Mom's fury as school principal sends her a letter asking her not to 'expose' herself and breastfeed her baby on the premises as she claims it is 'bullying and illegal'

By Joel Christie

Published: 10:47 EST, 3 August 2014 | Updated: 15:52 EST, 3 August 2014


A Utah mom has gone public with a letter she received from a school principal asking her to stop breastfeeding at a lunch program.

Mother-of-two Andrea Scannell said she wants people to know what happened to her, because 'this kind of shaming, this kind of bullying, prevents other breastfeeding women from going out in public, from feeding their baby'.

Scannell attends the lunch program Mount Logan Middle School, which her son attends, and will usually breastfeed her young daughter while there because of the timing, according to Fox 13.

Last week she was given a letter by one of the worker's and told: 'I highly encourage you to read this.'

'Shamed': Andrea Scannell said she makes sure she is covered while breastfeeding at Mount Logan Middle School, however the principal wrote her a letter 'expressing concern'

'Shamed': Andrea Scannell said she makes sure she is covered while breastfeeding at Mount Logan Middle School, however the principal wrote her a letter 'expressing concern'

Letter: The principal asked for Scannell to 'discreetly feed the baby' because 'concern has been raised by multiple patrons'

Letter: The principal asked for Scannell to 'discreetly feed the baby' because 'concern has been raised by multiple patrons'

Mount Logan Middle School in Logan, Utah, has a lunch program in the cafeteria that family are invited to, and Andrea Scannell believes she should be allowed to feed her baby while attending

Mount Logan Middle School in Logan, Utah, has a lunch program in the cafeteria that family are invited to, and Andrea Scannell believes she should be allowed to feed her baby while attending

Meal time: Mrs Scannell believes she should be able to breastfeed her young daughter while visiting her son at his school

Meal time: Mrs Scannell believes she should be able to breastfeed her young daughter while visiting her son at his school

Scannel inquired whether it had something to do with breastfeeding.

In Utah, woman are not required to cover up while breastfeeding in public under state law.

Scannel said she doesn't use a blanket while feeding but makes sure she is always covered.

'I was like, ''You know this is illegal, right?'' and she said, ''Just read it, it's very tastefully written'',' Scannell told Fox 13.

The letter said the school had received 'concern from multiple patrons' at the lunch program.

'The concern is with the exposed breastfeeding of your baby,' the letter said.

'As a public school, we have children of all ages attending the lunch program.

'We also have numerous adults who share a wide variety of personal views and views on raising their own children.'

Comment: Logan City School District Superintendent Marshal Garrett said the letter was to explain the situation to Mrs Scannell

Comment: Logan City School District Superintendent Marshal Garrett said the letter was to explain the situation to Mrs Scannell

Disheartened: Mrs Scannell feels the letter is 'bullying'

Disheartened: Mrs Scannell feels the letter is 'bullying'

The letter was signed by Mount Logan Middle School principal, Michael E. Monson.

Logan City School District Superintendent Marshal Garrett said the letter was to explain the situation to Mrs Scannell.

'It was an intent not to stop anyone from breastfeeding, any mothers coming in, that has never been our intent,' he said.

'The intent was to just allow for all to feel welcome at our summer lunch program.'

The Logan City School District Superintendent said the lunch program has been around for 15 years and this is the first incident of this kind.


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