As inconvenient as it is for a parent to pick their child up early from school, there are times when it is necessary to do so. Yes, there is a stigma with lice than can potentially embarrass both child and parent. There is no doubt about that. But schools that are sensitive to the needs of their students will make the necessary arrangements in a discreet and private fashion.
The political correct police obviously don’t trust schools to deal with internal issues themselves. Like in other instances, they like to overrule and impose themselves:
VICTORIAN schools have been accused of discriminating against students with head lice by sending them home from school when their nits are detected, the Herald Sun can reveal.
Federal and state guidelines say schools must not send children home if they have head lice, but merely send a notice home at the end of the day telling parents to treat their child’s hair that night.
Guidelines also say teachers should “exercise sensitivity” towards children with nits for fear of upsetting them.
But schools, preschools and childcare centres across the state are flouting these policies by immediately asking parents to collect their children. Children are often isolated from classmates until they are picked up.
One Melbourne primary school has been asked to change its approach after a complaint from a parent. In a letter to the principal, obtained by the Herald Sun, the parent said any child with head lice should not be “singled out, sent home and denied valuable education, only to return the following day to be reinfested”.
Whenever Government regulation overrules schools you know it will end up bringing undesirable results. Lice spreads so quickly and the children suffering with lice are uncomfortable and unable to concentrate. I will continue pressing my school for the right to send children home with lice. That doesn’t mean that I am unaware that children with lice often feel humiliated and ostracised. What it does mean, is that I will handle the matter in such a way as the child receives my care and support and the rest of the class is never made aware of the child’s condition.
Tags: Australian Education Union, Education, Government Regulations, Hit Nitz For 6, lice, Mary Bluett, Michelle Olden, Nits, Nurses, Nursing, Parenting, Politics, Schools, Teachers
Topical Teaching 
February 26, 2012 at 7:22 am |
There is much claptrap, misinformation and politically correct swill surrounding this matter.
At a school development day not long ago a lady claimed that when she was a student at a certain other school, some 20+ years previously children of her ethnicity were singled out for nit inspection, while others weren’t.
This was a barefaced lie. My wife and I were on the staff of said school at the said time and nothing of the kind occurred. Yes there was an epidemic of head lice. Yes the children were inspected daily for nits. Yes some children were infested. Yes they went home with a note at the end of the day. No children were singled out. Children of all ethnicities were infested, Protestants and Catholics alike, from time to time. My own children were affected. No big deal. Take them home at the end of the day and apply a treatment.
The truth of the matter was that head lice and school staff were no respecters of persons. Children of whatever ethnicity were found to be infested, and they were just as likely to be well cared for children from the cleanest of homes. I have been informed that head lice actually prefer clean heads.
Had my wife or I attempted to correct this misguided lady’s assertion we would have been branded racists but that’s another issue.
February 27, 2012 at 12:47 am |
John have you ever considered writing down these experiences? It would make a great book.
February 27, 2012 at 7:36 am
Hi, Michael. I have considered doing just that. I thought either as part of my autobiography, entitled, “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time” or as a separate volume for which I have not yet thought of a title. The problem with the autobiography is deciding what not to include and with the teaching career specific book what to include. Since 2004 I have been jumping in and out of retirement and right now I am considering another return to full time work. It gets in your blood.