Anonymous
01/15/2026 11:03
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
They should not be sending anyone who has fever, vomiting, or diarrhea.
That said that our parents who simply won’t get paid if they don’t go to work (especially in the elementary grades where they must have an adult home.)
Or instructional time that just cannot be missed. My high school student has insisted on going to school with a fever because there is instruction that they cannot miss or they will fall behind. Or they’ve been pressured to not miss and they feel like they have to go. Not ideal. I have made them stay home on more than one occasion and they’ve been mad.
That said that our parents who simply won’t get paid if they don’t go to work (especially in the elementary grades where they must have an adult home.)
Or instructional time that just cannot be missed. My high school student has insisted on going to school with a fever because there is instruction that they cannot miss or they will fall behind. Or they’ve been pressured to not miss and they feel like they have to go. Not ideal. I have made them stay home on more than one occasion and they’ve been mad.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 11:03
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
I'm struggling with coughing. My DD got sick right before Christmas break, 12/19. Then was home for 2 weeks straight. She hasn't had a fever in weeks but is still coughing. Cough seems to get better, but then gets worse. It's not a productive cough at all, no signs of pneumonia or bronchitis.
My other kid just started having loose stools but nothing else whatsoever is wrong with him.
Grr- what is going around?? I'm not a bad parent and would never want to infect other kids. Might be nice if schools got cleaned more than once a year in the summer though. They're filthy.
My other kid just started having loose stools but nothing else whatsoever is wrong with him.
Grr- what is going around?? I'm not a bad parent and would never want to infect other kids. Might be nice if schools got cleaned more than once a year in the summer though. They're filthy.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 11:01
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Anonymous wrote:I have tried to talk to them about it but they refuse to acknowledge that they are doing anything wrong.
You need mental help. Why on earth would you confront them? The correct solution is to avoid them.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:57
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
So sad. The kids feel crappy. They should be home resting but they can’t so it takes longer to get better.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:56
Subject: Re:Why do parents send there child to school sick?
It sounds like everyone in that kids class is in the same boat as you. All you can do is stop any playdates or outside socializing. If the kid is coming to school sick, that's for the school to handle.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:55
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Anonymous wrote:So they learn the difference between "there" and "their" I suspect.
+1
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:54
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Anonymous wrote:The guidelines are quite clear: no school if child has had fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours. The family that OP is referring to is clearly not abiding by these this simple guideline.
Possibly in the first case, but the two other complaints are fishy enough that I don't believe her. The second case is just "this kid was at school wearing a mask, and then my kid got sick" which doesn't even tell us if the other kid was sick and the third is a kid who showed up and then got sick during the day with again the assumption that any kid wearing a mask is doing so because their parents know them to be sick, which isn't true in my experience. OP is too busy to be in other people's business to be trustworthy.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:53
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have the work flex to work from home when my kid is so sick. If my kid is active with no fever/no pain/loss of appetite with just some coughing, sneezing or runny nose, I send them to school. If they keep coughing, I take them to sed doctor and stay home till feeling a bit better. Normally, pediatrician says no medication and let it run the course. Maybe other parents do not or cannot get excused from work or get sick days from work.
You should not have had kids
Why in the world do you think it is ok to infect others?
I don't care that you have to "work" don't have kids if you can not afford to keep them home when they are not feeling well.
As a working parent as well I absolutely understand you are a terrible parent.
You know that it takes weeks to get over lingering cough, right? Even the pediatrician says so it takes weeks without the need of medication, that is called nasal drip. If there is no fever, no diarrehera, no vomitting or not prolonged coughing, families are told by pediatrician that it is okay to send kids back to school.
Yep, the first PP is totally reasonable and what I do as well. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or if they have a cough/sore throat/headache type thing AND are completely run down (you can tell if they're too fatigued to go to school!), then I keep them home to rest and recover. But for sneezing and a lingering cough, if their energy is up, it's off to school. Colds and lingering cough can last for several weeks, are you really expecting people to keep their kids home for several weeks if they have enough energy to go to school? I will also note that I have a wfh job with complete flexibility so I don't send them in for childcare. ANd also note what I've described above is following the guidance from school
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:46
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
In this case, you know the answer because they told you it’s their jobs. I don’t know what they do, but they’ve determined that whatever demands on them are more important than your kid getting sick occasionally. This is rude and irresponsible but not something you can change.
In general I have observed a few reasons that parents do this. 1 is they have a baby at home or young kid they are trying to prevent from getting sick. Another (very common) is that they don’t know that flu/stomach bugs are still highly communicable for a couple days after, so they rush the kid back in. Other parents have zero flexibility to take leave.
We live in an area with the highest proportion of dual income homes so it is much more common here than in other places to try and send your kid.
Frustrating, but it is what it is.
In general I have observed a few reasons that parents do this. 1 is they have a baby at home or young kid they are trying to prevent from getting sick. Another (very common) is that they don’t know that flu/stomach bugs are still highly communicable for a couple days after, so they rush the kid back in. Other parents have zero flexibility to take leave.
We live in an area with the highest proportion of dual income homes so it is much more common here than in other places to try and send your kid.
Frustrating, but it is what it is.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:33
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Anonymous wrote:I am very frustrated by a set of parents who always send their child to school sick. They think they are being considerate by putting a mask on their child but it doesn’t prevent spread.
1) One time the child had stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Parents sent child to school and child told peers at school “I told my parents that I will try but I don’t think I can make it at school the whole day”. Indeed, child was sent home because he was so sick. Then, the same day child was sent home, parents sent their sick child to my place to play! The child gave his illness to my child and my child was VERY sick and missed three days of school. When I complained to parents, they made their son write an apology letter to my child! Many other children at the school got sick too.
2) They sent their child wearing a mask to school in September too. Coincidentally (not), my son got sick soon after.
3) Yesterday, they sent child to school wearing a mask and he vomited and had to be picked up. I’m just waiting for my child to get the stomach bug. The fact that parents sent child to school wearing a mask means that the parents knew their child was sick.
I’ve tried talking to the parents but they don’t want to miss their “important” jobs to stay home and care for their child.
Myob
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:29
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
The guidelines are quite clear: no school if child has had fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours. The family that OP is referring to is clearly not abiding by these this simple guideline.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:21
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have the work flex to work from home when my kid is so sick. If my kid is active with no fever/no pain/loss of appetite with just some coughing, sneezing or runny nose, I send them to school. If they keep coughing, I take them to sed doctor and stay home till feeling a bit better. Normally, pediatrician says no medication and let it run the course. Maybe other parents do not or cannot get excused from work or get sick days from work.
You should not have had kids
Why in the world do you think it is ok to infect others?
I don't care that you have to "work" don't have kids if you can not afford to keep them home when they are not feeling well.
As a working parent as well I absolutely understand you are a terrible parent.
You know that it takes weeks to get over lingering cough, right? Even the pediatrician says so it takes weeks without the need of medication, that is called nasal drip. If there is no fever, no diarrehera, no vomitting or not prolonged coughing, families are told by pediatrician that it is okay to send kids back to school.
+1. That person is following the recommendations of doctors and school policy. After COVID, we've got some very cautious posters here, but there's nothing wrong with sending a coughing kid with no fever or lethargy to school.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:14
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Why?
Well, maybe because they are worried about losing their jobs "important" or otherwise. I mean, my job is important to my ability to feed, shelter, clothe my family.
Or maybe they are not that sick, in the parents' opinion. Or getting over an illness. It is a written protocol for Covid for a child to return to school but to wear a mask.
Well, maybe because they are worried about losing their jobs "important" or otherwise. I mean, my job is important to my ability to feed, shelter, clothe my family.
Or maybe they are not that sick, in the parents' opinion. Or getting over an illness. It is a written protocol for Covid for a child to return to school but to wear a mask.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:12
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have the work flex to work from home when my kid is so sick. If my kid is active with no fever/no pain/loss of appetite with just some coughing, sneezing or runny nose, I send them to school. If they keep coughing, I take them to sed doctor and stay home till feeling a bit better. Normally, pediatrician says no medication and let it run the course. Maybe other parents do not or cannot get excused from work or get sick days from work.
You should not have had kids
Why in the world do you think it is ok to infect others?
I don't care that you have to "work" don't have kids if you can not afford to keep them home when they are not feeling well.
As a working parent as well I absolutely understand you are a terrible parent.
You know that it takes weeks to get over lingering cough, right? Even the pediatrician says so it takes weeks without the need of medication, that is called nasal drip. If there is no fever, no diarrehera, no vomitting or not prolonged coughing, families are told by pediatrician that it is okay to send kids back to school.
Anonymous
01/15/2026 10:11
Subject: Why do parents send there child to school sick?
I work in education and have similar frustrations.
Ultimately, I cannot control others, only my own actions. I’ve gone back to masking because I spent my holidays sick with something a student gave me. I have also stopped spending time with people who socialize when obviously ill.
Ultimately, I cannot control others, only my own actions. I’ve gone back to masking because I spent my holidays sick with something a student gave me. I have also stopped spending time with people who socialize when obviously ill.