Parents should decide

I love this letter so much! It made me burst out smiling and all day now I will remember it and smile again! The images are perfect for political cartoons and if the writer ran for the School Board, I'd vote for her.:)

Plus with the kids wearing the surgical face masks they could get away with chewing gum in class :)

How about a real easy way to prevent the spread of viruses, if you kid is sick keep them home.

Wane-Vaca wrote:

Plus with the kids wearing the surgical face masks they could get away with chewing gum in class :)

AND, they could stick their tongues out at the teacher and everybody else behind their surgical masks.

Coren Quick suggests that all desks face front instead of the grouping that has kids facing each other. Brilliant idea, letter writer!

When did this cooperative grouping idea take hold in our schools, anyway? I've never liked it. Kids copy from each other's papers and learn to cheat, plus they're elbow to elbow and some kids hate that because the kid next to them is annoying.

MUCH MORE HEALTHY to seat the kids in rows, facing front.

I appreciate the positive response to my letter. I won't be running for school board but appreciate the endorsement Violet.:) I am hoping with the exposure of my letter, the awareness of this situation is broadened. Too many may instill the faith in others and think when it gets to be a concern they will let me know. Personally, I think we should all be aware as soon as one child in the school has any signs of this flu. What I didn't put in the letter, but your doctor will confirm, is that we have not hit the seasonal flu season. Therefore, any one getting flu like symptoms most likely has the H1N1. You will find that now that the CDC is not recording keeping like they should (ie- those who have H1N1- did they receive vaccinations? Do they have compromised systems? Of those who did die, did they have the vaccinations and/or compromised systems?), the doctors are not testing for H1N1 and ruling it as a H1N1. And this is more reason that I believe we need to be informed the second it is suspected our school campus may have cases. I suspect (again personal opinion) that it is on some of our school campus' and we are not being told about it because it is "not confirmed". But as I mentioned, doctors are no longer testing, and therefore there is really no way to "confirm". So again this brings me to why I wrote the letter. Do what is best for you and your family. Keep them safe and healthy- more than ever. And please do your research on the vaccinations. They aren't for everyone. Look at Desiree Jennings.

As far as the Brown's Valley family who lost their little girl, my thoughts and prayers go out to them.

One little item I failed to note. I have ordered face masks. They are on back order, but was able to find some from the maker Kimberly Clark that have Disney characters. You can find them online at a variety of places and costs. Prices ranged from $20 to $50 for the same product and same quantity which is 75 per box. Every place I inquired (about 25 places) all had them on back ordered.

Inexpensive? There's thousands of students, the schools don't have money for nurses, librarians, or even able to keep the career center open for the whole school day, and you want them to buy surgical gloves and masks for all the students!?

No risk to the child? How do you know that? I've heard that there are people who work for hospitals, that aren't getting the shot becuase they know it wasn't tested throughly. For example one kid at my school got the shot then ended up with a bad head cold for 5 days. I'm not gettting the shot, and a lot of the students at my school agree. Also, often students can't learn the material on thier own and will fall seriously behind, affecting thier grades if they miss school.

THe school probably will lose money, because how many parents are going to actually fill out the paperwork, and how many children are going to actually do work when kept home?(Not very many). Not to mention that means a lot more paperwork for the teachers that are already swamped with huge class sizes. A

Please, it's not much worse than the regular flu, don't make a big deal about it, and let your children go to school.

I must agree with WCW student. It is ridiculous to mask and glove students for a virus that is statistically less likely to result in death than the regular yearly flu.

No one wants their family member to die but things need to be kept in perspective. Use universal disease prevention techniques and life will go on as usual.

If you are that worried about this virus then by all means keep your child at home, however, you might as well home school them permanently because there are greater risks at school to them than just the H1N1 virus.

WCW student wrote:

Inexpensive? There's thousands of students, the schools don't have money for nurses, librarians, or even able to keep the career center open for the whole school day, and you want them to buy surgical gloves and masks for all the students!?
No risk to the child? How do you know that? I've heard that there are people who work for hospitals, that aren't getting the shot becuase they know it wasn't tested throughly. For example one kid at my school got the shot then ended up with a bad head cold for 5 days. I'm not gettting the shot, and a lot of the students at my school agree. Also, often students can't learn the material on thier own and will fall seriously behind, affecting thier grades if they miss school.
THe school probably will lose money, because how many parents are going to actually fill out the paperwork, and how many children are going to actually do work when kept home?(Not very many). Not to mention that means a lot more paperwork for the teachers that are already swamped with huge class sizes. A
Please, it's not much worse than the regular flu, don't make a big deal about it, and let your children go to school.

I was wondering when you guys would appear. You do understand that my letter was to broaden the awareness and try to keep the children in school. However, because some parents are deciding that home is safer until they have a better understanding of methods/precautions that will be taken, I provided the home schooling option information.

The masks (N95 which is recommended) are less than $.29 each. I bought a box with 75. I would think as a concerned parent, the parents would step in and buy them for their children and themselves for that matter. The N95 mask protects the small particles (yes this includes the droplets found in sneezes and coughs which are the culprit of spreading the flu) from coming through the mask and going out.

Do I think this flu is any worse than the seasonal flu? Yes and no. Yes, because it is taking the lives of those with compromised systems that other flu's have not. No, because the seasonal flu takes lives every year. I know for a fact in the last week at a hospital in the bay area that three pregnant women and their baby's were taken by this flu. When I think there is a way to prevent this, sure I am going to practice those preventatives. Would you go to sleep knowing you left a candle burning and take the risk of it burning your house or think it will never happen to me. It is all about choices people. You are all entitled your opinion.

As far as vaccinations, again your choice. We chose to not get them because of the 39% mercury content along with a few other chemicals I would no less clean with let alone put in my or my family's body. Have you read or seen the footage of Desiree Jennings???

As far as the paper work to complete to home school, it is simple, your child's name, your address, phone, and dates your child will be out. Pretty simple. There is more effort in filling out a change of address form at the post office. The teacher's are very accommodating in preparing the missed work. So unless you can't make time for your child, there really is no excuse.

The death of the little Browns Valley girl has caused real fear in our community and that is understandable. But she was the exception... any time an illness exists, there are some people who are hit especially hard because of something unusual going on with them. With all the others who are catching H1N1, many are experiencing more mild symptoms. Sure, we should be careful, but face masks at school would drive kids nuts. Just wash your hands a lot and take your chances. Life goes on.

Cori wrote:

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As far as the paper work to complete to home school, it is simple, your child's name, your address, phone, and dates your child will be out. Pretty simple. There is more effort in filling out a change of address form at the post office. The teacher's are very accommodating in preparing the missed work. So unless you can't make time for your child, there really is no excuse.

I tried to put my child on home school, I got a lecture that my son should be in school if he is not sick and that I should be worried about truancy proceedings. They also continue to deny cases of H1N1 at the school.

concerned wrote:

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I tried to put my child on home school, I got a lecture that my son should be in school if he is not sick and that I should be worried about truancy proceedings. They also continue to deny cases of H1N1 at the school.

Truancy proceedings in Vacaville are a big laugh. I knew a high school kid who missed about 175 days of the school year and he was visited two times by the authorities who just told him to go to school. Nobody was arrested fined or anything.

If you don't want your kid to go to school, learn how to become a home school and keep your child at home legally. You do not have to be a licensed teacher to do this. Read about it Online.

Cori wrote:

One little item I failed to note. I have ordered face masks. They are on back order, but was able to find some from the maker Kimberly Clark that have Disney characters. You can find them online at a variety of places and costs. Prices ranged from $20 to $50 for the same product and same quantity which is 75 per box. Every place I inquired (about 25 places) all had them on back ordered.

i do believe the are saying the N95 masks for h1n1. that is what we are using a work. just a fyi
also as far as those with children in school call a meeting with the principal etc, and ask if an announcement can go out to all students to purchase their own personal mask, etc....

How would the use of masks in the schools saved the three pregnant women? Were they attending grade school?

Awareness is key and I too, agree that the schools should let the parents decide. Home schooling is not for everyone, vaccinations are not for everyone, but face masks, I don't see why that can't be for everyone. Good hygiene and a face mask, is that so much to ask?? Small price tag to keep you from getting sick.

I for one, am a healthy adult as are my children and I am thankful for that. However, there are some children out there who are not so lucky and don't you think that if the school alerted the parents, that the parents should decide what is best for them, their circumstances and their family?? Whether it is home school or a mask or the vaccination (which is not that easy to come by). Is it the school's job to decide or yours??

The point is, school is a place for learning. The school is to provide a safe environment for our children. It is the parents responsibility to take care of their child. If the school was to communicate with the parents and in this case advise of the flu cases on the campus, then the parents could take precautions as they see fit. If the school does not communicate, the parents may feel that cases have not hit the campus and washing hands maybe sufficient. I would venture to guess, if the school was to advise the parents that there are cases of the flu, the parent would then perhaps buy the face mask, vaccinate or pull the child(ren) out.

I, too have pulled my children from school. My wife was a victim of a lay off and therefore, she will be home schooling my children until we are comfortable in sending our children back.

I am wondering if the school holds out such information if that would be considered child endangerment? It should not take another death for the parents to find out there were cases on campus. PERIOD.

"An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure." Remember that old sage? This doesn't mean panic, however it does mean taking precautions.

When my family and I were stationed in Japan, the Japanese would wear masks in public when had had even the slightest cold and when an outbreak occured in the population, it was common for large numbers of the citizens to wear them en masse. Did this curb the spread of influenza? According to their government, it does and has. This practice is common in many Asian countries as well.

As for H1N1 being like the regular flu? Don't kid yourselves. It is not. Far too many cases act like a super flu and the recovery is longer that the typical Influenza-A. Death from it, while fewer in number, is miserable.

Son O Fire wrote:

"An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure." Remember that old sage? This doesn't mean panic, however it does mean taking precautions.
When my family and I were stationed in Japan, the Japanese would wear masks in public when had had even the slightest cold and when an outbreak occured in the population, it was common for large numbers of the citizens to wear them en masse. Did this curb the spread of influenza? According to their government, it does and has. This practice is common in many Asian countries as well.
As for H1N1 being like the regular flu? Don't kid yourselves. It is not. Far too many cases act like a super flu and the recovery is longer that the typical Influenza-A. Death from it, while fewer in number, is miserable.

Can you cite the information about what it's like to die of H1N1? References?

1fortheroad wrote:

The point is, school is a place for learning. The school is to provide a safe environment for our children. It is the parents responsibility to take care of their child. If the school was to communicate with the parents and in this case advise of the flu cases on the campus, then the parents could take precautions as they see fit. If the school does not communicate, the parents may feel that cases have not hit the campus and washing hands maybe sufficient. I would venture to guess, if the school was to advise the parents that there are cases of the flu, the parent would then perhaps buy the face mask, vaccinate or pull the child(ren) out.
I, too have pulled my children from school. My wife was a victim of a lay off and therefore, she will be home schooling my children until we are comfortable in sending our children back.
I am wondering if the school holds out such information if that would be considered child endangerment? It should not take another death for the parents to find out there were cases on campus. PERIOD.

Bravo! Communition is the key. To have the administration and district flat out lie to parents over cases at the school only breeds more distrust!