The flu season is here! Having been sick for the past few weeks with the latest flu bug I was revisited by a funny happening that really helped to change my attitude and that of my students.
How many of you have worked through fevers, colds, aches and pains just because you felt you needed too? As teachers we have come to accept that catching all of the darlings’ viruses and colds are just part of the job. Does it have to be? Is this really the best thing for our own long term health, our students, or even the other teachers around us? One of my students changed my mind of this perspective.
Last fall about this time the administration had put a notice out to the school explaining how important it was to not come to school sick, always wash our hands, and don’t ever sneeze or cough with out covering ones mouth. As generally happens most people mention it in passing and let it go. It just so happened this day our science teacher was out sick so I needed a health lesson and wound up deciding to chat about sicknesses and how easily colds and viruses were passed. Well this little chat really took on a life of its own……poor Guadalupe…..
As anyone who deals regularly with third graders will testify to the more gross the subject the better and what is more gross than snot and spit? After completing some free research time on the computer the kids proceeded to explain to me how these germs got spread. I never knew how many websites there where that deal with the spread of disease. This 1 period study session apparently wasn’t good enough on the disgusting subject and they requested that we continue our discussion during our weekly class meeting that afternoon. Somewhere during this day poor Guadalupe started feeling pretty punky and by the end of the day we could all tell that he was not up to par….
Since it was Friday afternoon, it was time for our class meeting. Prior to class meetings, throughout the day we jot ideas down on the white board of the most important topics to discuss during our session. That day the overwhelming topic was…you guessed it, sickness. The kids had decided due to the flu epidemic that was going around the school that we needed to make our room the sick safe house. I asked how they wanted to do this. They huddled together in small groups and brain stormed ideas from their earlier internet discoveries. Some of the ideas were humorous but most were pleasingly relevant. Taping their hands together so the student couldn’t touch anything and putting tape over a coughing person’s mouth weren’t the best ideas, but I am sure we have all wished we could have done this at some point or another. Leave it to Sergio, “Hey let’s make coughing kids wear surgical masks while they are sick.” Now this seems a little crazy but in actuality it wasn’t a bad idea. The class voted overwhelmingly in favor so what the heck. This continued for 10 more minutes or so and the class came up with the new sick rules. They were in order. 1. Do not come to school sick. If you do, you must sit in the back of the class and let the teacher know right away you are not feeling well. 2. You may not use the computers 3. You may not share food or any items you have touched with other people. 4. You must use the opposite door as the rest of the class and only touch it with your arms not your hands until you have sanitized your hands. 5. Lastly, if you come to school coughing, you will need to wear a surgical mask while you are in class.
The end of our time for the day was rapidly approaching so I promised I would write up the new rules for the next day, asked them to talk with their parents about what we had discussed in science today, and sent them on their way.
Next morning, in walks coughing sick Guadalupe with Sergio, the self appointed sick warden with most of the rest of the class following. The sick rules were up and posted as promised. Holding Guad by the arm, Sergio stated, “Ms. H. Guad, is coughing so he is going to have to sit in the back of the class and did you get any surgical masks?” I was a little surprised but thankfully had borrowed one from the nurse the day before for our class discussion. I asked the class to take their seats and waited until the class had settled down and began their morning routine before asking the question. “Class are you sure you want to follow such strict guidelines while you are in our portable?” The class overwhelmingly said yes. So, I played along with the game. “Guad according to the rules that you helped create yesterday you are going to need to wear the mask while you are in class. Is this going to be ok with you? “Guadalupe sheepishly said yes and asked for his mask. He wore the mask the entire day. The next day Guadalupe did not come to school. Thankfully the following day he returned cough free and the rowdy comedian he always was.
Now some administrators might think that I was a horrible person for allowing this to occur or for encouraging this experiment but I learned something really important from the kids that week. They were as tired as I was of someone always being sick with that person eventually being them as well. Our school rewarded classes monthly who had perfect attendance with first cookie parties, than ice cream sandwich parties. If you made three months sometime throughout the year with perfect attendance the class received a pizza party. Our class was tired of never having a shot at the festivities because someone was always out ill. At one point when I was not feeling well, I was “told” I needed to check with the nurse and make sure I was not contagious…which I willingly did.
By following our new sick rules our class attendance rose, productivity was a little better, only two other children ever came to class sick again (and they wore their masks), we did finally win both the cookie and ice cream party, but most importantly they kids learned to take responsibility for their own health. They realized how important it was not to contaminate other people with their germs. Nothing is so important that you can’t skip it and make up the time later. Until this day, I myself had done like we all have and toughed it out. After this experience with my very cool class, I stopped.
So, for all you run down teachers out there. Take a day and rest up. Yes, it may be hard to catch up but the health of your class and yourself depends on it.
Take care
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