Here in Florida schools usually open around two weeks before Labor Day. Some open a little earlier and some a little later. The news is full of swine flu warnings now that students will be packed into schools. One of the reasons home education is appealing to me is that my kids do not have to be around a bunch of sick kids in a close, school environment. Kids are not going to wash their hands as well as they should and they are not going to keep their fingers out of their noses. (gross, but you know it's true) Also, parents are not going to keep sick kids home from school because they use the school as the babysitter. If the kid stays home, then Mom or Dad has to stay home from work. No babysitter.
The Orlando Sentinel had an article about the flu and schools recently which really underscores the use of the schools as a babysitter. Sad, but true. Many kids are not going to stay home when they should and many others are going to get infected with the flu virus, swine or otherwise. Frankly, I wouldn't want to be a teacher right about now standing in the front lines of the sneezing!
In the Spring, when the swine flu started rearing it's ugly head, many schools ended up closing and getting a scrub-down. That's not going to be the case this time. Maybe the scrubbing didn't actually do any good or maybe the time closed angered too many parents who needed the school "day care" and obviously couldn't get it while the school was being cleaned. For the children's benefit. :::shrugs:::
Here is the full article from the Sentinel:
Don't Rush to Close Schools for Swine Flu
You know I work in a school.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, I run a low-grade fever from the beginning of September, when school starts until early November. I don't seem to get really sick, just draggy and feverish off and on. I think it's my immune system responding to all the little nose-miners and sneezers. Yes, it's gross but true.
I know you work with little ones at a school and I sure hope your immune system is adjusting all the time! My sister is a nursery school teacher and also seems to be draggy and feverish every year as well. The little ones just don't understand about hand washing and keeping fingers out of the nose! :)
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