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I hate to mention sick kids and school in the same sentence, because as hard as I try not to be, I'm superstitious. I don't want it to interfere with the wishful thinking spell I've placed on both my kids to make it through winter without any sick days.
But I have to let you in on a very interesting discussion going on in Answers about moms who send their sick children to school. There are two pretty passionate sides about when it's okay.
On one side, moms who believe children should be kept home when they have any symptoms at all.
On the other side, moms who kids with minor cold or allergy symptoms should go to school.
The original poster is upset because her child has been perpetually sick ever since he started school. As soon as he gets well and is able to go back, he catches something from another kid and is back out again. He's only in pre-K, but this is definitely true of older kids, as well.
Here's how the debate pretty much boils down:
Says RiverPhenix: "I don't send my son to school when he's sick and his school appreciates it if I keep him home when he isn't feeling well. Why do some parents send their kids sick but I cannot send mine? Oh, wait, because I am a parent that cares enough about other children not to infect them! I feel schools should make it mandatory that when a child is sick they are not allowed back until fully healthy or their doctor says they can go back. It is just an ugly cycle until spring."
Says an anonymous mom: "If you keep your kid home because he has a cold, you are overreacting. Teach your child to wash his hands correctly, for the correct amount of time, and discourage him from putting things in his mouth, eating off the floor, etc. They will pick up these germs at the park, school, grocery store, etc. And for all you know, the other kids are on antibiotics and the bacterial infections are not contagious so just because they are coughing doesn't mean they will get your child sick either. Being sick isn't a big deal unless you make it one."
Another mom brought up a good point about attendance policies. Many public schools offer perfect attendance awards and count a poor record against grades.
Do you feel that schools should require kids to be fully healthy and symptom free before allowing them back to school?
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Comments (10)
I am kind of torn on this. Because my son is an allergy sufferer, it might be easy for someone to look at him and think that he is sick when he isn't. But I KNOW when he is having allergies usually and when he's sick. I do know parents that dose sick kids with meds and send them to school, and I think that's kind of crappy. On that same hand I feel for parents who may be single moms or the only breadwinner and feel the pressure of not being able to take a day off of work without losing their jobs.
Being sick IS a big deal for some children, especially those with underlying issues. So to say that it is never a big deal for a child to be sick is kind of stupid.
I have seen so many kids that are obviously sick at school (green snotty nose, lethargic, coughing up a lung) and wonder what in the world those parents are thinking... not only are they endangering other children by sending their sick kid in, but what about their poor kid? Would you want to sit in school all day when you feel like crap?
I am definitely not one to keep my keep home if he has a bit of allergy issues, but if he is snotty, coughing, or otherwise showing obvious signs of being sick and not feeling well, I am not going to send him in, and I would hope other parents would do the same, but I know that is not how it is. I am not one of those hyper moms, but I do feel that it is common sense and courtesy to keep kids home if there is a chance they will infect another kid or teacher.
I'm guilty of sending a sniffling child to school - at our house, you must have flu symptoms or worse to stay home. Colds, we packed them up & sent them off. They more than likely got if from school, they passed it prior to their symptoms being noticeable at home & frankly, it's only a cold. If a temperature was present or vomiting, of course, we kept them home.
KEEP YOUR SICK KID HOME as much as humaly possible.
A runny nose, minor cough can last for WEEKS. I cannot keep my kid home every time his nose drips during the winter. Go look at a kindergarten class right now and count how many kids have one or both. It will be MOST OF THEM.
The rules at my son's school say your child stays home if:
--he has a fever, no ifs, ands or buts
--if he has cough/runny nose and is lethargic (behavior is often a good indication of illness)
--if you'd prefer they don't go outside for recess, they stay home instead
Oh, and like MomIWant pointed out, most illnesses are contagious even before there are symptoms, so even IF you keep your kid home every time they need to blow their nose, your child can STILL get other children sick.
Glad I homeschool. People in my homeschool group stay home when their kids are sick because it's easier to stay home than pack up a sick kid and take him somewhere.
When my kids were in school, parents would drop off feverish, lethargic children and then go incommunicado; cell phones off, not returning messages, etc. It pissed me off.
Allergies or minor cold symptoms are one thing, but dropping off a truly ill kid is cruel to the child, the teacher, the other students, and their families.
I feel there are exceptions to everything.
When I was in school I prolly sounded like I needed to be home a lot more often than I actually did.
I have allergies BAD so I may be coughing a cough that sounds like bronchitis, but it's just harvest time and the fields are stirring up crap and making my lungs "itch." lol I would also get runny noses and watery eyes from this, trust me I would look like hell but not feel all that bad.
Now when my kid gets to school age he will stay home no ifs, ands, or buts if:
He has a fever.
He had vomitted or has the diarrhea.
He has a cold that is accompianied by lethargy or changes in his usual behavior.
Feels ill and has white spots on his throat or tonsils, or just a "cherry red" throat. Don't need him passing around strep. :o)
If he gets the chicken pox he won't go back until the doctor says ok. I also wouldn't be one of those parents who sends their kid until the pox show up on their face or other uncovered skin. (Yep I know parents who send their children with pox on their bellies/backs/butt/legs because no one can see them, bad idea.)
Well I gave my kid 4 different asthma meds today before school with a note saying he has all he can have, if he gets so he can't breath and says ug--I can't breath call me and I'll come get him. This can go on for weeks and the doctor said yesterday, give him meds.
Am I bad for sending him?
I think a sensible guideline is to keep your child home if they have a fever, rash, vomiting, or diarrhea in the past 24 hours. I do not think you can keep your child at home every time they sniffle or have basic cold symptoms (stuffy nose, mild cough, but no fever.) If that was the case, no one would ever be in school and moms and dads would exhaust their sick leave by Christmas! Kids get colds. Unfortunately once kids go to school they are exposed to more germs which can lead to more illness. Stuffed noses and mild coughs can linger long after the actual infection is gone. Many illnesses are contagious BEFORE symptoms start, so having a 'no sniffles' policy would not necessarily rule out contagious diseases in schools. IMO if your child is actually SICK by all means keep them home. If they have a sniffle but otherwise are fine, they are probably about the same as every other kid in their class.