I just got a call from the school about Dakota......
By peedielyn
@peedielyn (1207)
United States
September 30, 2008 9:29am CST
Apparently, the school didn't think I did my job as a parent. I will explain the story and then you can give me your opinion. I live with my dad and have for some time. The whole time that he has had this property (14 years+) we have had over grown weeds. My dad hasn't really had the time or energy to maintain the yard so I do it for him. Anyhow, I have 4 kids that run amuk in this "great jungle". We recently grounded most of the trees and are about to burn them. Around these areas are weeds, poison ivy, oak, and sumac. This stuff is horrible. The kids don't seem to mind though. They like their jungle, and play outside constantly because of it. This is nice because we live out in the country.
Dakota(7), and Biskit(5) were out playing in the weeds last night, and even after warning them of the poison plants, they continued. Both kids came in last night itching up a storm, and I saw welts. I gave them benedryl, and calamine lotion and they both slept like babies. I sent them both to school with the drug and lotion. I figure with todays ways, I better send them to school or a truancy officer will be at my door. (where I live, if the child is missing school for anything other than hospitalization for more than 2 days, an officer will show up at your door threatening a lawsuit and arrest). I sent them on their merry way and got a call a few minutes ago telling me that they had Dakota in the nurses office twice, and wanted to know what I actually did to stop the itching. I explained to her what I did the same as I explained to you. I told her that if it continued then to call me and I would come and get him. I also asked her if she could just dab the calamine lotion on him. That's where the crud hit the fan! She told me that she would have to have forms filled out, and a STATEMENT from his doctor to be allowed to use any kind of meds on the child. The government states that you cannot administer any drugs of any kind to children without consent of a doctor(not parents, i mean who cares what we think). This stems out from parents accusing the schools of not using medication properly. So, I am thinking, why are we wasting our tax dollars for the school to hire a nurse that isn't allowed to do her job. I wish I could get paid $16.00 an hour to sit on my butt and use the occasional bandaid. Dang, I am mad!
I know I am ranting right now, but I just want to say thank you to all those parents who follow this ruling. My child needs calamine lotion to stop the itch and you are worried about "overdosing" him. Now, I have to go and spend $85 to get a little note saying that Dakota and Biskit are allowed to have the school administer CALAMINE LOTION! I wasn't asking them to do brain surgery. Hmmmmm....land of the free, yeah right! This is communist country! How are your feelings on this subject? Does it offend you when someone takes your rights away? What would you have done?
2 people like this
10 responses
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
30 Sep 08
Being the smart allick that I am, I would have probably gone to the school, administered the lotion myself then sent him back to class. Then, when questioned about it, I would have told that nurse that if she cannot care for my child, I would gladly come to do it myself. Poison Ivy is not a good reason to be out of school, unless it is a really bad case, and it is not bad enough to require a doctors visit.
Now, the logical side of me would then later call the doctor's office and explain the situation. Sometimes, they will write a note for such things free of charge and without a visit.
Isn't it a shame that schools are like this anymore. I know here, where I live, i have to go into the office and sign a consent form for the nurse to give my child a pain reliever, though, they will allow verbal consent in some cases.
2 people like this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
I am with you 100%! Sounds like we are related! LOL my whole family is like this. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@rosie4 (8)
• United States
1 Oct 08
I probably would have kept them home as our school is very similar in regards to the "rules" and I just wouldn't want to go through the hassle. However, I'm suprised they were having such a fit over the calamine lotion and not over the fact that the children were itching and scratching. Our school would have probably called me about the itching and scratching first and demanded I come get them. Then they would have gone over their "policy" about medications and lotions once I got there. I would think that as long as its not something that other children could catch(which it wasn't) and something that wouldn't disrupt the childs school day(and you told them to call and you would come and get him if needed), it shouldn't have been a problem. Sorry that you had to deal with that.
1 person likes this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
No Problem now. Like I said, I kept him home today and as I am replying to your comment, the school called and confirmed that I indeed take him to the doctor....Um yeah and you aren't paying the bill for me so please do not inquire about his absence. Kinda rude, but this is insane. Now, I am not fit enough to take care of my childs needs. Im frustrated right now and not enough coffee or chocolate today! Have a good one and thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@thedogshrink (1266)
• United States
1 Oct 08
To have the school call you to check up on you and be sure you took him to the doctor just adds insult to injury! I agree we are losing our rights in this country.
It is constant. You can't parent your kids because some parents don't and abuse their kids. You can't practice your religion because it might offend someone else, no thought to the fact that their beliefs might offend you. It's insane, and I can't see how it will end up in a good outcome if something doesn't happen to inject some common sense, common decency, and tolerance back into our society.
@nana1944 (1364)
• United States
1 Oct 08
OMG, I cannot believe some of the rules and regulations in schools these days. I am old enough that I went to a school that had two classrooms and our principal taught the 5th thru 8th grade and if she had had a similar circumstance she would have helped or been with the child while they did it. Uness it was a boy and the rash was in too private a place. Then the janitor would have been with them. Heck we would have had it sent with and used it ourselves. Sue crazy people are what has brought things to this pass! I would probably just gone to the school and taken my children and doctored them or taken them home.
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
That was explained to me about the pedifiles out there that might do something to a child. I started laughing and said and these are the people working for you that you have suspicions about. He explained to me that you can't be too careful of the folks around you and then on top of it, with the child abuse laws, and children that are wise beyond their years, you never know what someone is going to say. I just realized that this is true, but does simplicity have to be so complicated? I feel for those out there who are dealing with whats right and wrong. I remember the nurse checking me out ( i have a weird skin disorder that makes me welt extremely easy) to make sure there was no bruises or "signs of abuse" after that she sent me on my way. With this law against the medication, are they still allowed to check the little ones for lice? Geez! Thanks for the comments!
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
1 Oct 08
I agree && don't agee with the school.
I disagree with the fact that when we do keep our kids home for good reason they demand a doctors note for whatever reason && if not, we have that officer knocking on our door.
not all sicknesses require a visit to the doctors office. The school doesn't take that into consideration.
I can understand if this child was out all the time && never had a doctors note, because I do know they worry about abuse. I can understand to a point, but I think they go a little over the top.
I have had the same problem. My daughter was sick, she had the stomach virus && was puking, so I didn't send her && I also didn't get a doctors note because I didn't feel I had to take her in, they would of sent me home. There is nothing you can do with the virus. It would of been a waste. They would of told me go home, let her rest, give her soup.
ANyway, they gave me problems about it && said I need to have a doctors note excusing her the 2 days she was out of school.
Well, I told the school next time I was just sending my daughter to school sick && that they can call me to pick her up, but that I would make sure she was there for roll call.
As for the other topic about medicine, well I agree with them on that, only because I use to work in a school && witnessed a nurse giving another child to much medicine. The nurse gave the child what the mother had said to give, but there was some misunderstanding or something. The child was taken to the hospital not long after that.
My point is, things happen && if I was a nurse/teacher, I would rather be safe then sorry. So I would rather read a doctors note stating what that child is suppose to really have. Just in case. I'm sure nobody wants a lawsuit.
I know in your case, its tough because afterall it's CALAMINE LOTION && there really can't be any harm in that, but I guess rules are set so all forms of medication can't be given unless a doctors note says so.
I know it's crazy at times, but its a safety thing... I would either get the note, or rub it all over them before they head to school or maybe send it with them if you could trust your children to do it themself, that is another option.
Or, if anything you could try to call your doctor && explain to him what the school is doing && see if he could just fax a note to the school without seeing your boys. It's CALAMINE LOTION for crying out, I wouldn't see the problem.
I know when my daughter was puking on one of those days && how they demanded a note, I called the doctor && explained to him my situation && he just faxed the note to the school for me without even seeing my daughter.
It's worth the shot, your doctor might save you the trip. I hope so anyway.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
30 Sep 08
Wow...I can remember when I was in school we could go to the Nurse's office for things like asprin, pepto bismol, midol and eye/ear drops. The nurse kept the stuff in there and you told her what was wrong, she'd look you over and give you what you needed. The only time they called your parents were if you were running a temp and/or vomiting.
It does seem rather wasteful to have a nurse on duty who's only job is to sit there. BTW, it wouldn't surprise me if she didn't insist on a note to put a bandaid on as well.
I should point out the other side of this coin too though. We had a little girl in foster care a few years back when we were foster parents. She came home from school babying her one arm. When I asked her what was wrong she said she fell off the jungle gym and hit her arm. I took her to the Dr.'s and they found out she'd fractured it. When I called the school they said they had looked at her arm and it seemed fine (like you can see inside it). I asked them if they didn't notice that she'd been babying it through the day (it had happened in the morning) and they said nope.
Another time the same little girl (she was 5 BTW) came home on the bus. I went out to get her off the bus and the driver kept calling for her and she wouldn't get off. I went up in the bus to see what was wrong and she was slumped over on the floor with some little boys feet on her. I pulled him out, got her up and she was just barely conscience. She had her jacket on, her hair was just plastered to her head and she was drenched in sweat. I got her off the bus (the driver never left his seat) and took her in the house. Once she cooled down she was fine but was running a fever. I called the school ready to kill and they said she'd been in the nurses office most of the day with a fever but they just decided to send her home on the bus. Evidently she got too hot and passed out and nobody did anything. According to the school and the superintendent, the driver isn't allowed to leave their seat FOR ANY REASON unless they are abandoning the bus. Thank God she wasn't having a seizure (she had several before we got her), they would have left her to fend for herself.
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
1 person likes this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
My goodness! And here I am complaining about something so medial. I apologize. In both of those cases, I would have been hell bent on beating someones head in. I don't tolerate ignorance (case word--ignor). As for my kids, I have them on a call button. They call home when something is not going right. My son went through the same thing your little one with his arm. I asked what had happened and he said he fell in gym class. The teacher didn't send him to the office but excluded very embarassingly i might add, my son from the activities. After about a day's worth of harrassment and lots of tears, my son came home really upset. After I heard the story, I marched into the school and demanded to see that teacher. I had my son in tow with a full arm cast and told this teacher how ignorant, and unreliable he was, Oh and don't forget I humilated him through that whole period and part of the next. The look on his face was priceless. Get this, the teacher hit my son with a volley ball. (half the class was doing pull ups and the others were doing stuff with volley balls.) It was an accident but when he fell off the bar and landed on his elbow, the teacher embarrassed him and set him to the side, totally ignoring the fact that the kid was hurt, let alone with a broke arm. To think I am not allowed to punish my kid because it's child abuse of some sorts, and they can treat them as bad as they want to "toughin them up" and its called teaching! Yehaw! Thanks for the response!
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Oct 08
It does make you wonder what on earth they are doing around kids in the first place. I really encourage any parent that's capable to homeschool...the kids get much better care, their not filled full of political or religious views of the teachers or school and they get one on one attention. If I had kids I'd homeschool them every step of the way.
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I probably would have been just annoyed, but they have thier rules. I probably would have asked if it was OK if I came to the school to administer it to him. Or I would have picked him up for lunch, and put it on then. I know it is annoying you would think they could put some over the counter ointment on him. To many people are so lawsuit crazy so that is why all of these precautions have to be taken.
1 person likes this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Life has to be complicated no matter what we do, so why not with medicines. I was just talking with a friend and she said that she was told that because of all the hoopla over "over medicating" children with cold meds, that the schools have to protect themselves. I understand this, I am not denying this, but calamine lotion. Come on! Thanks for responding!
@loved1 (5328)
• United States
30 Sep 08
Frustrating isn't it? It is all the people who are eager to find a reason to sue someone that are creating this problem for the rest of us. I think most schools around here are the same way with meds, even over the counter ones. I just probably would have kept the kids home for a day or two until the worst of the itching was over. I run a daycare and they have similar rules. I can't even put diaper ointment on a baby without written permission from the parents. lol The world has gone crazy.
1 person likes this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
It is and I feel like I am about to pull my hair out because of it. Last year was the worst. I went through this with my oldest childs allergy meds. I had to come to the school and give them to him. Now, I can't afford to drive to the neighbors house let alone 20 miles to the school. If he's having a bad day, then he calls me. Thank you for responding.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
30 Sep 08
that is ridiculous... why can't the nurse allowed to apply calamine lotion to the child??? it is only a lotion and not a strong medication... if this happen to my child, i will go to the school myself and apply the lotion to my child in front of the nurse... after that, i will have a rant at the nurse and make a complain about her to make sure that she will get fired for not doing her job properly... take care and have a nice day...
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I think that's pretty stupid. I understand that notes are needed for medications, but I do not consider calamine lotion a medication. It is a lotion, as stated within the name. I'm not sure how calamine lotion can cause any problems so I don't see why a doctors note is needed. That's pretty stupid. I would have told her if she has that many problems then I guess I will have to remove her from school so the nurse can get back to painting her nails.
1 person likes this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
In the cynical aspect I totally agree with you. I mean really you all know that calamine has cooties and warts in it, right?? LOL thank you!
1 person likes this
@camomom (7535)
• United States
30 Sep 08
i would be pissed also. in my stepsons school you have to fill out a form at the beginning of the year saying what they are and are not allowed to administer. they should have been allowed to give him Calamine lotion. i mean it's lotion for goodness sake. it's not like they have to give him anything orally. what's gonna happen?....his skin might fall off or melt if they put too much on him, right? wow, that's ridiculous. i would have probably yelled and demanded to talk to the principal or even someone above the principal then, i would have gone and picked up my kids and kept them at home until they were better. atleast i would know that they are being taken care of and weren't suffering through the day itching like crazy. good luck.
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@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Thank you! I am just keeping him home today and waiting for another call from the school. If they give me crap then Ill just sic my lawyer on them. We as parents have rights. When I was little, the neighbor lady was allowed to give me tylenol if I had a headache, but you can't do that now. She might get sued and accused of giving me cyonide!
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