After Grace Karaffa, who attends an elementary school in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, was not allowed to use Chapstick on her bleeding lips, the fifth grader decided to take matters into her own hands by starting a petition prompting schools to lift the ban on lip balms.

Allegedly, the little girl's lips started to chap until they bled when she was in fourth grade, specifically during the winter. 

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But every time she asked her teachers if she could use lip balm for relief, her request was always denied. Grace claims that she was only allowed to use chapstick if she went to the bathroom.

The countywide policy in Virginia was implemented due to sanitation related reasons. According to assistant superintendent for administration George Earhart from Augusta County Public Schools, the policy does not imply that there are restrictions but it is for the protection of the students. 

Earhart noted that the prohibition began due to disease outbreaks in the U.S. According to reports, the elementary school students share their building with kindergarteners and chapsticks placed anywhere would be inviting objects for the little kids.

Also, chapstick is considered as an over-the-counter medicine and a prescription from a doctor is needed in order to be able to use it. The greatest concern of the administration is that the medications can be shared, making them very unsafe.

However, on her first day of school this year, Grace stated that she planned on taking action against the chapstick ban imposed by the Augusta County Public Schools, confirms her father, David.

According to sources, Grace gathered hundreds of signatures from students in order to end the ban. She also wrote a letter to the board members of the school and presented the petition during the board's regular meeting.

Grace also spoke in other classes, introducing her petition and garnering a total of 236 signatures. 

During her presentation to the board, she noted that chapstick protects the lips from drying out. She ended her statement saying that she would send a letter to every school board member together with a tube of Chapstick. 

TagsChapstick Ban, Virginia, Augusta County Public Schools, Grace Karaffa, Lip Balm, chapstick