Can a school get in trouble for this???

Question

A boy in my oldest son's class got sick at school. Around 10am, the 14 y/o started feeling ill and told the teacher. She told him to put his head down on his desk. She finally allowed him to use the restroom, where he repeatedly threw up. He returned to class and told her, but she kept him in class. Finally, 3 HOURS LATER he left for the bathroom and called his mom on his cell. When his mom got to the school, they called the classroom and asked for him. The teacher said he had been out of the room for TWENTY FIVE MINUTES and that she didn't know where he was. The office aid searched 3 bathrooms and in the last one found him lying on the floor covered in his own vomit, too sick to get up or get help. The aid and his mom had to carry him out. No one seemed to know WHY his mom hadn't been contacted earlier or why no one had searched for him when he was gone so long. The school admitted that 17 kids in the class were out with flu-like symptoms. Isn't that neglect?

After hearing this, I want to pull my kids out of that school system. I want to be sure that if my child is sick, I'll be notified and he'll be safe. This boy was nearly unconscious! What if he had choked on his vomit and no one was there to save him!? Its horrible that this could even happen, but I'd be ready to kill someone if it had been MY child!

I agree that it seems especially strange that the teacher didn't realize how sick this kid was. My son said he could tell the boy was sick. This kid is naturally pale and is a goth kid, but even with his goth makeup, my son said he was extra super pale and kept holding his head and stomach. If my 14 y/o son (who knows NOTHING about telling a sick kid from a healthy one) could tell how bad off this kid was, why couldn't the teacher--a professional trained to watch after kids????

No, they aren't allowed to have cell phones in school, normally, I'd agreed that they shouldn't, but THANK GOD this kid did have his! Its against the rules, but they don't search the kids and many sneak them in anyway. This boy is a good kid---he wouldn't have had it on in class, but its a good thing he did have in on him.

Answer 1

As a teacher, and in the school system that I provide instruction, I am glad we are trained and advised and have protocol and GOOD SENSE when it comes to our students. I have had several students just this week to tell me they didn't feel well, and had their heads down on the desk. I would never let a student do that without asking some questions. I know that a teacher cannot watch everyone - but I'll bet you one thing - if one of mine came in my room, I know when they 'look differently, or are acting differently. My classes are designed to have 'peer partners'. They watch out for each other and for the teacher. (I have asthma and sometimes my kids will watch me and often will ask if I'm okay if I don't look 'right' to them) Additionally, we have a school nurse. If a child comes to me and has to call home, or expresses they don't feel good - and I give them a pass to the restroom -our school cameras will know a child is in the hallway and hall monitors observe the back and forth. During class time, the halls are clear. If my student was gone more than 5 minutes and I KNOW they left me not looking well, believe me, his peer partner would be down in the bathroom looking for him. Also, our school is set up that only 7th and 8th graders can be on the second floor - so the number of bathrooms a student could go to would be limited. Again, monitors would be looking out.

I am so sorry this happened to the young man. It is vitally important that schools provide levels of safety from the administration to the staff and teaching the students to be mindful themselves of each other. No student is refused to call home - especially if they are ill. I might ask "why" because sometimes the kids might be asking a question a teacher would answer (one child asked to call home because they had forgotton their school ID and the rule is 'you have to have it to get in the Cafeteria...she thought she would not be allowed to it...not true - something is in place for every child to eat - regardless!)

You might contact the school board for their policy on this matter. This would be unacceptable to me and to our school.

Answer 2

Yes, the school can and should get in trouble for that that is just terrible, hopefully that teacher gets some sense

Answer 3

Me and that teacher would have been fighting. I would never ever let something like that happen to my kid. He could have died by choking on his own vomit. When a teacher didn't let me go to the nurse I threw up all over her table lol. Tell your kid that if he throws up and the teacher won't let him leave to either call you (if he has a phone) or walk to the office. I hope that teacher gets in a lot of trouble!

Answer 4

Goodness,that is so wrong.Yes the school should get into some trouble after that.anything could have happened to that kid.I hope the mom calls the board of education in your county,and tell them exactly what happened.

Answer 5

The only reason she probably wasn't concerned is because A LOT of kids abuse the 'sick' excuse.
Most of the time the kids are actually sick, but some kids just do that to get out of class too.
Teachers ALWAYS assume the worst....which is complete crap.

ps, Kids are allowed to use their cell phones at that school? Wow, at mine they dont even allow you to take them into the building...

Answer 6

I would say that is neglect and the kid's mom should sue the school and the teacher. I'd pull my kids out of a school like that as well.

Answer 7

i agree, something like this happend to me, playing football, i tackle a kid, we both go down, he bangs his stomach and cut my leg. When the teacher finally gets here about half of the people there a laughing, guess what he joins in! So im on the floor crying while the guy thats suspossed to give medical attention is laughing and i get suspended for asking him what the **** his problem is, well im on the floor with another kid we both need medical and our teachers laughing with half the boys in my school,
. Whoose a fault here?

BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHOEVER THIS HEADMASTER IS, YOU WALK STRAIT INTO HIOS OFFICE WITH THE POLICE, A PARAMEDIC, THIS KIDS PARENTS AND HIMSELF AND DEMAND THAT THEY TREAT KIDS, EXPLAIN TO THEM THE DANGER OF THIS AND TELL THEM THEY BETTER TREAT THEM BETTER OTHERWISE YOU WILL GO TO THE PAPERS!

Answer 8

Wow! That's horrible. That sounds as if the teacher simply didn't care enough to get help for the boy. I would have it out with the teacher if I was his parent.

Answer 9

they should let him call his mom after he go sick the first time.
i bet if he threw up IN the class or on the teacher, then she would have let him call. what kind of school is this!?
after he was gone for 25 minutes, why didnt she call security, thats what they do at my schools that I've been to (to see if they are skipping, sick, so on)

Answer 10

that's awful! of course the school can get in trouble!