School Registration Forms - Too Personal?

[Lilliputian]

I don't think that schools need that information and would refuse to answer all of those questions. Even if my child ended up having a developmental delay, it's the doctor's job to help figure out why.

I do like the idea of some research being done to figure out the far-reaching implications of choices during birth. We do know that having a c-section increases the risk of some conditions, such as asthma, and certain medicines used during labor can increase the risks of some conditions. However, that information is useful to DOCTORS and needs to be gathered by DOCTORS. Then OB/GYNs and other birth professionals can be better informed about how a decision during labor is likely to affect the child (or mother) for life so that they can better decide if the benefits of a certain decision, like performing a c-section, outweigh the risks. Once the decision is made, or once a natural unavoidable complication occurs, we just have to live with the results.

Maybe some day people will figure out that a condition like ADHD could have a root cause of, for example, genetics, birth trauma, or food allergies. (I'm picking a random learning difference and random "causes," so please don't read anything into my choices. It's just for the sake of an example.) The children who had ADHD due to genetics or birth trauma may not have a cure, so they would have to use some combination of therapy, medications, altered learning environment, etc. The children who had food allergies might be able to fix the issue with a modified diet. All of that would be wonderful, life-changing information for some people, but it would still be information best handled by DOCTORS. Teachers are absolutely professionals who see a lot of children, and they can advise parents that their child should be evaluated for a learning difference or developmental issue, but there is just too much room for teachers to start making diagnoses they they're unqualified to make if they're given information for no reason about factors that can cause issues .

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

I'm surprised so many people think this is an invasive question. I consider myself rather modest and very private, but this question wouldn't bother me at all. I find it no different than asking if you drove your child to school in a car or a minivan. It's about how the child got here. They are simply asking how her child got into the world. Who cares? I'm not saying the school has a real need to know this information, but to cause a big stir and say they are asking about her "v" is a little over the top (to me, anyway). The aren't asking if she "snapped back to normal" after delivery, or asking to see her c-section scar!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm surprised so many people think this is an invasive question. I consider myself rather modest and very private, but this question wouldn't bother me at all. I find it no different than asking if you drove your child to school in a car or a minivan. It's about how the child got here. They are simply asking how her child got into the world. Who cares? I'm not saying the school has a real need to know this information, but to cause a big stir and say they are asking about her "v" is a little over the top (to me, anyway). The aren't asking if she "snapped back to normal" after delivery, or asking to see her c-section scar!

I get that it's a question about my child's delivery, not a question about me. The problem is that it's that they are asking questions they don't need the answers to.

 

[Disneychick75]

Um, no. Why on earth do they need to know that?

So they can prejudge the kids. Little Jessica has a problem? It's because she was a c-section birth.
Schools are getting ridiculous. Are the kids students or research projects?

 

[Carriemel]

I got into a bit of a spat about this one:

PERSON WHO GOT ARGUMENTATIVE:

As always, people get upset about the tiniest things.



MY REPLY:

If you think this is "the tiniest thing", you go ahead and answer all of the questions here. There is NO way a school needs to know any of that.



OTHER PERSON

Yes, like hipaa violations. One isn't required to disclose any health information to anyone.



FIRST PERSON
Honestly who cares if the baby was born v-ly or by C-section? How could that be SO f***g intrusive to your life?



MY REPLY
My point exactly: who cares how the baby was born. NOBODY but my doctor, hubby and myself need to know that. What would it possibly prove to a SCHOOL?


First PERSON:

They really shouldnt care about the question, its harmless. Dunno why you're in such a rage. Like they said, who knows if the baby suffered some sort of trauma during birth? That way they could figure out what was causing it to learn slowly, hyptothetically.



OTHER PERSON:

(To the Argumentative person) Obviously, you're very young and/or incredibly naive. First, it's none of the school's business. Second, it's irrelevant. Third, IT'S NONE OF THE SCHOOL'S BUSINESS! Finally, the question may, in-and-of-itself, be illegal.

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

I get that it's a question about my child's delivery, not a question about me. The problem is that it's that they are asking questions they don't need the answers to.

But I don't think the mom in the article gets that. She specifically said something about the school asking about her private parts. I think that her putting this out there on social media (or wherever) is way more invasive to her personal life than the school knowing how she gave birth, especially when she, herself, brings her personal parts into it. I'm not saying the school has a need to know the answer. I have no idea why they would want to know, but to paint it as some super-invasive question is a little over the top, in my opinion.

Edited to add: I am only referring to the question about type of birth. I didn't really read the other questions on the form, since the birth one seemed to be the one she is talking about.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I did "Parents as Teacher's" with the school district for my older dd when she was baby to toddler age so in that capacity they did have that information and more.

They had a reason to ask for the information and I provided it to them.

For a general application to elem. school, it is not necessary to give them that information. For starters, that information is public for the most part. It would be better to have medical information specifically for a medical form that is placed in a child's medical file. It is not helpful on a gen. app. anyway.

 

[tvguy]

Wait, what? What a bunch of crap. Just more stuff to blame on mothers I guess.... I give as much credence to that baloney as the adult men who now believe they are forever traumatized because they were circumcized when they were 2 days old!

Those questions seem odd to me for a K or higher program. Maybe I'd give that info to a daycare or preschool program, maybe.

Did you even LOOK? I'm not saying I agree, but some pretty reputable medical groups are raising the question.

 

[gemini2727]

I don't think the mom needed to freak out like she did. You don't like the question? Don't answer it.

That being said, I think the vaginal birth vs. c-section question is a moot point by the time kindergarten rolls around. As others have said, any birth can be traumatic, and many C-sections are repeat/elective, with no trauma associated at all. It doesn't really give any useful info anyway.