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!!!!

 

I'm not asking for the teacher to give it to the students, I get that.

I'm not asking for the teacher to give it to the students, I get that.

 

Fair enough, now I am not sure why the teachers couldn't just bring the kids inside for awhile. Or why they didn't call the mom (maybe they did and I missed it).

I'm not asking for the teacher to give it to the students, I get that.

 

It has to be related. The school doesn't want a child giving themselves "medication" without a parent giving permission.

It has to be related. The school doesn't want a child giving themselves "medication" without a parent giving permission.

 

Actually you need more than parent permission now. You have to have a note via the doctor in order to take anything. Even an advil.

I agree with the medication but why is sunscreen "medicine"? Just seems like at some point common sense should take over. I'm not completely letting the parent off the hook either. She should have known better. Give the kid some "medicine" to hide in their lunch box to put on in the bathroom.

I agree with the medication but why is sunscreen "medicine"?

 

"any topical liquid/cream that is applied directly to the skin, must have parent permission and a doctors note and can only be applied by the school nurse"

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.

 

Doesn't ever elementary school have some type of field day at the end of the year? Also, the article makes it sound as though the mom knew the kids would be outside, but since it was cloudy that morning, didn't put on the unblock.

 

I would assume that the sunscreen falls under the school or district's policy of medications that cannot be carried/used by students without a note on file.

 

I don't remove the burden from the mother, but I do agree that anyone that saw the sunburn that the kids were getting should have called her to come to the school to apply the sunblock.

Edited June 26, 201214 yr by True blue (and gold)

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?

 

Haven't taught much have you? Give a kid medication = putting your job at risk. That's basic. First time a teacher slapped some sunscreen on a kid that had an ingredient the kid was allergic to, you'd be screaming.

I agree with the medication but why is sunscreen "medicine"? Just seems like at some point common sense should take over. I'm not completely letting the parent off the hook either. She should have known better. Give the kid some "medicine" to hide in their lunch box to put on in the bathroom.

 

When common sense takes over the lawsuits that are filed, you can apply that in the public school workplace. Until then, as a teacher, you tread lightly.

You got it

 

Well I can tell you with 2nd degree burns the school is going to get sued anyways, I'd sign the mom up if they came in my office.

Haven't taught much have you? Give a kid medication = putting your job at risk. That's basic. First time a teacher slapped some sunscreen on a kid that had an ingredient the kid was allergic to, you'd be screaming.

 

Both my parents are teachers, both my Father's parents were teachers, and my Father's Grandfather was one of the first teachers in our County. I know the teaching game for sure. Give a kid 2nd degree burns and watch the lawsuits fly. I know it's a situation where no matter what you do you lose, but to send a kid out there all day in the sun that obviously is suseptible to sunburns is guaranteed to be a bad idea.

"any topical liquid/cream that is applied directly to the skin, must have parent permission and a doctors note and can only be applied by the school nurse"

 

So you get notes for hand sanitizer. Most schools keep those on the wall in the bathrooms and in the classroom.

When common sense takes over the lawsuits that are filed, you can apply that in the public school workplace. Until then, as a teacher, you tread lightly.

 

This situation is a perfect example of what you're saying. No one applied the sunscreen, teacher still has their job. Teacher applies sunscreen and child is allergic, teacher doesn't have their job.

This situation is a perfect example of what you're saying. No one applied the sunscreen, teacher still has their job. Teacher applies sunscreen and child is allergic, teacher doesn't have their job.

 

Wait till this is over to see if the teacher has her job. I would argue it's extreme negligence worthy of punitive damages to take a child out with severe pale skin and expose them to 2nd degree burns.

Wait till this is over to see if the teacher has her job. I would argue it's extreme negligence worthy of punitive damages to take a child out with severe pale skin and expose them to 2nd degree burns.

 

Then take the kid from mom because she's more negligent than anyone. She knew where they were going and what they were doing. AND she knows what her kid can use. If someone would've put a certain kind of sunscreen on me when I was a kid I would've swollen up like a tick.

 

And, you would lose your argument. There are policies written by lawyers at each school district. While they may be able to get money from the school for writing the policy, they shouldn't be able to touch the teacher for following it.