I manage health and wellness as well as sick students and attendance issues at a small elementary school and we have several kids whose ongoing health issues (mainly asthma or other respiratory) cause them to rack up a lot of absence. Some parents are proactive about getting extra work and doing what they can't so their child doesn't fall behind, but I'm struggling with one family in particular.
There are many issues with the student, although the teacher and other support staff in the school are working on everything else (I'd just like to see him miss less school and fall less behind). What do you all do when kids are frequently going to the doctor -- especially if they're truly sick -- but things don't seem to be resolving themselves? While this student definitely has some health problems, I'm also struggling with mom enabling the situation. If there were a way to know more what's happening medically and/or communicate with the student's providers to know what we can do, then pass that info on to the teacher, I think that'd be helpful. I'm also not sure how to explain to mom that her child needs to "persevere" more except when it's absolutely necessary to stay home. It also doesn't help that mom is barely literate, so I've struggled a bit with effective communication in that regard, too.
Any advice (or comments about your own experience in this situation) would be greatly appreciated.
Wow. I guess I am very lucky as that is not how my office staff or teachers operate. My attendance lady and I have a very open, 2 way line of communication with regards to medical excuses. What you describe is over the top and certainly unprofessional. I certainly feel for the family placed in that situation.
Yes, my attendance office co-worker is wonderful. :)
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Yes, my attendance office co-worker is wonderful. :)