Frustrated with School System - And it's only PRESCHOOL!!
By Raven7317
@Raven7317 (691)
United States
November 14, 2009 5:38pm CST
It's been a tough few weeks... son got H1N1 flu - even though I made sure he had the mist vaccine... but they don't have enough to go around and I can't get the second booster. He tested positive 2 weeks ago and I have never been so angry, so frustrated.... Mostly I was ticked at the school for the lack of communication with the parents RE the flu... We got these cheesy form letters with nothing more than "there have been flu-like symptoms detected in the school district" followed by the typical "we're working to keep the spread to a minimum" and "the most important thing to teach our children is healthy cold handling."
I just feel that the school has been blowing sunshine up our butts! Telling the parents that "we are a team, a collaboration in your child's education and health" is nothing short of patronizing us... I found out AFTER my son tested positive that there were other cases - in HIS SCHOOL - and we were not notified... Don't they think that the amount of agony parents are facing with the decision to vaccinate or not - considering that there had only been 600 children tested before the vaccine went out the the public - that this should have been a consideration in whether or not to give parents one more fact to go on??!! I mean telling us it's in the district means nothing - the district includes over 20 schools!
So it's done, it's over, but I'm still all tense about it... But, to my friends who know me here on mylot, I'm happy to say that my logic has returned front and center... Well, maybe not Front and Center, maybe Front and to the Left... I'm just trying to not GO on fright, emotions, panic... I know I need to function logically... I know he could have caught it anywhere... the grocery store, his ext'd day program (which is part of the school system)... He could have gotten it when he was in the ER three weeks ago... It could have happened regardless of whether the shool was more forthcoming... But the point of my rant is that the SCHOOL WAS NOT forthcoming and I feel that they should have been. Parents today have enough to worry about, and the state of the world today isn't getter any easier. I just think one small thing like being truthful and upfront about this one fact - "There are H1N1 cases in the XXXX School" - would have saved alot of parents just a fraction of agony... Thoughts, experiences, opinions? TIA
2 people like this
4 responses
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
15 Nov 09
I totally agree with you that the parents need to be notified when the flu is in the school. I found out lysol spray kills swine flu virus in some cases. I asked the school and they said they couldn't use lysol, not even the wipes because they don't know who might be allergic to the lysol. After school they could easily spray and it would be dry by the next morning. If that's not enough time, spray Friday and it will be dry by Mon. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! You can't send a letter home forewarning about lysol, doing it and then maybe fewer kids get sick? What does that say about the school system?
@Raven7317 (691)
• United States
19 Nov 09
Good morning, MommaJ, thanks for your response! Wow, you're right - this is completely ridiculous! So then WHAT are they using to disinfect? I know for a fact that schools here are MANDATED to disinfect the rooms daily... Not because of the H1N1, but it's school policy and always has been... I don't know what they use, but then again I don't think I would care. They should be using ANY and ALL products that will KILL this virus!
Did you pose your question to the principal/SI??? About sending out a warning letter that the school will be disinfected? Specifically noting that the HEALTH and SAFETY of the children are the the number one concern??? That the benefits of using Lysol FAR OUTWEIGH the risks???!! I would have raised this - seems that the last few days have given my strength and the will to raise alot of things... I will be posting a new discussion on this issue. Thank you again for your response - good luck with your fight and keeping your loved ones healthy.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
19 Nov 09
Their response to me is they have a special cleaning agent they are purchasing to clean with. Personally, I think they are blowing smoke. They went as far as to ask the teachers not to use clorox or lysol wipes on the desks and tables. Whatever they are using must be strong. I just hope it kills virus germs.
@missty08 (20)
• United States
15 Nov 09
i understand your concern. i'm doing an internship at a preschool and alot of the children come in sniffling and coughing and we make them wash their hands, we even ask the parents if they are having any symptoms, and when they end up with the cold, god forbid not the swine flu, we ask for the parents to keep them home. sanitizers are set up all through the building and we try our hardest to stay on top of everything. but teachers or parents can't control what happens out side of the school with other children, it's possible that other children could be a host for this sickness. i'm sorry about your son, i hope he feels better. a friend of mine has the swine flu and she's miserable, i can only imagine him :(
@Raven7317 (691)
• United States
15 Nov 09
Good morning, missty, thank you for your response.... I've spent alot of time at my son's school, and it DOES appear that they are doing their best to keep the place clean.... I also realize that there is NO way to control other parents/children/outside factors... I'm just so frustrated, you know?? We do everything we can to protect our children in our homes, cars, playgroups, whatever and it STILL ends up not being enough! I don't BLAME the teachers, I know his teachers care about him... but as a mom, my first emotional instinct is to wonder "what did you do - or not do to my child that he got hurt/sick in YOUR care??" You know? Anyway, my son is doing just fine now... I kept him home for two weeks - his teachers were great; sending home work and notices so that neither he or I got behind... I can just FEEL that it's going to be a very long winter/cold/flu season!
@missty08 (20)
• United States
16 Nov 09
i know how you feel, because even though my son isn't school age yet but i will definitely be aware of all sicknesses going around. you can't help but be a lil over worried you know? but that's good that he's ok, at least your school district has CARING teachers. alot of schools' teacher don't want to put the effort into their jobs to become an advocate and a voice for children.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
15 Nov 09
I feel your pain. Our school is the same way. But in a way I get it. Think about it, if they had told you that there were cases of swine flu, what would you have done? You can't get him the second booster...so would you pulled him out of school? That is part of the reason why schools are keeping it hush hush. In our area there have been a handful of cases in each school but for a while most schools had 25% out at one time. If parents get panicked about it and start pulling their kids out then all those kids are going to behind on their school work for something that might not be as bad as the media has made it out to be. I know a few kids now that have had swine flu and their parents said it wasn't any worse than the regular flu. One kids doctor said the media is making it out to be a lot worse than it is. Yes it is bad, and yes people are dying from it but most of those had underlying health issues.
@Raven7317 (691)
• United States
15 Nov 09
Good morning, Ravin, thank you for your response... you know, that's exactly my point... I don't KNOW what I would have done if they had been more truthful, but we'll never know now! One point being that he's NOT required to be there - it's only preschool! I very well may have pulled him out! But that's not my decision anymore, because the school system made it for me... I think it's a very important thing to include to parents when they are faced with a decision like that. THE EXACT RISK of doing or not doing what we have to do to protect our children. Another point is that my son DOES fall into the high risk group - he has asthma. So, yes, I am a little more concerned for him... The fact that you are right about - it not being as bad as we were led to believe - is sort of irrelavant... The issue is the RISK that we were forced to put our children in because there was a half-as*ed attempt to 'keep us informed.'
Well, at any rate, I have faced the limit of my control, after much venting, ranting and raving at various outlets - including the school principal, his pedi, his ext'd day teachers. I have faced that although there will be many people in my son's life who will be charged with his care, NO ONE will take care of him like I will, and I will just have to continue to teach him, to care for him, to to make my voice heard in his case. It's hard sometimes to keep the natural response of anger/fear at bay - esp. when it involves a child's health and safety... And I'm quickly learning that there's only so much honey to call on before the vinegar takes over! LOL Anyway, thanks for sharing in my discussion - I'm sure I'm not the only one who has these fears/feelings... If anything, others will feel better knowing they aren't alone - it helps to vent!
@vingyan06 (2486)
• Malaysia
15 Nov 09
Hope your son is fully recovered by now.I know how you feel . In fact this H1N1 influenza really make a lot of parents get worry and get alert ! There are many cases happen in my country a few months ago. If there is a out break or anyone in the school get the flu, the school will actually closed for a week time. But I can see some parents voice out that some preschool principal try to hide the suspicious case . This is because they don't want to make the things worst. In fact They should inform the parents and tell the truth. Then the parents need to decide if they want to let the child to continue to go to school or stop school for a week or more time. We as the parents worry the kids will get the flu. We try to not go to the crowded, avoided to go out. But if happen the kids is schooling, we still let them go to school is we see nothing happen in the school.
@Raven7317 (691)
• United States
19 Nov 09
Good morning, thank you for the response... Yes, my son is fully recovered, thank you for asking! You are right, there is just as much chance of catching this illness OUTSIDE of schools, and my son very well could have caught it elsewhere... However, I strongly believe that SCHOOL is the last place a parent should have to worry about the health and safety of their child... I do see the fight in keeping panic to a minimum, but panic is born from not having the facts - the NOT KNOWING is what causes parents to go to drastic measures.
I have waged a strong fight with SI office and City Mayor over the policies in place. I'm fighting for the RIGHT to MAKE MY OWN DETERMINATION where it comes to my child's health. I'll post further discussion. Thank you again!
