But I Smile Anyway…

Ritu’s reflection on teaching and the start of the new school year with the viral proliferation of ‘snuffles’ and germ-ridden children in the classroom was interesting to read.

Of course, a teacher writing on her public blog can’t stand up for children and parents in writing about this issue, or speak against policy impacting children’s health and rights.

As a parent of school-age children, now thankfully over a few years since, it was a constant problem that sick children are expected to attend school regardless. Nowadays, parents can be fined or even face imprisonment for their child having excess absence beyond a very small pre-determined amount. The enjoyment of parenting was completely destroyed at times for the nonsense that was sometimes delivered in the name of ‘education’. I couldn’t wait for my kids to grow up to escape the hell of school at some points. 

The medical condition I…