give feedback on this. When there's a case of head lice, a note goes home
in the backpack of each kid in that homeroom, simply saying that there has
been a case of head lice in the class and listing what to look for and how
to deal with it. The child isn't named, so perhaps that's enough to
protect privacy.
The parents just sigh and start inspecting heads. There doesn't seem to
be any stigma attached. The kids don't (at least mine don't) come home
talking about somebody having lice, and I haven't encountered any teasing
about it at school. I think we're pretty good at treating the occasional
bout of lice as part of lower school life -- perhaps that's an attitude
that has been consciously crafted by our administration; I don't know.
Our LS teachers are also great at modeling not freaking out about the
occasional mouse in the classroom. One 1st grade class had two science
projects eaten up by mice: drying different kinds of grapes to see which
made the best raisins, and raising silkworms. The mice got 'em both.
Oops. But I digress...
Hope this helps,
- marty
--
Marty Billingsley
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
Sue Groesbeck writes:
> I have a "friend" who runs a school and "he" wants to know what you do
> about lice in your school. (I don't want to admit we might have lice
> ever!)
>
> One of the concerns is that a family generally tries to hide the fact
> that they have lice. The school nurse is wonderful and is diligent and
> steadfast. However, when she occasionally finds a lice case, she
> doesn't advertise it around - under the HIPPA constraints. Might there
> be a way to stop the spread if we had a way to let parents know whom to
> avoid? I know that sounds harsh. =20
>
> What have you done, policy-wise or with a simple communication tool, to
> let parents know when there might be a case or an outbreak - without
> breaking confidentiality concerns?=20
>
> Thank you,=20
> Sue Groesbeck
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