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Post by houstonsandy on May 6, 2021 20:32:44 GMT
There always has to be that one parent that thinks the rules don't apply to them.
For students in certain grades there are state health department requirements that the school must collect documentation of.
We have to make annual reports to the state on hearing and vision screening and for scoliosis screening in June every year.
I know a lot of the large school districts do have these screenings performed en masse on campus by the school nurse or whatever.
That is probably the only way they can get compliance from the majority.
My school, however, is very small. It is also a private school. We have neither the staff nor equipment to do the screenings.
We are still required to gather the documentation that screenings have been done for those grades that require it by the state.
I send out letters and emails all throughout the school year so that parents will remember to make sure it is done at the child's annual appointment or if they go in for something else.
I send out the reminders every other month the first semester and then monthly the second semester since we need the documentation by the end of May.
I also send out reminders at the beginning of summer for the students whose grades will require it during the next school year.
Still there are those who keep putting it off and forgetting.
So now it is May and the more strongly worded reminders go out.
And there is always that one parent who wants to complain strongly about how now their child has to miss a day of school and they have to pay $80 for an office visit just to get the hearing screening done and it is stupid to have to do so.
Sigh.....
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Deleted
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Jun 24, 2024 12:54:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2021 20:40:28 GMT
Huh, I am surprised it is even required this year. It isn't in my district. Even yearly vaccines weren't required due to the pandemic.
I would be pissed if I had to pay $80 too for this exam.
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Post by ~Tracy~ on May 6, 2021 20:52:27 GMT
How many students are at your school?
Why not invited audiology students to conduct the hearing screening?
The vision screenings don’t take expensive equipment and don’t take long to do. In the time it takes to track and send out letters, the screenings could be done. One grade level per month.
Invite nursing students in to do the scoliosis screenings each year.
It would save so much hassle, tracking and annoyances for everyone.
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Post by myshelly on May 6, 2021 21:04:21 GMT
I would be beyond pissed as a parent.
Our insurance sucks. Office visits are insanely expensive. We don’t have vision coverage.
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Post by houstonsandy on May 6, 2021 21:05:14 GMT
I double checked...and it is still required this year. The official stance is that parents could "decline" to participate in a schoolwide sceening event, but we don't do that. This is something that is done routinely at scheduled annual office visits. All they have to do is send in the office visit summary that shows it was done and that they passed. Or there is a form online that they can have their dr sign. A glasses prescription will work for those who wear glasses. Its not that big a deal for the majority of the parents to send in the info. Its the ones that never bother to read emails or school correspondence and then get upset when they have to deal with it as the deadline approaches. I mean, they only had 11 months to get it done after all. The $80 was just what this particular parents insurance copay is. They could probably have it done cheaper at a different type of walk in clinic or something if they checked around. Heck, a sports physical is only $50 or less at the urgent care place I go to.
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Deleted
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Jun 24, 2024 12:54:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2021 21:05:56 GMT
I would be beyond pissed as a parent. Our insurance sucks. Office visits are insanely expensive. We don’t have vision coverage. This one is the basic one even pediatrics does. So far away, cover 1 eye, read the letters. Eta: but you have to pay co-pay and that can be costly. |
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Post by myboysnme on May 6, 2021 21:16:16 GMT
Let me just say, my kids only went to public school, and frankly, if my child can hear I do not see why I have to go to a doctor to prove it. Hearing impairments often require some kind of services to address the loss or impairment. So basically, I don't see why the school is requiring this. Seems stupid to me.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on May 6, 2021 21:22:49 GMT
Let me just say, my kids only went to public school, and frankly, if my child can hear I do not see why I have to go to a doctor to prove it. Hearing impairments often require some kind of services to address the loss or impairment. So basically, I don't see why the school is requiring this. Seems stupid to me. Screenings are done to hopefully catch any concerns early. Vision and hearing can change and can have a huge impact on a child’s success in school. If your child has any kind of wellness check or physical these should be done so a special appointment is not needed. |
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Post by houstonsandy on May 6, 2021 21:26:20 GMT
The screening is not a school requirement. It is a State of Texas Health Dept requirement that the screenings be done. The school is required to get the documentation and to report it annually.
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Post by workingclassdog on May 6, 2021 21:26:31 GMT
Let me just say, my kids only went to public school, and frankly, if my child can hear I do not see why I have to go to a doctor to prove it. Hearing impairments often require some kind of services to address the loss or impairment. So basically, I don't see why the school is requiring this. Seems stupid to me. Screenings are done to hopefully catch any concerns early. Vision and hearing can change and can have a huge impact on a child’s success in school. If your child has any kind of wellness check or physical these should be done so a special appointment is not needed. If it wasn't due to screenings at the school, I wonder how many kids are missed. That's how my vision was checked.. Thank goodness.. Couldn't see a leaf on the tree but how was I to know that I really couldn't see them? |
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Post by houstonsandy on May 6, 2021 21:32:42 GMT
And yes, these screenings should be done at annual routine well checks. All they really have to do is send in the documentation. The parents who send their kids here are mostly well paid white collar professionals. The one making a stink today is a lawyer. One of the others I had to remind is a doctor herself! She could do the screenings on her child herself at any time.... for free.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,511 
Location: So Cal
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Post by caangel on May 6, 2021 21:36:16 GMT
Let me just say, my kids only went to public school, and frankly, if my child can hear I do not see why I have to go to a doctor to prove it. Hearing impairments often require some kind of services to address the loss or impairment. So basically, I don't see why the school is requiring this. Seems stupid to me. I'd be surprised if most states don't have this requirement. I know CA does this but just for certain grades. Caught my son's poor vision in 1st grade. We had no idea. It is just a screening not a full exam. We were notified that he should have a full exam as they identified some discrepancies. I can remember being checked for scoliosis in middle school. |
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bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,555
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Post by bethany102399 on May 6, 2021 21:44:36 GMT
Our state requires a certain vaccination before 8th grade. The may DD was in 7th grade was the year my mother was dying and DD was having suicidal thoughts. I was barely hanging on by a thread.
I remember having to get the shot records from the docs office and delivering them to the school (a huge deal given what else was going on a the time). I remember contacting the school nurse going I sent it in! I sent it in!
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Post by revirdsuba99 on May 6, 2021 21:45:04 GMT
I would be pissed if I had to pay $80 too for this exam. If it was done at a routine/yearly appointment it not be added cost. It is mentioned in the OP that it is a small private school, cost should not be an issue. |
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Post by smalltowngirlie on May 6, 2021 21:47:11 GMT
After a hearing screening I was asked to meet at come into the nurses office for a rescreen. When I walked in my son started whispering to me. The nurse said then she did not think his hearing was an issue, since most children with hearing loss do not whisper, but did the screening anyway. Found out he was just ignoring his teachers. He was often bored in school and could easily tune out the noise around him to the point they thought he could not hear.
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Post by nlwilkins on May 6, 2021 22:01:59 GMT
Yes, it is minimal, but there were years my daughter did not see a doctor. We were just lucky they were that healthy.
Though, we did take them to TSO for vision tests when as we knew they would eventually need glasses (runs in the family.) But I don't remember anything about hearing tests or checks for scoliosis.
When I was teaching, the school nurse checked the students for scoliosis, or maybe they were checked in their PE classes, not sure. I don't believe they got vision or hearing tests done at school though.
Many students where we lived then, did not see doctors or other health care professionals at all. The money was not there.
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Post by littlemama on May 6, 2021 22:33:26 GMT
Our health department sends people to do the screenings.
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Deleted
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Jun 24, 2024 12:54:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2021 22:53:30 GMT
I would be pissed if I had to pay $80 too for this exam. If it was done at a routine/yearly appointment it not be added cost. It is mentioned in the OP that it is a small private school, cost should not be an issue. Many kids at small, private schools are on programs to reduce cost or not pay at all. That was our situation. Our dds tuition, books, etc was covered. Just because a kid is at a private school doesn't mean the parents are wealthy. |
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Post by Merge on May 6, 2021 23:07:54 GMT
I feel certain that any family who can’t afford these basic screenings can have them done for free through the county health department.
Parents who choose private school and then bitch that they “don’t have time” for such things are just assholes.
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Post by Legacy Girl on May 6, 2021 23:43:18 GMT
I feel certain that any family who can’t afford these basic screenings can have them done for free through the county health department. Parents who choose private school and then bitch that they “don’t have time” for such things are just assholes. I don't understand the correlation between private schools and a lack of time for the parents. Truly not trying to be difficult -- just perplexed. |
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Post by houstonsandy on May 7, 2021 0:07:28 GMT
If it was done at a routine/yearly appointment it not be added cost. It is mentioned in the OP that it is a small private school, cost should not be an issue. Many kids at small, private schools are on programs to reduce cost or not pay at all. That was our situation. Our dds tuition, books, etc was covered. Just because a kid is at a private school doesn't mean the parents are wealthy. Nah...we aren't one of those schools. Kinder is about $11,000 and it goes up to over $15,000 per year for high school. Preschool is more competitive at $3800 for 3 days to $8500 for5 days. The school gives out some financial aid and sibling discounts but nothing more than 10%.
We have an enrollment of around 160 from preschool thru 12th grade. We have 12 seniors graduating this year.
We have a lot of parents who are doctors, lawyers, engineers, business owners...and a lot of our families are from other countries....very diverse.
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Post by Merge on May 7, 2021 0:20:52 GMT
I feel certain that any family who can’t afford these basic screenings can have them done for free through the county health department. Parents who choose private school and then bitch that they “don’t have time” for such things are just assholes. I don't understand the correlation between private schools and a lack of time for the parents. Truly not trying to be difficult -- just perplexed. No correlation ~ just that they made a choice to be at that school rather than the public school where screenings are done at school. If time was of the essence, they could have made a different choice rather than browbeating administrative workers over their “lack of time.” |
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Post by sean&marysmommy on May 7, 2021 0:32:50 GMT
Our pediatrician does both hearing and very basic vision checks at annual well checkups. (They refer you to an eye doctor if they think vision correction is needed.) Is that not typical, I wonder?
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Post by busy on May 7, 2021 0:44:06 GMT
I would be pissed if I had to pay $80 too for this exam. If it was done at a routine/yearly appointment it not be added cost. It is mentioned in the OP that it is a small private school, cost should not be an issue. You don’t know that. Maybe they have a scholarship. Maybe a relative pays tuition. A lot of people lost jobs during the pandemic, which usually means losing health insurance, unless you can afford COBRA, which many people can’t. Thank god I’m the primary breadwinner and benefits carrier in our family, because my husband just started back to work normally this Tuesday. He was out of work since last February, due to covid. We are very lucky we were fine, but many families had similar situations and less ability to weather them. That may or may not be the case here but we don’t know. Extending grace instead of assuming the worst is rarely a bad idea. |
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Post by houstonsandy on May 7, 2021 0:44:28 GMT
The funny thing is.....this mom who is getting all snarky...first she says "I will see what I can do about it"...and spews all this lawyery talk about what she interprets the health department "rules" actually say. I did not reply. Then she sent another email to let me know that "the kids will be missing school on the 14th to get this taken care of".  which is funny because....the 14th is parent/teacher conference day...so the kids don't have school that day! lol....but since she doesn't read any of the school emails or weekly bulletins or social media blurbs I guess she doesn't realize that. Guess she isn't scheduling a teacher conference either. |
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Post by mom on May 7, 2021 0:53:31 GMT
If it was done at a routine/yearly appointment it not be added cost. It is mentioned in the OP that it is a small private school, cost should not be an issue. You don’t know that. Maybe they have a scholarship. Maybe a relative pays tuition. A lot of people lost jobs during the pandemic, which usually means losing health insurance, unless you can afford COBRA, which many people can’t. Thank god I’m the primary breadwinner and benefits carrier in our family, because my husband just started back to work normally this Tuesday. He was out of work since last February, due to covid. We are very lucky we were fine, but many families had similar situations and less ability to weather them. That may or may not be the case here but we don’t know. Extending grace instead of assuming the worst is rarely a bad idea. This should be repeated. Seriously. Everyday someone comes here and vents about the steaming pile of dog shit that this past year has been. For jobs. Mental health. Relationships. Complications because 'xyz' can't be looked at by a Dr because of no appointments and everyone can sympathize with them. But when someone comes and posts about not having an eye/hearing test done and its said that their kid goes to private school and the parents have a good job so they should be on top of everything. Who knows if everything else in their life isn't a shit storm? I don't think anyone here has enough info to be judging another parent. |
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Post by freecharlie on May 7, 2021 0:58:45 GMT
Let me just say, my kids only went to public school, and frankly, if my child can hear I do not see why I have to go to a doctor to prove it. Hearing impairments often require some kind of services to address the loss or impairment. So basically, I don't see why the school is requiring this. Seems stupid to me. public schools do the screenings at reguar intervals too. All 9th graders here are screened. You'd be amazed at how many kids don't realize or don't tell parents they have hearing/vision issues and have just learned to compensate |
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Post by myshelly on May 7, 2021 1:00:00 GMT
The screening is not a school requirement. It is a State of Texas Health Dept requirement that the screenings be done. The school is required to get the documentation and to report it annually. I’m kind of surprised private schools have this requirement in Texas. The state is usually pretty hands off about private schools. |
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,538
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Post by ellen on May 7, 2021 1:39:06 GMT
Let me just say, my kids only went to public school, and frankly, if my child can hear I do not see why I have to go to a doctor to prove it. Hearing impairments often require some kind of services to address the loss or impairment. So basically, I don't see why the school is requiring this. Seems stupid to me. Screenings are done to hopefully catch any concerns early. Vision and hearing can change and can have a huge impact on a child’s success in school. If your child has any kind of wellness check or physical these should be done so a special appointment is not needed. We found out that our daughter needed glasses in fifth grade from the annual screening at school. She never said that she had trouble reading the board or anything else, so we probably wouldn't have her in for an eye exam otherwise. It was good information to have. We immediately scheduled her for an appointment with an optometrist. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on May 7, 2021 1:40:11 GMT
You'd be amazed at how many kids don't realize or don't tell parents they have hearing/vision issues and have just learned to compensate Unfortunately the kids may not know what they are supposed to hear or see, because they have lived with what they have all their lives or it has progressed slowly. I remember my grandmother telling about taking my uncle to the eye doctor when he was about 5 yrs old(around 1915). He got glasses. On the way home on the trolley, as he looked around he asked if everyone could see like this... He didn't know, even though he walked into walls etc, but they all thought he was clumsy. He also had a brother less then 18 month younger too. |
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which is funny because....the 14th is parent/teacher conference day...so the kids don't have school that day! lol....but since she doesn't read any of the school emails or weekly bulletins or social media blurbs I guess she doesn't realize that. Guess she isn't scheduling a teacher conference either.
