Sick teacher at daycare - should I say anything?

[lecach]

Apparently the rotovirus has been going around DS's daycare. They posted a sign on his classroom door on Tuesday that said there had been 2 confirmed cases in his class. Symptoms are vomiting, diarhea, fever and dehydration. The sign said that any child with any of those symptoms would be sent home immediately. Fine - I understand that.

BUT....today I got to daycare and I saw one of his 3 teachers in the hallway. I asked her if Nathan had a good day. She said "I dont know - I just got here at 4:30". I said "really?". She said "I have what all the kids have". I said "the cold?". She said "no - the stomach virus thing". I said "then you probably shouldnt be in the school should you?" and she said "well I couldnt leave Z (other teacher) by herself". I guess their teacher to child ratio was off. But not only does it bug me that she is allowed to be there sick and infect the kids. But if my child had the same symptoms he would have been forced to leave. Thats not fair at all.

Should I say something to the director? I dont want to stir up trouble and have DS be treated differently.

Any advice?

 

[FreshTressa]

It is tough when child safety teacher/student ratio is off...BUT that virus can be dangerous to kids....it is not like a cold or something.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i would say something..
i have worked in a day care center for four years--ive actually been out the last 2 weeks because im pretty sick---i know they have been scrambling to cover for me, but i cant get everyone there sick

 

[golfgal]

She may be sick but the chances of her having rotovirus is small. Most likely she had it as a baby or young child and you don't get a virus twice, usually. If she really had rotovirus, she wouldn't be able to work anyway, she would be in the bathroom all day.

 

[Kimberle]

Tough spot. All the day teachers here only get paid on the days they work. They work hard and did a great job with the kids. For some, it was personally financially tough to loose a days pay.

(Off topic, but when the daycare was closed for bad weather, WE still had to pay, but the teachers did NOT get paid. Really 'erked me!!)

For me personally, my dd never got sick from a teacher. I trusted them to stay home when they really needed to.

Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'll make the right one for you.

 

[lecach]

I dont know how they treat sick days at this daycare - but when they are closed for bad weather they still get paid.

I just dont think if someone has a stomach thing they should be there - she did not look well.She was very pale. I really like her though. I think what upsets me the most is that if DS had the same symptoms I would be forced to pick him up. Its not fair that she can stay.

 

[wilderness01]

The way Rotovirus is spread is to go to the bathroom, wipe, not wash your hands and then touch objects. The unsuspecting bystander goes by and touches the object, i.e. a doorknob, crib rail, etc. and then touches their mucous membranes, i.e. eyes, mouth, nose. Roto is easily spread among kids, but adults, hopefully, know to wash, wash and wash. If your child has roto you will never forget the smell or color of that stool. Believe me in that! Good luck.

 

[Miss Kelly]

Unfortunately, the State doesn't care if the teacher is sick. They only care if the teacher to child ratio is met. Daycare centers are very strict about those ratios. I'm sure that the teacher had no choice but to come in or be let go. It sucks, but that is the way this business goes.

(BTW, my Mom has owed/operated a daycare center and a home daycare for many, many years - I have worked in one also.)

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

The way Rotovirus is spread is to go to the bathroom, wipe, not wash your hands and then touch objects. The unsuspecting bystander goes by and touches the object, i.e. a doorknob, crib rail, etc. and then touches their mucous membranes, i.e. eyes, mouth, nose. Roto is easily spread among kids, but adults, hopefully, know to wash, wash and wash. If your child has roto you will never forget the smell or color of that stool. Believe me in that! Good luck.

I was going to say the same thing about the hand washing thing. You know how kids are and how easily they spread things amongst themselves....but adults are much better about hand washing.

 

[BARBARAAPPLE]

She may be sick but the chances of her having rotovirus is small. Most likely she had it as a baby or young child and you don't get a virus twice, usually. If she really had rotovirus, she wouldn't be able to work anyway, she would be in the bathroom all day.

just wanted to let you know you can get it twice my son had it twice and at the age of 18 months almost died from it ..

she would not have the energy to get up and go anywhere if she had it

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

Just like others before me - I was going to say the teacher probably didn't actually have rotovirus -- some other bug.

You can go talk to your director and see what the policy is for sick teachers - it wouldn't hurt to find out and see what they have in place for days when teachers are ill.

But the reality is that there are very few people who want to "sub" at a daycare - it just wouldn't be worth it to wait for a slot to open up ... not that there wouldn't be slots - just that the pay is so low.

Your comment about thinking that your son would be treated differently bothers me -- I wouldn't have my child at a center where I would be concerned about that. -- Are you worried the Director would treat him differently or that the teachers would.

I have worked with some VERY difficult parents in my time and never looked at the children differently - I might not be as fond of the parents -- but the child is innocent and has no control over what their parent does

NOT TO SAY - that your going to the director would make you a difficult parent -- not at all.

 

[lecach]

About the being treated differently thing.....I really like the directors and the teachers. I think they really love my DS. BUT I am paranoid. I would worry that if the teachers thought I was difficult they might not love my DS as much. I know thats silly - and most likely wouldnt happen - but I do worry.

Im probably not going to say anything. It wouldnt really accomplish anything.

 

[Christine]

I probably would let it go.

I agree that she probably does not have the true rotovirus or she wouldn't be there (I had it as an adult). Also, I agree that as long as the adult washes hands a lot it will be fine. They can't control it in the kids because their hygiene is terrible, they've always got their hands in their mouths, etc. Adults are *usually* much better about that stuff.

 

[LBAK]

If the teacher came in at 4:30 then I am almost positive the director is the one that called her in and she will defend her position because of the state. Neither position is a good one because I'm sure the teacher didn't want to be there and the director knows a teacher can't be in the room by herself, it's just not safe for the children.

 

[Blondy876]

I would say something but don't be too surprised it the director does nothing. In fact at my school there are many times we are told we are not allowed to call out or if you try the director will threaten your job if you don't show up. It is nearly impossible to get a substitute to come in. So while I would definitely tell the director your feelings on the matter it is often the norm in daycare or preschool for the staff to have to come in no matter what.

I whole-heartedly agree with you though, no teacher should be working sick. But sometimes there is no choice.

 

[golfgal]

Another thing to think about is with most illnesses you are contagious before you have symptoms so the children have already been exposed to what ever she has or what ever any of the other kids have. If they are going to get sick, they are going to get sick. Quite frankly, every cold or illness they have as a child is one less they will get when they are older and in school/working where missing days because of an illness are more important.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I just have to disagree with the assumption given in the earlier post that teachers are, or should be, expected to work while ill.

This is not always, and should not be, the case.

To me, this expectation is a problem.

I know that my DS Kindergarten teacher was ALWAYS out, or leaving early, etc... one of her own kids sneezed, and she was gone.

It simply is not always the case, and should not be the case, that teachers are expected to work while seriously ill.

I personally would see this as a problem. And, as a teacher, I would find this policy unnacceptable. If a person is very ill, they cannot function well enough to adequately care for a number of small children.

And, of course, I haven't even started to mention the whole aspect of spreading serious illnesses to susceptible young children.

 

[taximomfor4]

About getting rotavirus more than once...yes you can. It causes "incomplete immunity" which roughly means that you become SOMEWHAT immune to it. Adults just don't usually get quite as sick from it because each time they got it, they got a little more immune. Repeat infections tend to be less severe. than the original one.

It's transmission is said to be fecal-oral (feces to mouth). That is why kids get it so quickly -- their hands get contaminated, they area always putting their hands in their mouths, or touching objects and contaminating them, and those objects get put into mouths...etc.

Rotavirus is self-limiting. It clears up by itself in a few days. Treatment is rehydration therapy...fluids. Kids who get hospitalized for rotavirus are almost always there for dehydration.

The teacher is hopefully educated in handwashing procedures. If so, she is not a danger to the kids...they are more of a danger to each other, really. And as adults, we learn to function when not feeling very well. Many of us go to work, drive cars, care for our children, grocery shop if we have to, etc. She may have looked not-so-good, which to me, in a daycare provider seems pretty unprofessional, but daycare laws are very strict, and very strictly enforced. If they were desperate enough to call her in sick, and she made the decision to stick it out for that few hours at work, and knows to wash her hands well after using the potty or helping kids use the potty, then I don't see a big problem. Now influenza, on the other hand (which is carried in the air)..........................................

 

[Evil Genius]

I would say something. The director should be pitching in if there is a problem with the student/teacher ratio. It is possible that she doesn't know this teacher is sick.

 

[Miss Kelly]

I just have to disagree with the assumption given in the earlier post that teachers are, or should be, expected to work while ill.

This is not always, and should not be, the case.

To me, this expectation is a problem.

I know that my DS Kindergarten teacher was ALWAYS out, or leaving early, etc... one of her own kids sneezed, and she was gone.

It simply is not always the case, and should not be the case, that teachers are expected to work while seriously ill.

I personally would see this as a problem. And, as a teacher, I would find this policy unnacceptable. If a person is very ill, they cannot function well enough to adequately care for a number of small children.

And, of course, I haven't even started to mention the whole aspect of spreading serious illnesses to susceptible young children.

Oh, I agree. This is one of a number of problems in centers. I personally have covered classes for sick teachers, had the director covering classes, and still be over the ratio limit. The fact is, the turnover rate in daycare (in general) is very high. It's not a career that most people want or are able to do long term. And would you want your children to be supervised by just any joe on the street? No. Teachers have certain training and certifications that *should* be obtained before being in the classroom. Sometimes its just not possible for a sick teacher to go home. It's a business after all and the point of a business is to make money (making money in daycare is a whole other issue!).