Fevfer At School

The Early Intervention Program my youngest cub attends (at a district school) last called me to pick up my child when they [i]suspected[/i] he had a fever. On that particular day, the school nurse wasn't there. They did not take his temperature. They were correct in their assumption, however.
But yes, in [i]that[/i] particular instance, they called me to pick him up. There were no indication of a fever in the morning, but I am of the belief that a child with a fever does not belong in school.

At my oldest dd school the nurse thinks a fever,she takes a temp. if the temp. is a 100.00 or more, she calls for the parents to come pick them up.
Yes if the child has a fever the child (or childern) should stay home.
Love this site
Synthia

Ah, one of my pet peeves.
Now I understand that past kindergarten children can't necessarily stay home for every little sniffle, but why parents persist in sending sick wee ones to nursery school is way beyond me. Will they need remedial play dough if they miss a few days? Or will mommy miss her tennis game/pedicure/hair appointment? Even without a fever, a child who's nose is actively running (not the allergic running we all know), coughing, running to the bathroom, etc. does not belong in school, period. I know many ailments are contagious even before symptoms occur, but common sense tells you it's gotta spread a whole lot faster if there are body fluids of any kind involved.
Just my $.02.
Amy

I have friends who take their kids to daycare and dose them up heavily with tylenol so they can get "at least a half day of work in." (before the fever re-manifests and the daycare makes them get the child.) I always find that extremely awful and have to bite my tongue. I guess it matters not what junior is going through, suck it up, kid.

Our school has strict guidelines about this. Whether everyone follows them or goes the route or dosing with tylenol or motrin so they can get through part of the day is difficult to say.
Children not only cannot go to school with a fever but must be fever-free for 24 hours. The same for stomach issues-vomiting or diarrhea must have stopped for at least 24 hours. I follow the rules- but it still seems like my 6 year old picks up everything!! All of my vacation time has gone to sick kids this year.

This is on my mind today with my sick reschool child who missed her last day before winter break and a party at school(no biggie for me, really). But, I took our neighbor's child to school on Monday, and could not believe how sick she seemed to me when her Dad brought her to my home 1/2 an hour before we had to drive. Crusty nose, that needed wiping before we left and one serious coughing fit, very wet cough, and plenty of extra coughing. Maybe the kid had it for a week. I know these things can hang on, but I also know the parent. Had pulled an all night shift, needed to sleep and Dad had to get to work early(why I was driving).
Two days later(and I was so cautious about contact) mt dd misses a day of school. Coughing one of her biggest symptoms and a very stuffy/runny nose. Same thing? I bet so. Could have caught it in school too, but they are not in class together. Oh well.
I keep dd(it is easy for me) home if her nose needs constant wiping. Our school has the 24 hour policies with fever and stomach bugs, but no real way to police it. At the same time, the peds office says if there is no fever and it is just a cold, send them to school. It has already spread is their line and kids are going to catch colds. I don't believe in keeping kids in plastic bubbles, but I also know an asthmatic child who spent a week in the hospital this year already(from a cold). becca

This has always been a giant pet peeve of mine, too. People think nothing of bringing sick kids around newborns, asthmatics, people in the hospital with congestive heart failure...etc. People who would not dream of going out without a shower will go out and spread germs everywhere and think nothing of it... When I was pregnant with my first and still working full time, the guy who sat in the cube next to me was always coming to work very ill. I finally got a big can of lysol and sprayed it up at the wall whenever he started his uncovered-mouth dripping disease coughing fits. Think I made my point (he stopped coming to work that sick) - boy I had a stew of pg hormones and was passive aggressive back then!!

I really worry whenever any of the children in my class complain of minor symptoms like headaches, itchiness, tiredness, sore tummies, feeling hot / cold etc because they are all indicators of some of those dreadful diseases like meningicochol (sp)
I send them straight to sick bay, even if I am inclined to think that they may not want to do the particular activity (eg maths test!!!) we are doing in class. I don't think I can be too careful with their health!
The Front Office staff are very good at contacting parents and asking them to collect their children when they are sick.
I too do not understand why people send themselves to work (although as a teacher, you can't just leave the work on your desk for a few days and hope to catch up, so we are notorious for soldiering on...) or their children to school when they are not well.
Just recently we've had an awful tummy bug go through most of the children, and myself! It is not pleasant trying to console cranky sick children or cleaning up after them when it all just has to come out :-(
And I didn't enjoy the experience of being home sick for two days either.... topped off with having to drag myself into school on the last day before the holidays still feeling 'delicate'. Hopefully I didn't pass it on to anyone else, but I really needed to be there to pack up my room and farewell the kids etc.
Anyways, that's my thoughts on the topic!
Helen :-)