Girl, 10, suspended over peppermint oil

COMMACK, N.Y., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A New York state woman said she wants her 10-year-old daughter's school to apologize for suspending the girl for bringing peppermint oil to class.

Corrine Morton-Greiner said her daughter, fifth-grader Sara, was suspended from John Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School in Commack, N.Y., after bringing peppermint oil to class and sharing a few drops with two friends, WABC-TV, New York, reported Thursday.

"I told them it was just peppermint. You could put it in your water. They asked me for some, and I gave it to them," Sara Greiner said.

However, Morton-Greiner said school officials told her the oil is banned from school and sent a letter home saying Sara would be suspended for one day. She said officials told her they were concerned about other students being allergic to the oil.

"If a child offers a quarter of their peanut and jelly sandwich to another student is that student going to be suspended? Where do we draw the line? It's getting to be ridiculous and I will not have my child treated this way," she said.

Morton-Greiner, who said Sara brought the oil to school without her knowledge, said she wants an apology from the school and assurances that the suspension will not remain on her daughter's permanent record.