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Pandemic precautions or panic to blame for vacant school desks? |
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Earlier this week, a high rate of school absenteeism had Townshippers talking in parking lots and on social networking website Facebook. While the rates are elevated, not many of the absences appear to be due to the feared influenza A (H1N1) virus, but a host of other illnesses as well as precautionary moves. 
COURTESY: FREEFOTO.COM Panic or precaution: what’s to blame for all these empty seats.
Rumours were circulating locally that 400 students were absent from Alexander Galt Regional High School.
ETSB (Eastern Townships School Board) spokesperson Sharon Priest agreed that the school board was seeing a higher rate of absenteeism compared to last year but did not have comparative numbers available to give The Record. She did however state that Galt absences were much lower then the rumoured 400 by Thursday.
“They are down under 300,” stated Priest, who added that five Galt teachers were also absent. “Earlier this week lots of people were calling in for a variety of reasons from colds to headaches but they were making a point to say their child did not have H1N1.”
The school board commends parents who have been erring on the side of caution.
“We’re having parents calling in about a bad cold that seems to be going around and they are making a point to say its not H1N1 but they are keeping their children home anyway,” Priest told The Record. “Parents have been wonderful with keeping us informed and keeping their children home as a precautionary measure to prevent others from getting ill. We really thank them and appreciate them taking action.”
Officially, Galt has reported one case of H1N1 in recent days, in an October 27 letter posted on the school’s website from principal Serge Béliveau, The letter points out the school has had to rely on Info-Santé for information because individuals are no longer being tested for the virus unless they fall within a high-risk category.
Daily, the ETSB continues to report the absenteeism rate when the numbers exceed ten per cent of the school’s population, no matter what the cause, to the Ministry of Education and the services sociaux who decide whether schools remain open or close, Priest says.
With a great number of students absent, many parents have shifted their concern to their child’s academic performance. Galt’s phone line and website point out that in the case of high absenteeism, lessons will be posted on the school’s website by concerned teachers. “If there is a high number of students in one class - and it’s a school based decision and a class decision - information will be provided by the teacher for the students to catch up with their work,” said Preist. “We knew this was coming and have taken that into consideration. Each school is experiencing absenteeism rates differently and each teacher will know based on the class work what is needed for their students.”
While precautionary measures are still in place, some schools, such as SES (Sherbrooke Elementary School), have stepped things up a notch by shutting off water fountains.
“That was a local school-based decision to shut off the water supply to the water fountains,” said Priest. “The school felt it was prudent to shut those off because younger ones especially may put their mouths on the fountains spreading germs, so they have asked parents to supply water bottles, which can be filled up at the taps…for the children to use instead.”
Priest, who had spoken with SES principal Peggy McCourt Thursday morning, stated that the school has received positive comments from parents supporting the move to reusable bottles to reduce the spread of germs. By Corrinna Pole 2009-11-06 |
Montreal Canadiens
