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Got Lice Eggs? Welcome to School!
Filed under: Opinions
Back when our son was in kindergarten a note came home: Someone in his class had lice. We should check behind his ears and alert the school nurse if we found anything.
Since that day, I have had a little bit of what might be called "lice-quest obsession." I worry about lice. A lot. Sometimes, while I'm stroking my kids' sweet heads or the heads of one of their friends, I'm think, "Aw, I love this kid! Anyone alive in there? Hmm? What was that? And what was that?" I realize this can't be healthy.
And now comes news that many schools will allow kids with lice eggs, aka nits, to stay in school. The idea is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses. The point being, since nits themselves aren't contagious, kids with nits should stay in class. "To withhold a child from school due to nits really interrupts the educational process," the National Association of School Nurses Executive Director Amy Garcia told the AP. Apparently, about 60 percent of schools already allow kids with nits to stay in class.
This concept inspires a little anxiety: Aren't nits just "about-to-be-hatched" lice? Apparently, not always ...
It turns out, some nits never hatch into lice. And children with actively crawling lice in their hair are sent home from school, though some new thinking is that schools should let crawling-lice-infested children stay in school for the rest of the day, and just "avoid close head contact with other children."
If you've ever tried to keep your child from sharing hats, hair bows, or jackets, you have some idea of how well that warning must be working out.
This is a tough and divisive issue: Parents of kids who don't have lice definitely want children with nits to go home for a thorough comb-out, while parents of those children who, through no fault of their own, keep getting nits just want their kids to get back to learning their colors and new math. Most of all, no one wants any child to be shamed with a public "Go home! You have lice!"
Meanwhile, the US has anywhere from six to 12 million cases of head lice a year. That's a lot of hair crawlies. In the end all we can do is try to keep lice at bay as best we can, since that's best for everyone.
Part of my personal lice obsession has been driven by the fact that I'd never actually seen live lice and everyone kept talking about how impossible they are to see and how you never know if you have them until you're "really infested." (Gross. Gross. Gross.) I recently found a few videos that show you exactly what those little critters look like crawling along in the hair, and how to treat lice. Since I saw them "live" on video I haven't been as obsessed. Much.
PS: Your school nurse should know the policy at school. Ask if you don't know.
Do you think kids with nits should be allowed to stay in school or sent home?
Sabrina Weill is editor-in-chief of PrincessLovesPink.com
Since that day, I have had a little bit of what might be called "lice-quest obsession." I worry about lice. A lot. Sometimes, while I'm stroking my kids' sweet heads or the heads of one of their friends, I'm think, "Aw, I love this kid! Anyone alive in there? Hmm? What was that? And what was that?" I realize this can't be healthy.
Healthy or Hurtful?
Lice
Once upon a time, that kid in kindergarten with the lice had to stay home until he (or she) was nit-free. Not any more. Some schools are letting nit-infested students back into the classroom. Makes you itchy just thinking about it, doesn't it?
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And now comes news that many schools will allow kids with lice eggs, aka nits, to stay in school. The idea is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses. The point being, since nits themselves aren't contagious, kids with nits should stay in class. "To withhold a child from school due to nits really interrupts the educational process," the National Association of School Nurses Executive Director Amy Garcia told the AP. Apparently, about 60 percent of schools already allow kids with nits to stay in class.
This concept inspires a little anxiety: Aren't nits just "about-to-be-hatched" lice? Apparently, not always ...
It turns out, some nits never hatch into lice. And children with actively crawling lice in their hair are sent home from school, though some new thinking is that schools should let crawling-lice-infested children stay in school for the rest of the day, and just "avoid close head contact with other children."
If you've ever tried to keep your child from sharing hats, hair bows, or jackets, you have some idea of how well that warning must be working out.
This is a tough and divisive issue: Parents of kids who don't have lice definitely want children with nits to go home for a thorough comb-out, while parents of those children who, through no fault of their own, keep getting nits just want their kids to get back to learning their colors and new math. Most of all, no one wants any child to be shamed with a public "Go home! You have lice!"
Meanwhile, the US has anywhere from six to 12 million cases of head lice a year. That's a lot of hair crawlies. In the end all we can do is try to keep lice at bay as best we can, since that's best for everyone.
Part of my personal lice obsession has been driven by the fact that I'd never actually seen live lice and everyone kept talking about how impossible they are to see and how you never know if you have them until you're "really infested." (Gross. Gross. Gross.) I recently found a few videos that show you exactly what those little critters look like crawling along in the hair, and how to treat lice. Since I saw them "live" on video I haven't been as obsessed. Much.
PS: Your school nurse should know the policy at school. Ask if you don't know.
Do you think kids with nits should be allowed to stay in school or sent home?
Sabrina Weill is editor-in-chief of PrincessLovesPink.com
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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 3)
2-22-2009 @ 5:07PM
Amy Sue said...Okay, my kids have had head lice before and yes all the kids know that it is head lice check day and if you are sent home then they know you are infected. I think that the children should remain in school and the school should do everything in their power to contact the parent of the child so that they can prepair for the situation. If the parents cannot be contacted then note should go home with the child. And if the parent can prove that they have purchased the treatment (with a reciept or a doctors note) then they should allow them back the next day. When a child is treated for lice the eggs don't fall off the hair they have to be picked or combed off. The child should be able to return to school with a recheck a week later.
Reply
5-11-2010 @ 11:52AM
DK said...I understand this is an older article, but I just would like to say. I work in a Head Start program. We presently have a No Nit policy. However, part of our program's responsibilities is also to educate the parents on how to properly remove head lice. I have found over and over and over that many parents do not remove all of the nits or have not went through a child's hair thoroughly. It takes not one day but many days for lice to be removed. i understand that isn't what people want to do. But random head checks or random wet combing is what it takes. I have seen and watched a parent's frustration as well having my own daughters come home with the little buggers. But now the shoe is on the other foot, I understand both sides. i myself agree with the no live lice policy more then the no nit policy. This is nothing new and it will always be a factor. But it can be worked out.
Reply
5-17-2010 @ 7:33PM
lisa said...strange how i see many commenting "florida and lice" as we just got back; my 6 yr ols schools called today; she has lice. this elementary does have a "NO TICK" policy; i did notice her scratching alot on the way home; and by a friends suggestion; i got "nix"; thinking i was in for 2 hours of hell; as her hair is darkish blonde and to her waist; i saw 3- literally- 3. i keep checking; dont see anything; {knock on wood} and shes not scrathing anymore; so if this is it; it was worth the 17 bucks for nix. good luck everyone!
Reply