I really really really try my best to not bash public schools and I have mentioned this before. I do believe that the people working in the public school systems really are trying to do what is best for the majority of the students and that they have one of the most difficult, underpaid, under appreciated jobs out there. However this morning an event occured that totally could have been avoided and I really just need to rant about it a bit!
As I mentioned we have been having a heat wave here in lovely New England! These are generally common during July and August but it is not totally unheard of it for it to happen in June. This week has been in the 90's and higher everyday and 80% to 90% humidity, but it was suppose to break last night. You are probably wondering how a PS rant has turned to discussion of the weather, but the connection is that KM participates in the chorus at the PS she attended until January and they had their final rehearsal this morning before their concert at the High School this evening. Every year they have debates on having any events in the cafeteria of the elementary school because the circulation in there is just not very good - even after SEVERAL remodels and LOTS of tax money they just have not been able to fix the problem. When we got there this morning it felt pretty good with the ceiling fans going & not too many bodies there yet. The kids started warming up their voices, while standing on risers and you could see some of them getting warm as they were in such close quarters to one another. Then the rest of the students started filing into the room. The max capacity of the cafeteria is just under 700, so with the student body (minus the Kindergarten) rounding out at about 575 and the teachers, other faculty, and parents there they were either just at or over capacity. There is no way to make one room holding that many bodies cool - it is just not possible without a deep freeze machine. The kids got through their two songs and all seemed fine. I had SC with me and she had started fussing a bit as it was getting warm in there so I was kinda going in and out of the room. I was out in the hall when I suddenly hear the music stop and the doors fly open - two teachers are carrying MY daughter out of the cafeteria to the nurse's office across the hall. "It's okay" they said to me very calmly, "She just fainted."
----- JUST FAINTED, JUST FAINTED! That in my book is not a little thing, sorry. ----
Before we even got to the nurses office the song had started up again. They got KM to the cot, she was as white as her shirt. I grabbed some rough school paper towel and wet it down to put on her forehead, while the nurse got her a drink. Before the nurse even got her cup filled they were bringing in another sheet white faced girl. The nurse started saying how they needed to stop, she had told them to cancel the show because it was too hot. She didn't finish her rant before another one came in throwing up. Of course you could still hear the music playing from the cafeteria. I understand the theory of the show must go on, but how many members of a chorus must collapse before they call off the show? The principal, who is a great woman and is usually in the front of every perfomance, had not been there for this one, but as we were getting our stuff together to head home, she came into the nurses office. I honestly have to hope that she did not know that I was in the room because as she walked in she said, "Who was the first one down?" REALLY - I SWEAR! I was astounded and when I turned around to tell her it was my daughter you could see how embarrassed she was at her statement. I know that she wasn't expecting for a parent to have been in the nurse's office that quick, but the kids were there, it was just not an okay thing to say.
I brought my daughter home and she is sitting in front of three fans snacking on some salt crackers, drinking lots of water and watching the Price is Right. Of course I feel worse for the two other girls who were not dismissed and have to go back to class after what I think can be a really traumatic thing. I just can't get over the nonchalant attitude of "she just fainted." If that was there child I can guarentee that would be the last thing they would have wanted to hear. It is not like she just got a scratch or she just stubbed her toe. SHE FAINTED - on stage - in front of 600+ peers.
Again I apologize for the rant, but I just really needed to share this because it shows the disconnection of common sense and lack of connection to the needs of the kids. Did this one last rehearsal really need to go on at the risk of kids well being and against the advice of the school nurse? IMHO - I DON'T THINK SO!!!
The trials and errors of a home educating family finding our own way and getting saner by the day!
6 comments:
Oh. My. Gods! What in the world were those people thinking? How dangerous and neglectful on their parts! When Teenager was wee little, we went to the zoo on a day that ended up being VERY hot. She ended up with heat stroke and that was SCARY to say the least. I can't imagine having a child faint like that during something that could have easily been avoided by a little rescheduling or moving it to another venue for the safety of all involved.
Hope she is well and recovered. :)
Oh no! You have every right to be upset. The principal wouldn't of like to hear what I would of said.
I hope that your daughter is feeling much better.
So sorry your DD and her friends had to be in that auditorium when is was SO hot. Hope she's doing better today. I would've been extremely upset too. *HUGS*
If every child had a mama there (as they would in a hs setting), I don't think that would have happened! Not that we can keep an eye on each of them all the time, but mamas are definitely more vigilant than overworked teachers who are seriously outnumbered.
Is there no central a/c? It's a curious thing that everyone thinks the Deep South is so hot, but I can't think of a single public building - or a single house, for that matter - without a/c. Now, some go without heat and freeze on a cold winter's night.... :) Same thing, I think!
` Lori
p.s. I'm of FreelyEducate.com and that's where I found you!
Lori -
Up here in the Northeast most buildings all have central A/C as well, however a good majority of the schools either won't turn them on or are just powerful enough to account for the number of children crammed into the rooms.
As I mentioned - there are not too many places you can be that are litterally over capacity and still cool. I am just glad that she doesn't have to be in that environment on a daily basis anymore! Especially after I found out that the day before they had her "grade" out on a walking field trip in 110 degree weather & 90% humidity to the water treatment plant a mile away from the school through the woods and two kids passed out and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance for dehydration! What is WRONG with people?
Oh man- I went to school in Southern CA and we were practicing singing in the cafeteria one day. In a 30 minute time, 5 kids "just fainted" 911 was called, we were all rushed to the hospital and the news showed up to interview us all. I agree it was excessive, but definitely a better reaction than what your poor daughter got. wow.
I hope she feels better. tell her to keep her hair wet. I swear, it works. and stay hydrated.
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