Donna ST. George
"Teenager suspended from Fairfax County school over acne drug"
Washington Post
March 10, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/10/AR2011031006261.html?wprss=rss_education
Topic: Safe Zone
The article is about the suspension of a student which may last up to seven weeks because she brought a prescription acne drug into the school. There are also other examples of draconian enforcement of administration policies.
Key Points: Putting a policy in place without any wiggle room for special circumstances often turns out to be problematic. The lesson learned here for me is to carefully think about any rules or policies before implementing them. There is nothing worse than having to enforce a rule that doesn’t make sense. There is also nothing worse than to set the example of disregarding rules for “special” reasons.
Posted By Doug K
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI initially commented without really understanding what you said and asked a bunch of questions only to really get them answered by rereading your post and the article.
ReplyDeleteThat was an interesting article. I guess I should be able to see both sides but maybe because I am a mom I really sympathize with the family and specifically Hayley. Middle school is so hard and then to have comments on fb - preggors or drugie - ugh.
I know the school has a policy but I just recently got caught on this issue. I sent cold medicine with Nolan to school and just told him to take it to the office with my note. I got called at work and had to fax over a special release form. I had no idea this was the procedure. Also I was in the wrong for letting Nolan take it to the office. I was supposed to bring it in myself. OPPS! I can see how the family would have made this error.
Also what if a child is on medicine for something really personal? I could see wanting to preserve their privacy.
I don't know - this is a tricky issue. I don't think it was handled well.
This is one of those situations where the "right" thing to do is rather obscured by policy.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear from the article that things have changed even since I was in high school six years ago. There was a policy, but it was not really enforced. When I needed advil, I took advil. When I had a zit, I put some cream on it.
I agree with Jessica on the topic of personal issues. What kid wants to admit that they take prescription acre medication? Furthermore, what if a student is suffering from a far more embarrassing problem like an STI or STD? I can understand that a student would not feel comfortable sharing that information with anyone--especially some stuffy man or woman in an office.
When policy gets in the way of common sense, bureaucracy has failed us.
I am really not sure that there should be very many "blanket" rules. Should ALL hugs be banned? Should ALL medicines first have to be approved by the administration? Are we dealing with people who constantly need their hands held, or are we trying to develop young adults? It seems to me that responsibility is more easily taught when students are required to take some for themselves.
Jeff - You stated exactly what I was going to say! I have had to bring meds in for my boys and I know it is the rules, but, as you mentioned, giving Tylenol or Ibuprofen is not difficult. And if they have talked to me over the phone and know me, then it is purely a common sense issue.
ReplyDeletewith the addiction and abuse of legal drugs,such as riddlin I can see why schools and administrators would want to enforce a strict policy, and with things such as these, it is easier for students to hide and get away with taking an aspirin secretly now and then. I can see why a no exceptions policy might seem attractive in trying to control this. I think that it is fine that if a student gets caught, they can get sent to the office or have their parents called on them, but to suspend someone for acne medicine? It seems like that is doing more harm than good. Its fine to have a policy, but sound judgment should still be used when handling these kinds of things.
ReplyDelete