The Harsh Realities of the Public School System

Before sending your child to public school, you should be aware of the following 3 things, that "they" don't share with the public, but should! These are things that will affect your child from Kindergarten until their senior year of high school.

# 1 ~ Administering Medicine

If your child is required to take medicine during school hours, it stays in the nurses office, right? Where you think that the nurse is carefully administering the medicine to your child. Guess What?? Chances are she isn't administering it anyway!

When you filled out the forms the school requires, you probably signed a waiver saying that your child could administer their own medicine! You probably also signed a waiver stating that the school and medical personnel ARE NOT responsible for anything that may happen as a result of your child giving themselves medicine!!

Nine out of ten people don't even read the fine print on these forms, because we trust in the public school system...which is Mistake # 1. My local school tried to make me sign the waiver that says a child can administer their own medicine when my daughter first started Kindergarten, but because I tend to read policies people expect me to sign, I picked this up and refused to sign it.

They allowed this one, but Guess What! They told me if I didn't sign the waiver that the school isn't responsible for whatever happens when the nurse administers the medicine, my five year old daughter couldn't go to public school!!!

# 2 ~ Emergency Policy

When you registered your child in school you were given a packet of policies. The Emergency Policy probably also required you to sign and return a paper stating that you understand the policy. How many of you actually read the policy?? Did you notice that it says you MAY NOT call the school and you MAY NOT go to the school to get your child if there is an emergency. Did it actually list the location that they will go to in case of an emergency?

Now, I completely understand the need for an emergency policy in today's frantic world, BUT you should at least be told where your child will be going and when you can pick them up! I for one don't like the idea of not knowing where my child is if there is an emergency. These emergencies include shootings in the school, bomb threats, etc. Wouldn't you like to know where your child is and if they are okay during something like this? Don't you feel you have the right to know these things??? Especially considering the school isn't "Responsible" for your child.

# 3 ~ Gangs and Violent Groups

I recently was told by a security officer at our local school district that we have gang members in our high school. I don't think that should be part of the rumor mill. I believe the school should be sending out letters and updates to all parents that potential gang members attend our schools!

We should be told what gangs are believed to be there and any information pertinent to the gang itself and what they do. If we aren't informed of this information how are we supposed to keep our children from joining one of these groups, or worse yet, getting hurt by one?

My point to you is this, research your local school, learn their policies, refuse to sign what you don't feel is right and fight to the local board to make our schools safer and a better environment to learn in.