GA student sent home for wearing surgical mask to school (to avoid swine flu)

[ecstatic]

COVINGTON, Ga. -- A seventh-grader sent home from school Thursday for refusing to remove a surgical mask, headed back to school Friday still wearing the mask as protection against swine flu.

WSB-TV Channel 2 reporter Anissa Centers was there as the masked 13-year-old climbed aboard a school bus early Friday morning for the ride to his middle school.

Newton County school system spokeswoman Sherri Viniard said the 13-year-old created a disturbance when he arrived with the mask on Thursday and rumors began to spread that he had the virus.

She said people started to panic and get scared.



There was no word from school officials on what action they would take Friday morning.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/19340593/detail.html

[kestrel91316]

1. If he was sick, he should have stayed home. If he wasn't, the mask was

foolish overreaction.

Have his parents never heard of flu before?

[konnichi wa]

2. How dare the little shit disrespect hard-working germs??

crucify him.

[MindPilot]

3. That little terrorist needs water boarding RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!1111!

He made people be scared. SCARED I TELL YOU11! S C A R E D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Donnachaidh]

4. Time to slap the parents.

Geez, if they are so worried keep him home. :eyes:

[polichick]

5. Poor kid. It's horrifying enough when your mom makes you wear uncool clothes.

[ecstatic]

9. LOL! nt

[L0oniX]

19. I would at least have drawn a smile and nostrils on the mask.

[polichick]

21. Too funny! My kids thought I was a terrible mom when I didn't let them...

...go to school with their butts hangin' out of their pants.

[MercutioATC]

6. Actually, the only problem I see is with the school district.

The mask was probably an overreaction, but who cares? We should deny somebody the right to wear a mask that they think is necessary because others are too stupid to not panic?

[realisticphish]

7. well

i agree to a point, but in most school dress codes is something about disruption of class. If him wearing the mask disrupts class, and there is no real medical reason for him to wear it...

[MercutioATC]

13. That's an overused and overly-broad rule.

It's not like this is a profanity issue. He was wearing a mask...the same mask that the CDC recommends to limit exposure to the H1N1 virus.

I think wearing masks at this point is a little extreme, but I don't believe it's patently disruptive.

[realisticphish]

14. but in this case, it was

there were rumors that he had the disease, etc

I wasn't there, I don't know, but I can see a situation where there could be a panic, especially in a middle school

[MercutioATC]

20. And if he wore a pink shirt, the rumor could have been that he was gay,,,

Anything has the potential to be disruptive if the school doesn't take any responsibility.

I'd think the school would be more concerned with the potential liability issues. If this kid gets sick, they're in for one hell of a lawsuit.

[rucky]

8. Don't worry kids, he's not infected. He's just wanted by the police.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. I heard he robbed the Danville Train. nt

[mzteris]

10. maybe he's' immuno compromised

or otherwise at "high risk" - and is just taking precautions.

The school f'd up, I think.

[11 Bravo]

12. We had an emergency staff meeting after the kids left today.

I have taught in Fairfax County, VA for over 30 years. Our principal asked us this afternoon what we thought we should do if a parent asks if their child can wear a mask to school. The answer was, "Of course they can." The people screeching about "panic" and "over-reaction" have no idea what they are talking about. It is not a matter of if, according to the county, it's a matter of when the flu gets here. Can you imagine the repercussions if a parent asked for permission for their child to wear a mask, permission was denied, and the child became ill?
Of course, I'm currently teaching second grade, and as I pointed out in the staff meeting, if a child wears a mask to school, I can guarantee that a classmate will say, "Hey, cool mask. Can I try it on?"
And so it goes.

[cloudbase]

15. Everybody's doin' it.

[angstlessk]

16. that is the WRONG mask to keep from getting the flu..that is the one to keep from

spreading it...the hard respiratory masks are the ones that keep germs out..but probably not h1n1 (formerly known as swine flu)

[bluestateguy]

17. Sounds like somebody has a little hypochondria issue

[Yo_Mama]

22. Think before you write

Yes, his parents might be excessively nervous. Or this kid could have other health issues - asthma, recent infection, some other lung damage/disease, for example, and they may have been advised to take precautions. In which case he should have an N95 mask, and boy do I feel sorry for that kid walking around school with a mask on. On the other hand, school is almost out in most GA districts, so a few days of woe in exchange for not being sick in the summer might be worth it.

Unlike the regular seasonal flu, there is no vaccine currently for this, and there are going to be some people who might be susceptible who are going to have to be more careful than the rest of us. Jeering at them will not help anything.

[L0oniX]

18. I bet it was repukes who kicked him out. Did they also cut out the meals with pork?

St00pid asscarrots ...and they are teachers? pffft

[bigwillq]

23. What is wrong with him wearing a mask?

A lot of people are doing it. It's their choice.

The poor kid.

[Geek_Girl]

24. I think if the parents and child want him to wear a mask he should be able to

What kind of disturbance are we talking about a few kids whispering in the hall and pointing or 100's of children running around the school in panic mode.

[RebelOne]

25. If we have any more cases in Georgia,

he probably won't be the only child wearing a mask to school.