Situation Analysis: Rash

Situation Analysis

Situation:“A 6^th grader has a crusty rash on her face and you suspect it may be contagious.”

Proposed Action:
Immediately send the student to the school office so administration can send the child home.

Education Code:
Code number 49451 from Article 4, Physical Examinations; in Chapter 9, Physical Health:
“ …whenever there is good reason to believe the child is suffering from a recognized contagious or infectious disease, he shall be sent home and shall not be permitted to return until the school authorities are satisfied that any contagious or infectious disease does not exist.”

Reasoning:This code applies to both elementary and secondary education levels. It states that parents can have the option of stating that their child cannot be subject to physical examinations. However, this overridden if there is good reason to believe the child has something that is contagious or infectious. Observing a crusty rash on a child is a symptom of the recognized contagious disease known as pink eye, and a teacher would be obliged to report it to the school office. Another example of good reason to believe there is an infectious or contagious disease would be if a student said so, perhaps telling the teacher they have a fever or diarrhea, or if the teacher observes the presence of symptoms of chicken pox.
The teacher cannot send the student home because the parent has made an agreement with administration, not the teacher. However, the teacher can send the student to the school office to be evaluated by administration and sent home until they are sure the student is no longer ill. I think satisfaction on behalf of the school authorities would most likely be met by a doctor’s note.

Reference:

Education Code EDC.  Title 2, Division 4, Part 27. Physical Examinations. 49451. Chapter 9: Physical Health. Article 4. Retrieved from: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&sectionNum=49451.&article=4.&highlight=true&keyword=contagious+home