with the very best nutrition and for standing up for your right to do so while you continue your education. You have the support of so many breast feeding moms standing behind you and are proud of you for making a good decision that many "responsible" adults choose not to. Your schools superintendent is so incredibly ignorant on what normal healthy breastfeeding is. Dont be discouraged! You and your son are off to a bright future. Keep breastfeeding and stay in school!
Reply
Kim
1/30/2013 07:21:37 pm
Yes, before going back to school you will have to start a freezer stash. Then at school you should pump about every 2-3 hours. When I returned to work after having my son, my first break was about 3 hours after I last nursed my son and I felt like I was about to pop. I couldn't concentrate for the 15 minutes before my break because my breast were hurting. I will say after about 2 weeks, my body adjusted where I was no longer in pain waiting till my 1st break.
Reply
Ruth Wilmore
1/31/2013 12:00:11 am
You don't need to justify your position, Jaielyn. You have every right to feed your baby as you see fit and the law supports you. I applaud you for sticking to this and taking such good care of your baby.
Reply
It never ceases to amaze me, how willing men so often are, to speak on behalf of a scenario that they will never in a million years face. And yes, it's fantastic that there are programs like DAPI out there, but I don't believe that's the only alternative a teenage mother should have, should she want to provide her child with breastmilk AND receive an equitable education in the same location as her peers.
Reply
Andrea
1/30/2013 07:55:27 am
Clueless is right--the superintendent didn't even know what the acronym stood for--the radio host had to tell him. I find it hard to believe the breastfeeding employees only pump before and after work--why pump at all then, just nurse before and after. Good gracious.
Reply
jerri meekins
1/30/2013 08:13:39 am
So he pretty much is saying "go to the d.a.p.I" I mean in so many words, he said the d.a.p.I is more fit for her, sad:( another thought...there is no special room needed for nursing...stupid, uneducated response...it doesnt take a specially designed room to pump milk mr. Super intendent...and moms produce milk at a different pace, so what some teachers decided to pump before school and after school, that was their choice, maybe they thought they wouldnt be supported at work, which clearly, sounds like a pretty good guess if you ask me...however, a mother needs to pump to keep her milk up, if she doesnt pump, it could get very painful and she will start to leak..
Reply
Jo
1/30/2013 11:23:31 am
Just did a random search on pumping as a college student. From University of Oklahoma's website:
Reply
CLC Cassie
1/30/2013 12:52:01 pm
I live Colorado where a friend of mine won, with the representation of ACLU, her lawsuit against the schoolschool district that fired her for breastfeeding. She was told she was "let go because she did not qualify for the position". In reality, the position was created for her & she wrote the manual & job description. It is astounding that the superintendent would be allowed to speak on behalf of breastfeeding teachers. He is obviously an educated idiot.
Reply
Kim
1/30/2013 07:16:05 pm
I believe somewhere online it stated that she went to DAPI for prenantal classes while pregnant. And that the academic classes were not up to par with Lake Forrest.
Reply
Rebekah
1/31/2013 02:27:48 am
I commend her on her wanting to breastfeed and this superintendent has made an ass out of himself! I hope some of these teachers who just don't pump all day because they don't think its necessary read this and tell him where to go. FYI, breast milk can be kept at room temp for up to 8hrs, possibly more but that's what's considered safe. If she gets a thermal bottle bag and freezes it every night it will be perfectly safe to store it in there until she gets home.
Reply
Jaielyn,
Reply
Debbie
1/31/2013 08:02:04 am
Jaielyn,
Reply
Amy Jones
1/31/2013 09:26:27 am
Wow in this day and age. What a hard road she has if he is the example of the school's support for this teen mom.
Reply
1/31/2013 11:13:34 am
Reply
Justine
2/1/2013 12:30:58 pm
Do you realize how ridiculous it would be for this girl to sue the school over breast milk? She should go to D.A.P.I. an institution created for people in her position. Let's use our brains people!!!
Reply
edem
1/31/2013 12:56:51 pm
Perhaps they can help this matter, Jaielyn
Reply
Connie
2/1/2013 12:27:08 pm
I feel like you guys are ridiculous. Curry is completely justified. If this girls wants to make such a big stink about it, go to D.A.P.I. the program was not designed for just anyone. There she would be accommodated. Like let's grow up and realize this is a public school and is in no way required to supply a room. I am married to a attorney myself and have spoken to his colleagues about this issue as well. They simply laughed and said she can attempt to get her way but all she will be causing is a lot of embarrassing publicity. I agree Curry, you are completely correct!
Reply
Justine
2/1/2013 12:29:00 pm
Sue them?! LMBO now that is an uneducated response right there.
Reply
kyle
2/2/2013 11:59:26 pm
what i find stupid about all of this is #1 the guy needs to learn his shit, and actually pay attention to what needs a mother has when she is breastfeeding. #2 Is our nation as a whole needs to calm down alot when it comes to the views of breastfeeding as a whole, you look at most countries out there, in Europe for example, and mothers there breastfeed in public or in the workplace and its a common thing. our nation is so uptight about its views of everything that they need to wake up and realize that hey guess what its part of growing for the mother and the baby that they breastfeed and get that closeness. Hell most countries outside the US breastfeed for more then just the first year, more like 2-3 years at least.
Reply
Jessica
2/4/2013 06:48:44 pm
I don't see why the principle or the vice principle can't let her use their office for that time during the day if they are afraid for her to do it in the nurses office with all the medicine cause they are afraid she will steal it or take it or something?? I don't get that. She is worried about pumping her food for her son, not stealing medicine. When I was in school there was a lot of times the principle wasn't even in his office, so I don't see why that couldn't be an option, I mean it only takes about 10-15 mins. Plus she needs to pump in the morning at least because that is the time of day there is the most production. I really hope they pull the sticks out of their butts and figure something out for this poor mother who is doing nothing but trying to provide the best for her son while trying to get the best education she possibly could
Reply
mandala
2/8/2013 11:45:19 am
"every one of the staff that I’ve talked to that have breastfed while they returned to work indicated to me that is was their choice because it made the most sense for them not to pump at work. That was their choice."
Reply
Laura
2/14/2013 12:21:45 am
You're not even old enough to make responsible decisions regarding your child. This whole thing just looks like some little kid's tantrum. And instead of going to a school that would be better for your and your son, the DAPI, you choose to go to a school in which you don't get to breastfeed and can't take him with you. Grow up, stop throwing a fit, and act like a mother who puts her son's needs first.
Reply
4/9/2013 02:22:01 pm
It is an awfully exciting post to go from side to side for brilliant story about sustainability.
Reply
7/1/2013 10:13:02 pm
Breast feeding is a very important part in the growth of a child and it is really unfortunate that mothers deny in feeding their children these days. This topic you have chosen is really an important one that needs to be discussed and do keep posting more updates in future.
Reply
9/13/2013 05:48:30 am
Nice article, I am a big time fan of your site, keep up the nice work
Reply
9/30/2013 08:27:34 pm
This is one of the great post I ever love to read.Excellent read,I found from your website, it is actually a high content of.
Reply
10/5/2013 10:50:34 pm
This is a great article with well-scripted, engaging content that is full of original and sensible views. Much of your informative content is in line with my way of thinking.
Reply
10/6/2013 01:11:06 pm
Let me start by saying nice post. Im not sure if it has been talked about, but when using Chrome I can never get the entire site to load without refreshing many times. Could just be my computer. Thanks.
Reply
10/6/2013 01:11:19 pm
I can see that you are putting a lots of efforts into your blog. Keep posting the good work.Some really helpful information in there. Bookmarked. Nice to see your site. Thanks!
Reply
10/6/2013 01:11:39 pm
Simply, admirable what you have done here. It is pleasing to look you express from the heart and your clarity on this significant content can be easily looked. Remarkable post and will look forward to your future update.
Reply
10/6/2013 08:22:42 pm
I was impressed with this post. It really touches on the key issues we have today in the technology world, and puts it all into perspective. Excellent resource.
Reply
10/7/2013 02:24:54 pm
This is the perfect blog for anyone who wants to know about this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want...HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
Reply
10/7/2013 02:29:14 pm
The beauty of these blogging engines and CMS platforms is the lack of limitations and ease of manipulation that allows developers to implement rich content and 'skin' the site in such a way that with very little effort one would never notice what it is making the site tick all without limiting content and effectiveness.
Reply
10/7/2013 02:33:59 pm
Reply
10/7/2013 02:38:01 pm
Finally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
Reply
10/7/2013 02:42:00 pm
Reply
10/7/2013 02:45:59 pm
I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Reply
10/8/2013 08:55:21 pm
I don't like your template but your posts are quite really good so I will check back! Also i can't sign up to your rss feed! Any ideea why? My best regards.
Reply
11/25/2013 10:00:25 am
I agree with you. This post is truly inspirational. I like your post and all you share with us is up to date and quite informative
Reply
2/13/2014 10:58:05 am
you’re really a good webmaster. The site loading speed is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a fantastic job on this topic!
Reply
4/1/2014 08:17:36 pm
I did a search on the subject and found nearly all persons will agree with your blog.
Reply
4/6/2014 04:55:32 pm
I can see that you are putting a lots of efforts into your blog
Reply
4/12/2014 01:06:14 am
Keep posting the good work.Some really helpful information in there. Bookmarked. Nice to see your site. Thanks!
Reply
4/24/2014 04:15:59 pm
I was searching that topic from few days its increase my knowledge
Reply
6/8/2014 04:11:35 pm
There are so many comments here that are really interesting and useful to me thanks
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWelcome to Momma Trauma's Blog! Thoughts, empowering posts and stories straight from Momma Trauma herself, Birth Trauma families & birth professionals. Archives
July 2015
Visit our Sponsors
This space is available for text advertisements. See our Sponsorship page for more information! xxxxx
|