Jesse Michener, Mom, Aims To Change School Policy After Kids Are Severely Sunburned

I can understand why the teacher can't apply it to the children but why can't the kids put it on themselves?

I can understand why the teacher can't apply it to the children but why can't the kids put it on themselves?

 

Good question.

Solid policy spurned from Barry Bonds steroid allegations. The last thing you want is a kid spreading "the cream" all over during field day. Heck, someone might set the Tacoma Public Schools softball throw record*.

^*, nice

Thank God I grew up when I did.

Amen!!

I can see why the policy seems like overkill...however, with her kids as succeptible to sunburn as hers are, why wouldn't the mom have a note on file at the school so that the kids could receive the sunblock?

I can see why the policy seems like overkill...however, with her kids as succeptible to sunburn as hers are, why wouldn't the mom have a note on file at the school so that the kids could receive the sunblock?

 

Because that would mean the mom would be taking some responsibility. We all know that in this day and age it takes a village to raise a kid and parents don't feel any responsibility to do so themselves. It's the village's fault when little johnny or jonetta gets a sunburn. It's somebody else's job to read the loan documents I signed with the ARM clause; it's somebody else's job to make sure I save enough money to retire; it's somebody else's job to make sure I have food on the table and a roof over my head; it's somebody else's job to motivate my children to take their education seriously; it's somebody else's job to make sure manufacturing jobs are dumbed down enough that kids who paid zero attention to math and science in high school can operate the manufacturing machines and get paid a high enough wage to have a home, a new truck and a bass boat in the drive way.

 

With the policies that have emanated from DC and state capitols over the last several decades, is it really any surprise when parents react the way this mom did by blaming someone else? Not to me it isn't. The well meaning do gooders and the safety net have removed the need for personal responsibility. Unfortunately, when society doesn't require people to think and be personally responsible, some people won't. Also unfortunately, I think that segment of people is growing.

Why on earth couldn't the teacher look at the pale kids and think gee, maybe I should give them sunscreen or not let them stay out here all day. I'm sorry this one falls on the teachers, I was a pale kid growing up and my parents never put a note in my file about giving me sunscreen, my teachers just used common sense on fields days and gave it to the pale kids. Also field days like this usually only happen once or twice a year and I would say it's highly likely the Mother didn't even know her child would be outside the entire school day, I mean don't you send your child to school to learn, not play in the grass the whole day?

Why on earth couldn't the teacher look at the pale kids and think gee, maybe I should give them sunscreen or not let them stay out here all day. I'm sorry this one falls on the teachers, I was a pale kid growing up and my parents never put a note in my file about giving me sunscreen, my teachers just used common sense on fields days and gave it to the pale kids. Also field days like this usually only happen once or twice a year and I would say it's highly likely the Mother didn't even know her child would be outside the entire school day, I mean don't you send your child to school to learn, not play in the grass the whole day?

I assume they don't have a note on file at school because they are never outside for extended periods of time. It's not that hard to use common sense.

 

Can anyone give me a legit reason as to why they kids aren't allowed to apply sunscreen to themselves? I can't seem to think of one.

I assume they don't have a note on file at school because they are never outside for extended periods of time. It's not that hard to use common sense.

 

Can anyone give me a legit reason as to why they kids aren't allowed to apply sunscreen to themselves? I can't seem to think of one.

 

Sunscreen is listed as a medication at schools, therefore can not give to students.

 

Any of you that do not work in education don't understand how big an issue it really is in regards to this. Teachers are not allowed to give any medication to a student at all, unless it is diabetic medications or an epipen for allergenic reasons. (at least in our district that is the case)

 

 

Now I can shed a funny tidbit for everyone that you will all shake your head at.........

 

As a coach/athletic administrator we have to go through a 3 hour class on signs/symptoms for Diabetic and allergenic issues, as well as how to give medication when needed. However, policy is that this medication has to be locked up in the nurses office at all times, no exceptions. Now being that most coaching and athletic events dont happen during school hours, the school nurse is not in the building, therefore we can not get to the medications. Makes sense don't it!!!!

Sunscreen is listed as a medication at schools, therefore can not give to students.

 

Any of you that do not work in education don't understand how big an issue it really is in regards to this. Teachers are not allowed to give any medication to a student at all, unless it is diabetic medications or an epipen for allergenic reasons. (at least in our district that is the case)

 

 

Now I can shed a funny tidbit for everyone that you will all shake your head at.........

 

As a coach/athletic administrator we have to go through a 3 hour class on signs/symptoms for Diabetic and allergenic issues, as well as how to give medication when needed. However, policy is that this medication has to be locked up in the nurses office at all times, no exceptions. Now being that most coaching and athletic events dont happen during school hours, the school nurse is not in the building, therefore we can not get to the medications. Makes sense don't it!!!!

 

As most probably guessed the issue is liability due to potential lawsuits from parents.

I can see why the policy seems like overkill...however, with her kids as succeptible to sunburn as hers are, why wouldn't the mom have a note on file at the school so that the kids could receive the sunblock?

 

TBG your a good one to ask this, do the kids in your district have to sign a permission form to participate in Field day? Ours do, so the parents would have to know what is going on. Our Field days are considered just like field trips, even though they don't leave the school, so they have to fill out the permission slip and medication form.

As most probably guessed the issue is liability due to potential lawsuits from parents.

 

You got it