Below is a copy of an email which I sent on Monday to the editor of the Lucknow edition of "Hindustan Times" which is a national newspaper. I think the email is self-explanatory.
QUOTE
Dear Editor,
I wish to draw your attention to the HT City feature on Sunday, the 14th November regarding the full attendance record of Poorva Joshi, a Class 7 Student of St. Joseph's School, who has received the full attendance award for eight consecutive years.
In the feature, Poorva is quoted as saying: "Even when I am unwell, I take medicines and attend school as I don't want my studies to suffer." The child's father, CJ Joshi, a teacher, is quoted as saying "I feel proud that my only daughter has set an example for other students who make excuses for not going to school."
No doubt, Poorva's performance is praiseworthy, but these quotes are a little disturbing for a conscientious student or parent. Is it necessary to remind a teacher and his daughter that sending a sick child to school is a flagrant violation of the policy of many Lucknow schools? A sick child creates problems for staff, both teaching staff and ayahs, particularly if the child is very young. A sick child is also a source of infection for other students. I have children in two prominent Lucknow schools and in both schools, parents are told not to send sick children to school, even for tests.
In the initial days of infection particularly, it is necessary for children to rest and take medicine and there is no difficulty nowadays to telephone their friends to find out about the classes and homework and check in with the teachers about missed work on their return to school. Once the infection is in control and the child is taking medicines regularly, it is no problem to send them to school in that case.
School is no place for a sick child.
Yours,
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QUOTE
Dear Editor,
I wish to draw your attention to the HT City feature on Sunday, the 14th November regarding the full attendance record of Poorva Joshi, a Class 7 Student of St. Joseph's School, who has received the full attendance award for eight consecutive years.
In the feature, Poorva is quoted as saying: "Even when I am unwell, I take medicines and attend school as I don't want my studies to suffer." The child's father, CJ Joshi, a teacher, is quoted as saying "I feel proud that my only daughter has set an example for other students who make excuses for not going to school."
No doubt, Poorva's performance is praiseworthy, but these quotes are a little disturbing for a conscientious student or parent. Is it necessary to remind a teacher and his daughter that sending a sick child to school is a flagrant violation of the policy of many Lucknow schools? A sick child creates problems for staff, both teaching staff and ayahs, particularly if the child is very young. A sick child is also a source of infection for other students. I have children in two prominent Lucknow schools and in both schools, parents are told not to send sick children to school, even for tests.
In the initial days of infection particularly, it is necessary for children to rest and take medicine and there is no difficulty nowadays to telephone their friends to find out about the classes and homework and check in with the teachers about missed work on their return to school. Once the infection is in control and the child is taking medicines regularly, it is no problem to send them to school in that case.
School is no place for a sick child.
Yours,
UNQUOTE
Well, what do you think?