Are you sending your kids to school next month?

[quandrea]

I completely understand why schools have this rule, and other rules. Its a societal problem. A tylenol bottle can be used to conceal some other drug. I hate that our society has dropped to such lows that it results in honest kids having to carry the consequence. Some kids do drugs, so no kids can carry their own tylenol, ibuprofen, eye drops or even hand lotion. Some kids shoot up schools, so no kids can return to their car after enter the school. Some kids search for porn on their phones, or use the phone to cyberbully, so no kids can use their phones during the school day (even though I have had teachers tell me to have my child us his phone to track assignments...mixed messages). Some kids bring alcohol to school in their water bottles, so all kids may use only clear bottles. Lockers and backpacks carry their own issues too. Heck, even simply using the bathroom is not a normal process for kids in school, they need "permission" to relieve themselves.

My point is, perhaps the child has tylenol for another purpose, it is also a pain reliever. Bottom line, the kid was breaking the rules to have it and it's a shame that this rule has to even exist. You can't trust people to make logical and rational decisions. Too many are skirting the rules. Meanwhile, the administration/teachers also skirt the rules. Mixed messages, and policies not being adhered to.

You make schools sound like terrible places. Sadly, I think what you write is all too true. I was a classroom special education teacher sixteen years ago. I’m glad to be out of that environment and glad my kids are homeschooled.

 

[Renarr]

I completely understand why schools have this rule, and other rules. Its a societal problem. A tylenol bottle can be used to conceal some other drug. I hate that our society has dropped to such lows that it results in honest kids having to carry the consequence. Some kids do drugs, so no kids can carry their own tylenol, ibuprofen, eye drops or even hand lotion. Some kids shoot up schools, so no kids can return to their car after enter the school. Some kids search for porn on their phones, or use the phone to cyberbully, so no kids can use their phones during the school day (even though I have had teachers tell me to have my child us his phone to track assignments...mixed messages). Some kids bring alcohol to school in their water bottles, so all kids may use only clear bottles. Lockers and backpacks carry their own issues too. Heck, even simply using the bathroom is not a normal process for kids in school, they need "permission" to relieve themselves.

My point is, perhaps the child has tylenol for another purpose, it is also a pain reliever. Bottom line, the kid was breaking the rules to have it and it's a shame that this rule has to even exist. You can't trust people to make logical and rational decisions. Too many are skirting the rules. Meanwhile, the administration/teachers also skirt the rules. Mixed messages, and policies not being adhered to.

While I think the schools were concerned about some of these problems, I didn't see schools pushing as hard as they do today on some of these issues until they started getting sued -- and losing -- for "allowing" these things to happen.

I think a lot of the issues are in how they're framed, too. I work with HS students, and with the restroom piece, I tell them it's not so much about asking permission as it is about notifying me where you're going to be since I'm legally responsible for knowing. I don't mind if my students glance at their phone a few times a period and maybe even shoot off a quick message here or there, but I do ask them that if they need more than that for some reason to let me know, and I'll do the same. But our school is still pretty permission-granting with students, and the only one of those rules that you mention that we have is with carrying their own medication. Even then, I usually just give kids a heads-up about the rule the first time.

 

[mousefan73]

In person classes started today at my little private JK - 8 school. I’m still out on medical leave, so I wasn’t there today, but one of my middle school teacher friends texted me. She found a backpack left in her classroom at the end of the day. She opened it and looked inside to figure out who it belonged to and found a bottle of Children’s Tylenol Fever Reducer!!!! She turned the backpack over to the principal. First, kids are not allowed to have any kind of medication in their possession at my school. All meds must be turned in to the school nurse with the appropriate paperwork. Second, fever reducer?!??!!! I hope to God that kid didn’t have a fever the parents were masking with Tylenol!!!!!!

This is wrong in so many ways. To begin with schools have a rule about bringing medication. But the main issue is that is very likely that this child has symptoms or light fever and was instructed by their parents to take Tylenol to cover any type of fever symptom. Tylenol is mainly given to kids to cover flu, headaches and fever which are both symptoms of Covid. Plus the school was for younger kids - as a parent I’d be too nervous just to give my grade school kid a bottle of pills.

Now if I were a high school teacher and I found a girl with some Motrin/ ibuprofen I wouldn’t say anything as 99% this poor girl has menstrual cramps.

 

[momz]

While I think the schools were concerned about some of these problems, I didn't see schools pushing as hard as they do today on some of these issues until they started getting sued -- and losing -- for "allowing" these things to happen.

I think a lot of the issues are in how they're framed, too. I work with HS students, and with the restroom piece, I tell them it's not so much about asking permission as it is about notifying me where you're going to be since I'm legally responsible for knowing. I don't mind if my students glance at their phone a few times a period and maybe even shoot off a quick message here or there, but I do ask them that if they need more than that for some reason to let me know, and I'll do the same. But our school is still pretty permission-granting with students, and the only one of those rules that you mention that we have is with carrying their own medication. Even then, I usually just give kids a heads-up about the rule the first time.

Thank you for replying. Your comments are consistent with my kids' experience at school. Administration says a kid must announce their need to pee, embarrassing to many kids. Administration says no phones, yet teachers allow it (mixed messages). Administration says no medications carried by students, yet teacher merely gives a "heads-up" (another mixed message). My point is, why have rules? I hate the rules and honestly, don't have a problem with the teacher's decision in these instances. But, why have the rule? Is the rule there simply as a defense for the law suits you refer to? What good is a rule if it's not really a rule? I think, considering you bend the rules, that you may agree with me. Schools rules are too strict to realistically enforced.

Now that COVID is here, my DS's school is enforcing these rules, along with 6 feet, wear your mask, don't touch anybody, etc, you know the rest. If school wasn't bad enough before, now it is horrible. Now we have stressed out kids.

 

[amylevan]

This is wrong in so many ways. To begin with schools have a rule about bringing medication. But the main issue is that is very likely that this child has symptoms or light fever and was instructed by their parents to take Tylenol to cover any type of fever symptom. Tylenol is mainly given to kids to cover flu, headaches and fever which are both symptoms of Covid. Plus the school was for younger kids - as a parent I’d be too nervous just to give my grade school kid a bottle of pills.

Now if I were a high school teacher and I found a girl with some Motrin/ ibuprofen I wouldn’t say anything as 99% this poor girl has menstrual cramps.

I actually give my kids ibuprofen for fever because it seems to work better.

Tylenol for tooth aches (braces), headaches, muscle aches....to say that Tylenol is mainly given to cover COVID symptoms is a bit of a jump. And no, I don’t send Tylenol with my kids to school, but there are more reasons to take it then to hide symptoms.

 

[katie01]

Well surprise- classes started in-person at my husband’s school Monday, and some idiotic parent sent their kid to school when the kid had a positive test. They even told the school, but the kid still made it through half of their classes before a teacher realized the kid was on the positive list.

And a few of the students went to admin over the last few days to ask to switch to virtual, since school isn’t as fun as it used to be. Well duh. Parents are complaining their kids don’t get to socialize... again, duh. Not sure what they expected.

Thank you for reaffirming my decision to homeschool my kids this year! And I pray your husband and your family will stay healthy, I’m so sorry he had to deal with families who don’t follow the rules to protect others

 

[monsterkitty]

I completely understand why schools have this rule, and other rules. Its a societal problem. A tylenol bottle can be used to conceal some other drug. I hate that our society has dropped to such lows that it results in honest kids having to carry the consequence. Some kids do drugs, so no kids can carry their own tylenol, ibuprofen, eye drops or even hand lotion. Some kids shoot up schools, so no kids can return to their car after enter the school. Some kids search for porn on their phones, or use the phone to cyberbully, so no kids can use their phones during the school day (even though I have had teachers tell me to have my child us his phone to track assignments...mixed messages). Some kids bring alcohol to school in their water bottles, so all kids may use only clear bottles. Lockers and backpacks carry their own issues too. Heck, even simply using the bathroom is not a normal process for kids in school, they need "permission" to relieve themselves.

My point is, perhaps the child has tylenol for another purpose, it is also a pain reliever. Bottom line, the kid was breaking the rules to have it and it's a shame that this rule has to even exist. You can't trust people to make logical and rational decisions. Too many are skirting the rules. Meanwhile, the administration/teachers also skirt the rules. Mixed messages, and policies not being adhered to.

Schools have this rule because it is state and possibly Federal law that no medicine, even OTC, can be held in the students possession. The exceptions are inhalers and Epi pens but only with doctor's approval.

There are reasons for every single one of those rules you listed but the reasons aren't really fully what you think they are. Every single one of those rules have been in place when I started teaching in 1989. In fact, some of the rules, such as the OTC medications, have been rules since I was a student.

 

[mousefan73]

Thank you for replying. Your comments are consistent with my kids' experience at school. Administration says a kid must announce their need to pee, embarrassing
.

When has announcing I need to pee never not happened ? Isn’t it a universal rule , even back in my days , If you need pee you excuse yourself. Either raise your hand and ask for a hall pass and or permission to leave the classroom. I’ve never heard of kids simply being able to get up and leave a classroom to go use the bathroom without any notice

 

[Kestryl]

Thank you for reaffirming my decision to homeschool my kids this year! And I pray your husband and your family will stay healthy, I’m so sorry he had to deal with families who don’t follow the rules to protect others

Thank you for the prayers!

 

[Mango7100]

Well surprise- classes started in-person at my husband’s school Monday, and some idiotic parent sent their kid to school when the kid had a positive test. They even told the school, but the kid still made it through half of their classes before a teacher realized the kid was on the positive list.

And a few of the students went to admin over the last few days to ask to switch to virtual, since school isn’t as fun as it used to be. Well duh. Parents are complaining their kids don’t get to socialize... again, duh. Not sure what they expected.

What kind of moron sends their kid to school with a positive test?! Blatant disregard for the health of others...thats where I struggle with the whole school situation. I can only do so much to keep my family safe and I can follow the rules until the end of time, but I can’t control the actions or intelligence of others. It only takes one person to set the reaction off

 

[wombat_5606]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1298597324504129539

 

[mjkacmom]

Thank you for replying. Your comments are consistent with my kids' experience at school. Administration says a kid must announce their need to pee, embarrassing to many kids. Administration says no phones, yet teachers allow it (mixed messages). Administration says no medications carried by students, yet teacher merely gives a "heads-up" (another mixed message). My point is, why have rules? I hate the rules and honestly, don't have a problem with the teacher's decision in these instances. But, why have the rule? Is the rule there simply as a defense for the law suits you refer to? What good is a rule if it's not really a rule? I think, considering you bend the rules, that you may agree with me. Schools rules are too strict to realistically enforced.

Now that COVID is here, my DS's school is enforcing these rules, along with 6 feet, wear your mask, don't touch anybody, etc, you know the rest. If school wasn't bad enough before, now it is horrible. Now we have stressed out kids.

When have kids been allowed to use the bathroom at will? How is it embarrassing, they e been asking yo use the bathroom since kindergarten, there is no time in between class. I’ve found that our schools really enforce rules, if you are found with Tylenol you will be suspended.

 

[Colleen27]

In person classes started today at my little private JK - 8 school. I’m still out on medical leave, so I wasn’t there today, but one of my middle school teacher friends texted me. She found a backpack left in her classroom at the end of the day. She opened it and looked inside to figure out who it belonged to and found a bottle of Children’s Tylenol Fever Reducer!!!! She turned the backpack over to the principal. First, kids are not allowed to have any kind of medication in their possession at my school. All meds must be turned in to the school nurse with the appropriate paperwork. Second, fever reducer?!??!!! I hope to God that kid didn’t have a fever the parents were masking with Tylenol!!!!!!

Hopefully it turns out to be an 'ordinary' rule violation, not a parent trying to mask a fever. I understand why those rules exist but most of the teen and tween girls I know have broken them at some point to have Tylenol or Midol or Motrin on hand without having to explain to a teacher and then to a building secretary and then to the school nurse that she needs something for cramps. Middle school girls tend to be the most awkward about period-related symptoms and the most resistant to letting people know that's what the problem is. And all Tylenol bottles have that "fever reducer" wording.

 

[Colleen27]

This is wrong in so many ways. To begin with schools have a rule about bringing medication. But the main issue is that is very likely that this child has symptoms or light fever and was instructed by their parents to take Tylenol to cover any type of fever symptom. Tylenol is mainly given to kids to cover flu, headaches and fever which are both symptoms of Covid. Plus the school was for younger kids - as a parent I’d be too nervous just to give my grade school kid a bottle of pills.

Now if I were a high school teacher and I found a girl with some Motrin/ ibuprofen I wouldn’t say anything as 99% this poor girl has menstrual cramps.

The OP said the school was a PK-8 and the backpack was found by a middle school teacher. Middle school girls are fairly likely to be dealing with menstrual cramps too, and by middle school, I think most kids can be trusted to self-administer simple OTC meds. I think Tylenol in a middle school girl's backpack is at least as likely to fall in the same category as Motrin in a high school girl's purse as it is to be trying to mask actual illness. Though it does raise a question I hadn't thought of about the covid self-screening that students and parents are being asked to perform - my older daughter had headaches like clockwork, every month, related to her cycle. But headaches are also on our school's list of covid symptoms that trigger self-quarantine now. That's going to be a mess for families of other kids like her, who are either going to have to follow the rules and keep their kid home half the time (and/or get her tested monthly) or lie and exclude those hormonal headaches from their responses to screener questions.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

The OP said the school was a PK-8 and the backpack was found by a middle school teacher. Middle school girls are fairly likely to be dealing with menstrual cramps too, and by middle school, I think most kids can be trusted to self-administer simple OTC meds. I think Tylenol in a middle school girl's backpack is at least as likely to fall in the same category as Motrin in a high school girl's purse as it is to be trying to mask actual illness. Though it does raise a question I hadn't thought of about the covid self-screening that students and parents are being asked to perform - my older daughter had headaches like clockwork, every month, related to her cycle. But headaches are also on our school's list of covid symptoms that trigger self-quarantine now. That's going to be a mess for families of other kids like her, who are either going to have to follow the rules and keep their kid home half the time (and/or get her tested monthly) or lie and exclude those hormonal headaches from their responses to screener questions.

The Tylenol was found in the backpack of a 6th grade boy, so it was not a menstrual cramp issue.

We want to give the child the benefit of the doubt and are hoping for the best. The principal is contacting the parents.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

When has announcing I need to pee never not happened ? Isn’t it a universal rule , even back in my days , If you need pee you excuse yourself. Either raise your hand and ask for a hall pass and or permission to leave the classroom. I’ve never heard of kids simply being able to get up and leave a classroom to go use the bathroom without any notice

College is usually when that goes away. Even then there were some professors I had that did not appreciate people leaving--rare but it did happen.

 

[godisney14]

Update from the AAP (pediatrics board) of COVID cases among children (under 19 yo) in the US.

During a 2-week period from Aug 6 to Aug 20:

• 74,160 new cases in children, a 21% increase (from 358,469 to 432,629) in cumulative cases (in just 2 weeks).
• between 4% and 12% (among states reporting by age) of all new cases were in children
  • anywhere from 0% to 1% (among states reporting by age) of child cases resulted in mortality
• between 0% and 9% (among states reporting by age) of all child COVID cases resulted in hospitalization
  • ~1/3 of these hospitalizations led to ICU transfer

So far, children represent a little over 9% of all COVID cases in the US, but the proportion has grown since beginning of August.

 

[Colleen27]

So far, children represent a little over 9% of all COVID cases in the US, but the proportion has grown since beginning of August.

That's to be expected, though. Not because the infection is necessarily so rampant among that age group now but because they were probably the most effectively quarantined demographic at the start. Schools were closed, they're mostly too young to have jobs that would demand they leave the house, and many stores implemented restrictions or requests that discouraged parents from taking their kids shopping. Now that those things are no longer true, younger demographics are likely to start "catching up" to the rest of the population in infection rates.

 

[godisney14]

That's to be expected, though. Not because the infection is necessarily so rampant among that age group now but because they were probably the most effectively quarantined demographic at the start. Schools were closed, they're mostly too young to have jobs that would demand they leave the house, and many stores implemented restrictions or requests that discouraged parents from taking their kids shopping. Now that those things are no longer true, younger demographics are likely to start "catching up" to the rest of the population in infection rates.

Right.
That was kind of the whole point for the 2-week (beg. Aug) observational update as some schools just started welcoming back students.

What I found more interesting from the update is the hospitalization and intensive care rates among children.

 

[Hikergirl]

Schools have this rule because it is state and possibly Federal law that no medicine, even OTC, can be held in the students possession. The exceptions are inhalers and Epi pens but only with doctor's approval.

There are reasons for every single one of those rules you listed but the reasons aren't really fully what you think they are. Every single one of those rules have been in place when I started teaching in 1989. In fact, some of the rules, such as the OTC medications, have been rules since I was a student.

That was one rule my ds's broke at my direction. Who the heck is the school, or the gov't to tell my children they can't carry their life saving medicine on their person without permission from a doctor. So instead they make a child walk all the way to the nurses office when they are having an asthma attack or going into anaphylactic shock. Just because rules have been made doesn't mean they are for the benefit of the student.
If that was against the law, I'd have no problem being arrested for making sure my children were safe.

As far as carrying pain medication in one's backpack, it really should be up to a parent whether or not their child can take that when they feel it's necessary. If I as a parent trust my kid to do it at home, then I trust them at school (I'm talking middle school and up age) Our school eventually starting requiring a doctor's note for things like advil. Yeah I don't think so, in the backpacks it went and in the bathroom they went to take it.