Sorry guys, but this is such a pet peeve of mine. If there is strep running around the classroom, or mono, flu or whatever, why doesn't the teacher send home a note.

I didn't know this, but there were 12 kids out of his class of 22 that had strep. I found out about the class illnesses after I called the Grade Mother about the Christmas Party. She just mentioned it in passing when I told her my son was ill. His case was so mild, I would not have suspected it. He never even complained about a sore throat. He just had a slight fever. After my conversation with the Grade Mother, I did take him to the doctor. The Rapid Strep Test confirmed that he had strep.

I would say, if half the classroom is out with something, a note should be sent home.

By Cat on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 09:16 am:

My son's school does send a note home if there's something like strep going around. They also send notes home about lice or any other highly contaigious illness. I'm surprised your school doesn't. Maybe call the office and ask about it or suggest it. Sorry your little guy's sick and I hope he's feeling better soon. Hugs to you both.

By Kaye on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 09:21 am:

Ours has quit sending notes home about anything, INCLUDING LICE! I guess there are some privacy issues they have been struggling with. I agree something should be done.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 12:24 pm:

The only time our schools sent notes home regarding illness was during flu season.

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 12:50 pm:

Our school does send home a note, at least they do for lice. We have not gotten any notes regarding the flu or strep. I think during winter time it is obviously flu season so there really is no reason to send home a note about that.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 01:56 pm:

There are some privacy issues to be dealt with. Our schools never sent home a note...that would be a lawsuit around here. We can't post grades, work, or trade 'n grade in the state of IN.

I understand...wouldn't it be nice to know? But then, would you not send your kids to school? Because if that's what you would do, the school can't condone that, you know?

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 02:28 pm:

If they send a note home, it does not say that so and so has strep, or lice. It just says "there is a case of lice in your child's class room".

If there is a case of lice/strep or whatever in the class room, of course i would still send her to school. But if i noticed her scratching her head a lot, then i would definitely be sure to get her checked for lice. Or as soon as she says her throat hurt, i would take her to the Dr. to get a throat culture. It is nice to know what to look for.

By Debbie on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 02:51 pm:

Our school sends home a note anytime there is a contagious illness in the classroom. Like Patti said, it just states that there is an illness in the classroom, it doesn't name the student that has it. It is nice to know, so you can be on the lookout if your child starts to show any symptoms.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 03:51 pm:

Our school does it, too. Simply states, like the others, that a child in the class is ill with whatever. No names.

Have you suggested to the teacher or the principal that they start doing it?

Ame

By Colette on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 04:49 pm:

Our school sends a note home too. No names, sometimes it doesn't even say it's someone in your child's class but that it's someone in the school. I'd ask the principal or the school nurse about it.

By Maryg on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 04:58 pm:

I've never gotten a note from any school regarding health issues. It's always been word of mouth with the other moms or the teacher may mention something.

I try very hard to notify the teacher if my child has Strep. As a matter of fact, I called her when I got home from the doctor.

Strep has some pretty bad complications. It really isn't something like a cold or flu. Normally, all my kids run high fevers with Strep, and can barely swallow their spit. That's why I just thought this was a cold, and would never have saw the doctor.

Of course, this is public school. I am not sure how private schools handle these issues. I do have a friend who's child is in a private school, and she receives health notices from the teacher on a regular basis.

I would assume that there would be more liability if the school knew that there was an potentially damaging infectious disease, and parents weren't notified. However, with the world the way it is nowadays, who knows what makes sense anymore.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 09:50 am:

We have 10,000 kids in our school system. I think if they sent home notes, everytime a kid got sick, that's all they would be doing! The kindergarten class I work with at lunchtime, had a spurt of several weeks, where someone was absent for something! It seems that word gets out anyway, if someone has chicken pox, or something like that.