Why do people send their kids to school sick?

[smiths02]

I absolutely hate when people send their kids to school sick. I have four kids and when they bring something home from school it takes a while for it to make it through everyone. We used to live in a different city and the school they went to there was very strict on people not sending their kids sick. If you did you would be called to pick them up. This worked awesome, my kids hardly got sick. School is not there for child care. It's there to provide an education. So for me the excuse that you couldn't take time off work or whatever doesn't fly with me. What does everyone else think?

Where do you live that sick kids are not called to be picked up? Every daycare or school we have ever dealt with had clear policies.

 

[diamondpixienc]

It depends on the level of sick for me. If my kid has a cold then I send them in. If they have a fever, or are vomiting I'll keep them home.

Agree somewhat as if their congestion is a distraction i.e. constant blowing, sneezing, cough and the mucus is green. I give them a day home to constantly treat them around the clock. Otherwise little runny nose and no fever or vomitting oh yeah they go to school.

 

[acebatonfan]

I admit, there are time when I am in both scenarios. I have gone to my classes severely sick, and there are times where I have skipped school or stayed home for "girly reasons" and had to claim that I had a stomach bug and needed to stay home in order to not have the absence count as an unexcused absence (where so many unexcused absences per class will have me automatically fail the course).

Especially in the secondary schools, the classes move at such a pace that it is a pain in the rear end to miss a day. Let alone that there seems to be some sort of assessment in at least one of my classes every day. In those days that I come in really sick, it is because I have an exam in at least one of my classes that I know will be more of a hassle to make up than just coming into school sick and getting a slightly lower grade on the exam.

For me, I tend to follow one basic rule of thumb. If I can still learn, I am well enough to go to school. If I am having severe cramps and am in the fetal position in the bathroom, I am not going to go to school, even if that type of absence is not supported by the school. If I just have the sniffles and a slightly congested head but can still learn, I will be in that classroom learning.

 

[JediDad]

Family will be traveling to WDW for the first time in Feb. I will be sending my kids to school in plastic bubbles hosed down with purell for the month leading up to our trip.

 

[AZMermaid]

As a first grade teacher, I have seen all extremes. From kids who are sent to school with 105 temps to kids are kept home for every sniffle. Most parents, working or not, follow the no fever for 24 hours, no barfing, no severe colds/ respiratory issues. This is a upper middle class public school much like where I would guess many DIS kids go. I agree with a PP who said many kids are more contagious before they are "sick."

 

[lucyem]

The kids are together all day every day in school. They pass stuff around even before anyone knows they are sick.

Not all parents have back up plans for borderline sick kids. Its one thing when kiddo is bed ridden with the flu. But there is such a grey area, is it a bad cold? Is it getting worse? Is it allergy? Some parents can keep kiddo home or bring them to work. But many parents have absolutely no choice but to send kiddo to school in these situations. Not everyone has a decent employer or the financial ability to afford to miss a day of work.

 

[tms295psu]

My kids go to school or daycare with mild colds (sniffles, coughs). They stay home with vomit, or fever.

As young kids they'd stay with grandparents instead of daycare if they were run down with a cold just so they could rest and be on their own schedule or nap eat play.

I've also worked and stayed home. I have been blessed with a few incredible employers that never questioned my need for a day off (short notice vacation, kids activity, sick kid or sick myself). But I can also say that I never personally stayed home because my nose was running or I had a cough. If I felt good enough to work around the house I went to work. Kids follow the same rules... No fever no vomit feeling good enough to run around at home they go to school.

 

[mjkacmom]

Agree somewhat as if their congestion is a distraction i.e. constant blowing, sneezing, cough and the mucus is green. I give them a day home to constantly treat them around the clock..

But what do you treat a cold with? Cold symptoms (sneezing, cough, runny nose) are the body's way of healing. As for green, ds15 used to get sinus infections all of the time (finally saw an ENT, got his adnoids removed, and they went away). The grossness that would come out of his nose... The teachers made him keep a box of tissues on his desk. He was treated with antibiotics, but if I kept him home for green mucus - he would've stayed back a couple of years.

 

[crisi]

But what do you treat a cold with? Cold symptoms (sneezing, cough, runny nose) are the body's way of healing. As for green, ds15 used to get sinus infections all of the time (finally saw an ENT, got his adnoids removed, and they went away). The grossness that would come out of his nose... The teachers made him keep a box of tissues on his desk. He was treated with antibiotics, but if I kept him home for green mucus - he would've stayed back a couple of years.

In addition to not understanding the challenges a lot of working parents face, I also think that this discussion shows a lack of understanding of chronic health issues - like sinus infections. Or chronic bronchitis (mine should start in the next week or so and last until April when it warms up and is humid again). Allergies that have kids draining for months of the year. Or migraines that will have a child throw up - once - and then be fine. I don't want to keep my daughter home every time she barfs for 24 hours - if its a migraine barf, once she does that, she's bouncing off the walls and perfectly healthy. If she has a stomach bug, then yes, I'll keep her home.

 

[henry72]

In addition to not understanding the challenges a lot of working parents face, I also think that this discussion shows a lack of understanding of chronic health issues - like sinus infections. Or chronic bronchitis (mine should start in the next week or so and last until April when it warms up and is humid again). Allergies that have kids draining for months of the year. Or migraines that will have a child throw up - once - and then be fine. I don't want to keep my daughter home every time she barfs for 24 hours - if its a migraine barf, once she does that, she's bouncing off the walls and perfectly healthy. If she has a stomach bug, then yes, I'll keep her home.

My son has a bad gag reflex and can throw up when coughing (due to a cold). If I know he threw up for that reason, he will go to school the next day.

I pretty much have a fever or vomiting rule - you have to have one of these to stay home. Now if they had a really bad cough and were going to be a distraction, I might keep them home too but there is no way I am keeping them home for the sniffles or a mild cold.

 

[TeamH5]

Most of these so called people who say they can't afford to take a day off or what ever maybe have their priorities wrong. My husband and I have lived really poor and would still stay home if kids are sick. We also would not have tv or video games or cell phones. It's all in choices made. I still think if your kids are obviously sick don't send and make other kids sick.

Let me throw this one out to you: I'm military. It's not that I can't 'afford' to take the day off work. We just can't. Our CO won't let us. Yes we made the choice to be in the military, but we do not have a choice to 'take a sick day' or even take a day without pay. It's just simply NOT an option for us. We actually have to have a Dr's note stating that our child can not be in school/daycare for however long due to whatever sickness. THAT is the only way us or our kids stay home. And the majority of military members don't have immediate access to family to watch Jr. For the day for us.

But here's another thought: what happened to the days our parents would actually send Us to school knowing we were contagious with chicken pox just so everyone could hopefully be exposed and get it done and over with?? IJS... At least that's how it worked in my town.

 

[3pletprincesses]

My question is this to you...
I have 4 kids. One of them is always sicker then the others. 3 are the same age. If She gets a cold, they all get a cold, if she gets the flu, they all get the flu. Now I keep her home if she is not feeling well and will gladly let her be home. Home means no tv no nothing, it's in bed or in your room all day. Now why has school sent children aid to my door, not 1, not 2 not 3 time but 4 times in one year because she missed too much school. Guess what, she was in bed sleep every time they came. They checked around, did their job and left case closed.... 4 times. Now my question to you is this ... why would I keep her home sick if I'll have trouble with children aid every time she misses too much school because she is in fact boiling hot and sick. Children aid themselves told me to send her to school regardless and let the school call us... which BTW they always do as I predicted. BTW I work from home and don't miss work when they are sick yet I can't keep them home when they are sick without having trouble. My girls are well cared for and are very polite and well fed. School has issues with me because I hired a lawyer to keep my triplets in the same class in grade 1 and cost them money and they had to answer to the school board who btw couldn't understand why they were separated to begin with. School has something against me because I will stand up for my kids and they didn't get backed up by their board. The school hates me because they know I won't be shy to do it again if I need to so they and they take it on my kids with low blows like that. Shameful! Now you know why my kids go to school sick!

 

[SpringSprite]

Such a pleasant thread under the disney for families forum! I hope I don't get called out for bringing my kids to the parks if they happen to be sick during the days of our thousands of dollars vacation.

 

[Enchanted4Ever]

As far as sick days go, my boss (the DA) in our law office sent out a memo that sick time was not to be used for the care of kids or family members. That's right!!!! We are forced to use vacation time and when that runs out than get our pay/salary cut if we have to take off to care for our kids or loved ones. I personally don't give a crap and will eat ramen noodles every day if I have to if it means keeping my kids home when they are sick but not everyone can afford to be docked pay for even 1 day. It's a tough position to be put in for some to try and figure out if their kids are well enough to go to school and hope the school doesn't call or stay at home and risk getting an unaffordable pay cut. I runout of vacation days every year by August as my DD is disabled and has therapy sessions and dr. visits. My mom died, my mom-in-law died, my grandma is over 80 and DH is the bread winner and works shift work so when kids are not in school or daycare I am the sole caregiver mostly so when illness happens it still falls to me and if I have to get a pay cut than so be it. I should also note that my boss does not require dr. excuses so until he does than guess what.....sometimes when my vacation days are used up I'll use my sick days for my kids without anyone in my office knowing if I was sick or kids were sick.....

 

[tms295psu]

Curious why people are considering "sick"?

Obviously fever, vomit, diarrhea, flu... Or outright cold that leaves you looking like you were just hit by a truck.

I can't understand how people could take off work or school every time someone sneezes for 4 days straight. Yes I get sick (cough or sneeze with a runny nose) and it lasts me at least 4 days. But since I have proper hygiene (I wash hands frequently, use sanitizers, tissues, and always over a cough or sneeze) I can continue to function and go to work without spreading illness to an entire staff... My kids are taught proper hygiene early and they do the same. Yes my 2 year old will correct you if you don't cover your cough.

 

[okeydokey]

I agree with you OP. I know it is hard for many families to keep sick home, but it is the right thing to do. Parenting means sacrifice and figuring out how to solve the problems. My kids shouldn't have to suffer by catching your kid's illness if you could have prevented that with some consideration for others.