School District Needs Breastfeeding Education
Posted May 17th, 2011 by Ashley BoydHonestly, I had to read the article three times before I really believed it, though the opening line is pretty clear: “Breast feeding is now officially banned in Dougherty County schools.” Excuse me?
The recent report from a local TV station in Albany, Georgia explained that the Dougherty County School Board unanimously approved a policy that prohibits breast feeding by employees and students on school property. The action came after a teacher had requested permission to breast feed her infant during her non-instructional break times.
Ironically, the school board used the option to pump breast milk as a reason why breastfeeding was not required.
“As a board, and as a superintendent of schools, we looked at this and said they can expel milk. They can save that and then take it home. We just want to make sure that education in schools is designed for it’s supposed to be.” — Dougherty School District Superintendent Dr. Joshua Murfee
And, in order to support its “pumping is the answer” policy, the School Board directed schools to set up private areas where breast feeding mothers can pump their breasts and store their milk. Setting up pumping areas is truly fabulous. In the last few months alone, MomsRising has heard from scores of teachers who have shared their unsuccessful attempts to pump milk while a class room teacher so we know this is a genuine problem. But isn’t requiring a nursing mom to pump rather than breastfeed entirely missing the point?
In puzzling over this story with Megan Renner, Executive Director of the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, she made an excellent point (worth quoting directly!): “This is a good example of how we have gotten across the message to society almost too well about the benefits of the MILK. Advocates are working to refocus attention on the MOM in the equation, bolstered by the focus of The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding on all the ways that society needs to support moms. We don’t actually know how the health benefits are affected by the milk itself vs. the actual act of breastfeeding. The research on all the positive effects of ‘breastfeeding’ doesn’t differentiate between breastfeeding (at the breast) and feeding breast milk in a bottle. But there is a lot of data showing positive physiological, hormonal, and emotional ‘bonding’ effects that do occur when babies are fed at the breast for both the mother and the baby, that do not occur when a baby is fed by a bottle.”
It appears that this policy is likely illegal given current Georgia law that states that “in the interests of maternal and child health and allows a mother to breastfeed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be.” A number of great local activists and legal types are investigate possible options so stay tuned about how you can get involved directly.
In the meantime, what do you think of all of this? What would you tell the Dougherty County School Board if you had the chance?
22 Comments
May 17, 2011 at 5:18 pm by HeatherThanks for posting and helping to spread the word about this crazy policy. If you disagree with this policy, please contact Dr. Murfree at joshua.murfree@docoschools.org to voice your concern.
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Ashley Boyd Reply:
May 17th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@Heather, thanks for sharing this info! Are you familiar with any local efforts to change the policy?
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Thank God I don’t live anywhere near this place. On a more politically-correct note, perhaps this county in Georgia should be taxed at a higher rate considering the lack of breastfeeding in our country costs our health care system $13 billion a year in ‘sick’ costs. That oughta get this superintendent re-elected!
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May 17, 2011 at 4:35 pm by TaniaAs a teacher, I’m thinking, why would my baby be at work with me? I am definitely in support of breastfeeding. And like a lot of other working moms, I pumped during my breaks because my baby was at daycare when I was at work. A little of a non-issue unless they offer an onsite daycare. My first job allowed me to go across the street to my son’s daycare during my breaks to feed him and rock him. : )
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Anonymous Reply:
May 19th, 2011 at 7:01 am
@Tania, I have seen school systems set-up “onsite” daycare (usually at the local high school. One that can be used by teachers and students.
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There are so many ways this law is wrong. What about a teen mother who is trying to finish high school and nurse her baby. She can’t feed her baby at school. What if a baby’s caregiver brings baby to Mom who teaches in this county after school hours when students have gone home. She can’t feed her baby?
I live in GA and it embarrasses me how backwards things can be here.
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May 17, 2011 at 3:12 pm by KristaTime for breastfeeding moms in that county to pull out their boobs! Georgia is one of the states needing to curb obesity and yet this is happening? Stand up people and do something. Show that nurturing your child is natural. Next thing children will be hooked up to computers to be raised and then where will society be? I hope moms in that area will rise to this challenge!
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May 17, 2011 at 3:05 pm by QWow. I look forward to hearing what happens from this. I wouldn’t want to be in this school district, my babies never wanted to drink from a bottle!
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Anita Reply:
May 17th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
@Q- Neither did mine! They both spit out bottle nipples and even pacifiers every single time we offered.
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First off, I find it sad that they can’t even speak intelligible english in a released/edited quote.
Secondly – if there’s a private area for pumping, then why not just let the mom breast feed in there?
Third, sadly – the wording of the law might work for the school _ “anywhere mother and baby are authorized to be” but baby may not be authorized to be on campus as it isn’t a student.
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Q Reply:
May 17th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
@Jaimie Leader-Goodale,
If I were in this school district, as a parent, I’d be interested to see what happened if my baby wanted to nurse at a open house type event. My child has needed to nurse during a school event (conference, concert, party, etc) that I was allowed to bring my child in with me to help with or observe.
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Jaimie Leader-Goodale Reply:
May 17th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
I Totally agree with you…
I’m just stating from a potential legal standpoint – a possible loophole. 
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Their “reasoning” for this policy just doesn’t make any sense. So they supposedly want to maintain an educational environment. How is feeding a baby detrimental to the educational environment exactly? They can get back to us when they come up with a reason that makes sense. In the meantime, this policy is WRONG.
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May 17, 2011 at 2:40 pm by DanielleToday in Forest Park GA a “public decency” law went into effect to probing public breastfeeding of children over 2 years city wide. It’s against the GA constitution much like this school measure is.
Please please help GA families and spread the word that this is illegal.
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May 17, 2011 at 2:35 pm by justine aI agree…just so long as students aren’t allowed to eat their PB&J, and the principal prohibited from any coffee drinking
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