Between waiting lists, enrolment forms and endless meetings, it can seem like a never-ending cycle.
However, if waiting lists are the worst we’ve faced during this time, we should count ourselves very lucky and spare a thought for one outraged mother in the States.
Sharing her experience with readers of The New York Times, Cara Paiuk made her feelings clear and expressed, in no uncertain terms, her displeasure at being asked whether her child was born via vaginal birth or Caesarean section on the kindergarten’s health history form.
Determined to learn why exactly her five-year-old son’s kindergarten felt the question worthy of inclusion, she contacted a number on the form and sought advice from the head nurse.
Recalling the experience, she wrote: “I asked how birthing methods would be relevant, and she responded that a cord wrapped around the neck depriving a child of oxygen or fetal distress could lead to developmental problems. That seemed both far-fetched and inadequate to me.”
Expressing her disbelief at school’s justification, she enquired further and asked why other medical explanations for possible developmental issues, such as food habits, aren’t explored on the form.
With deadpan humour, she shared the nurse’s response with the newspaper’s readers, writing: “We don’t like to ask questions about food,” she said. “Parents are very sensitive to that.” But questions about our vaginas are A-OK!”
According to a medical adviser to the district, the question is of one of the most common questions to be asked – something which did not sit well with Cara who felt a variety of other questions should take priority above the circumstances surrounding a pupil’s birth.
Acknowledging that certain arenas call for that particular question, she wrote: “If a paediatrician asks this question in private practice, it affects only that doctor’s patients, and all responses are protected by the privacy rules .”
However, she draws the line at an intimate question being posed on a form regarding her child’s education, explaining: “But when it is asked on a school form, the information is protected only by the exception-riddled Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act law, and how it is used is entirely up to the individual reading it.”
Wholly dissatisfied by the responses offered by a variety of individuals regarding the question, Cara decided to boycott the kindergarten’s health history form and accepts she may come in for criticism, writing: “So far, no repercussions (although I suppose it’s possible there is now a different note about my son’s mother in his file).”
What are your thoughts?
