We received this as a comment to an older post. We are posting it here as a stand alone. We will reserve opinion for a while. What do you think?
PARENTS TAKE NOTICE:
IF YOUR CHILDREN ARE INJURED IN SCHOOL, DURING SCHOOL HOURS YOU COULD GO BROKE!! WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY. NO LIABILTY INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS, NOT TOO HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY ($$). DON'T YOU THINK PARENTS SHOULD KNOW THIS LITTLE DETAIL? WE WERE TOLD, ACCORDING TO OUR INCAPABLE SUPERINTENDENT. SOME SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE BROCHURE GIVEN TO A KINDERGARTEN KID WHO CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER TO BRING THIER LUNCH BOX HOME! OUR ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THAT MATTER DON'T CARE EITHER THAT THE PARENTS AREN'T INFORMED! NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN ANY OF THE SCHOOL HANDBOOKS. SO HOPE THAT YOUR LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE YOUR KID BRING ONE HOME, AND THAT THEY DIDN'T USE IT TO MAKE A PAPER AIRPLANE ON THE BUS. OH, AND SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, 100 KIDS AT A TIME USE THE NEW CLOUGH FRONT PLAYGROUND, ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND WE HAVE NO SAFETY GUIDELINES, JUST ASK MR. ROZEN. NO SAFETY GUIDELINES EXIST, ASK MR. ROZEN FOR A COPY! BY THE WAY A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ALREADY HAPPENED. DO YOU SEE PLAYGROUND RULES POSTED AT CLOUGH, NOPE. HOW MUCH DID THAT SCHOOL COST AND WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD A SIGN?? BUT GO AHEAD AND PAY AN INEXPERIENCED NEW SUPERINTENDENT $160,000.00 A YEAR. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW THE CHILD IS THAT WAS LIFEFLIGHTED FROM MISCOE A FEW WEEKS AGO. GOD WILLING, HE WILL BE OKAY. I HOPE HIS PARENTS HAVE ALOT OF MONEY BECAUSE WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A CHILD WHO IS INJURED AT SCHOOL, TAKES A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE BILLS PILE IN, THEY TO WILL LOOK TO THE ADMINSTRATION AND THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR ANSWERS AND GUESS WHAT, THERE WON'T BE ANY, THEY COULD CARE LESS, NOT EVEN CONCERNED. THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS AT HEART!! PROTOCOL NOT FOLLOWED, WHAT'S THAT!. WE ARE NO WELLESLEY, IF WE WERE WE WOULD HAVE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE IN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.(BY THE WAY, HAVE YOU SEEN WELLESLEY'S NEW LIBRARY, BEAUTIFUL, NICE USE OF OUR LIBRARY FUNDS!)
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26 comments:
This issue ties directly to the fact that insurance companies only want to collect money. It should be addressed at the state level. (I am assuming my family insurance would not cover my children because it happened on school property.)The parent's insurance should be required to cover accidents on all school grounds except when negligence is proven.
As far as signs and disclaimers, that won't do much good for nursery and kindergarten children.
Also we are not Wellesley and throwing more money at things doesn't always make it better.(Grab a book at the library and read it in your house.Quit crying about the Wellesley library, which was being built before they had "our" funding)
I know why this story was started and although I sympathize for the injured girl the school was not at fault. This was a simple accident that happens thousands of time across the country every day. Maybe we should lock the kids up instead of letting them play? When this accident happened there were only 20 kids in the playground not 100. Time to stop pointing fingers at someone else for an accident.
I certainly anticipated a lot more responses to this post. I can't imagine a children's playground where they aren't running and playing. Isn't that what they're supposed to do? Perhaps this mother should accompany her child to school and watch over her every movement to protect her from any possible harm. Or the alternative may be for her to use her family health insurance and seek help for her neuroses.
Good comments so far. This post has been viewed over 600 times since we posted it but only 3 people have chosen to reply. This raving(ALL CAPS)person should hear from more of you. We will be posting our opinion soon.
At this point we are wondering why anybody would want to go into the field of education. Children are one thing but raving parents with lawyers are quite another.
It seems as though the point of this blog is being lost.
Parents should realize that their child/children are not covered under any school liability insurance if they are injured in any way at school or on school grounds unless the school dept. can be found to be at fault for the accident. Mass. laws make them exempt. Just think of the parent who lost their job and with it their health insurance. What do they do now when the bills start coming in? Think about this!!!
As far as litigation in this matter, that was brought up by Mr. Daigle.
I can't believe these comments! Odviously these people making such comments do not have little ones at Clough. Have you ever seen that playground at recess? Chaos! The fact that this child was hurt with only 20 children on the playground just shows that the situation should be looked at. This child was odviously seriously hurt to have to be taken to taken to the hospital, according to the newpaper articles. I can't imagine what that family is going through. They have my thoughts and prayers. As for the rest of these comments so far, people who makes comments like these are why the Town of Mendon will never change. I have to also wonder if 600 people read the blog why have only a handful responded, I can imagine they are parents with children in the school system who are in shock!
Just a point of clarification. The 600 page views represents approximately 150 unique visitors.
Many people check in every day to see what is new.
HG
An outsiders opinion:
Shame on Mendon, I do not
live in Mendon, but have read the articles in the numerous papers. These parents are not the "bad guys" in this situation. They did not choose to have their child suffer an injury at school. They do however, raise some very good points of concern. Referrng to them as "raving" and "neurotic" is way out of line!
Remember, this blog is accessible to everyone. These comments are a disgrace to the Town of Mendon!
I do have a little one at Clough.
Accidents happen.
What is the solution? Would you prefer another override so we can afford to cover all children in the school? Maybe we can cutout recess or any other activity that may result in a hurt child.
I feel for the parents. I also don't think the point is lost on the blog. I am well aware of the problem.The parents insurance should be required to cover the children.
An accident disclaimer should be in the handbooks.
Dear outsider,
Stay an outsider. Having an opinion is not a disgrace. Instead of taking shots why don't you offer a solution? I don't believe anyone is making them out to be bad guys and we can all identify.
Apparently in Wellesley your younger elementary kids would be covered and be able to read,comprehend, and follow posted signs and handbooks.
Bingo, Bookworm!
An accident disclaimer should be in the handbook! Check your childs Clough handbook, since you do have a little one at Clough, it is not in it. Maybe that is why only 26 out of 2,700 families take the supplemental. Parents are not informed.
And by the way, we are facing and override in May, attend a PTO meeting.
Does anyone know what local school systems do carry liability insurance for children?
How much does it cost?
Has anyone read the behavior guidelines in the handbook? I have and believe that would cover any "horseplay" that could cause an accident.(ex: do not push,kick,etc...) Would more specific playground guidelines or posted signs deter anything?
We check our child's folder every day for notices.We have told her to not open it or remove from her backpack.That said, we still may not get every notice.
I don't think anyone wants to see kids getting hurt, and while I understand the anger,attacking everyone isn't going to help.
To the outsider,
This is a Mendon and an Upton issue. Where are you from, Pleasantville? I am sure the sun always shines in your town and everyone always agrees.
Shame on you.
Wellesley Rules!
Oh come on, a school playground where kids are wild, boy that’s different. Go by any school playground and you will see the same thing. Kids running, jumping, playing, that’s what kids do. Maybe the schools should get rid of recess, and then see how parents react.
This post tells me the poster doesn’t understand how insurance companies work, and raises several questions not answered.
1. Although it’s true a family could be in a position where they don’t have their own health insurance, but then you would think that family would be looking for the supplemental insurance stuff sent home with the kids. Kids aren’t responsible enough to bring the stuff home, but they are responsible enough to read and follow rules on a sign? They’re kindergartners; they haven’t learned to read yet.
2. If we assume this family has their own health insurance shouldn’t their medical bills be covered? After reading this post I called my health insurance company, Harvard/Pilgrim. They told me there is NO circumstance where my medical bills would not be covered, but I would have to cover my co-pays or deductibles first. So I guess this family could have high co-pays or a high deductible plan. Otherwise, what are these bills?
3. If they feel this accident was caused by some kind of negligence on the school’s part or they just want to recover their out of pocket expenses, get a lawyer and sue. Schools definitely have coverage for this. The school can’t just call up their insurer and say it’s their fault so pay these people off. The insurance company will require proof of negligence on the part of the school, and based on what’s been reported in the papers on this, that doesn’t seem likely. This doesn’t mean it can’t be done, or that the insurance company won’t offer to settle, they often do to avoid court.
To put out some kind of screaming blog post certainly doesn’t solve their child’s health issues and other insinuations the school is some kind of chaotic hell-hole is just good sound-bite material not founded in reality. Kids get hurt sometimes at school and if someone doesn’t understand this they should get off this blog and look around. I know a parent can sometimes get a little crazy when it comes to their child getting hurt so I can excuse the original poster. They aren’t the “bad guys” here, but neither is the school. An accident is an accident. It sounds to me like these parents have a bigger problem with their own health insurance company, assuming they have one. Everyone reading this should call their company and ask the same question I did, if my child is injured on school grounds, are the medical bills covered. I am willing to bet it is.
I don't need to attend a PTO meeting. I will not vote for an override. Every time one fails the party requesting the override still manages to get by.
The purpose of Prop 2 1/2 was to control taxes.My mortgage just jumped up another 50 bucks. We have cut out most of the fringe benefits in our family budget. It is time all of the town did too.
I couldn't agree more with the bulleted points from Anonymous.
Who can take this site seriously? Cancel recess, don't become an educator...raging, neurotic mother..give me a break! This kid was seriously hurt, irregarless of the circumstances (no skinned knee here) and the parents want to know why.. wouldn't you if it were your kid...give them a break!!
Anonymous who called their insurance company, guess what? It is called judification, one insurance company against the other and guess what, what these parents are dealing with is exactly what happens. It doesn't matter what the claim rep. tells you, and besides they are not well rounded in these matters. What if the neurosurgeon seeing your child is not a Harvard Pilgrim provider, that should be a nice bill for you to pay out of pocket, things like this add up, thousands of dollars I doubt any family in Mendon has kind of money laying around. If they don't receive a supplemental insurance option from the school and are not told why it is needed, and evidently, like you state kids don't bring everything home, they end up exactly in the situation these parents are. (most people have no idea a school offers it) I suppose you are one of the what, 26 who took the supplemental insurance? Knowledge is power! Have you ever priced out insurance under a non-group plan if what "your husband" gets layed off, very expensive. I doubt if anyone is out of work they can afford it. I doubt that any school initially would say they were negligent. I give the parents credit for sticking with it.
Seems to me the policy at school for supplemental insurance notification needs an overhall along with the playground situation, this kid suffered head trauma, that is pretty significant injury for a child at school.!
P.S. I am a health insurance rep. and these parents hit the nail on the head!!!
(no time for spell check I need to go to work to afford health insurance!!)
In regards to this issue of supplemental insurance, the form must be given out for a reason. Why don't some of you bloggers out there with children call the school department and ask them why the forms are sent home in the first place. Also, if this is a very important issue as far a coverage for a child at school, shouldn,t a form be sent along with the application that allows the parents to accept/refuse the insurance and sign off on it. At least this would show that they received it via hand carried by a 5 year old!
BOOKWORM;
I haven't commented yet, but your comments are causing me to respond.
You are really something else. Who isn't cutting the fringe benefits at home with the price of oil, gas, electricity. You don't even know what the override is for, unless of course you are on the fincom committee. I doubt the override is for a playground issue.
At least make an eductated comment!
An Outsider Responds:
Sometimes one needs to step outside the circle to get a clear picture of what is going on inside the circle. Perhaps you should try this perataining to this situation.
Do not forget: "the outsiders" may at some point be inside the circle.
To: All Bloggers
From: The Family
We just received an anonymous phone call saying that our family was the subject of numerous blogs on this site. I guess it is true. Contrary to the site we did not start the blog and it is irrelevant who did at this point. While bantering over a situation can be quite healthy the personal comments concerning our family are not warranted nor appreciated. It is actually a shame that not one blog has asked how our daughter is.
We will not read nor comment further.
My statement was simply that I will not vote for any override. Adding more money ( for additional insurance) would increase the need to the yearly request for an override for the school.
I am well aware that the current request isn't for a playground issue.My reference of the town cutting fringe benefits was meant as the government not the people.
So please explain to me how what I wrote is uneducated. At least spell educated correctly!
Fake posts, anonymous phone calls.
Comments from outsiders. Hopefully, when the outsider is on the inside we will all be playing dodge ball.
Sorry folks, sometimes bad things happen to good people....it does not mean you should find someone at fault. That is why it is called an ACCIDENT! I am sure the girl running was not told by a teacher or administrator to go run around and knock someone over, give me a break. The only important thing about this whole story is people now know about the additional insurance. People have to lose the impulse to always want to blame someone else for everything that happens, maybe someone was chasing the other girl and so on, and so on. Everyone could find someone else to blame if they wanted to. What's next, "dog ate my homework". This might surprise all the people out there who must not have had recess growing up or lived in a plastic bubble but I had plenty of bumps and bruises in school recess when I was a kid, even broke my big toe when a kid chasing me pushed me into a pole. Not quite the injury this girl suffered but still an ACCIDENT. Mom and Dad paid the bills, and I got crutches. It is called life people, S#!t happens. Now go back to the TV and watch the olympics with your kids and try to be happy.
Last anonymous post was right on the button. That's why they are called ACCIDENTS! It is unfortunate the little girl was hurt, but certainly it was unintentional. And I can't believe that these parents are old enough that THEY don't remember bringing these insurance forms home to their parents. I have grown children, yet I remember my children and MYSELF bringing these forms home, most of which were discarded because we carried our own health insurance.
To The "Family"
None of the replies to the original posting or the original post itself referred to any specific family.
People may be assuming you are the family referred to in an article published in the Town Crier two weeks ago. We here at HG never made that leap although we are somewhat confused because you mention your daughter in the comment above. The implication is that your daughter was the child hurt in the playground accident at Clough.
We certainly hope the little girl hurt in the accident is doing better. We can tell you that the little boy that was life flighted from Memorial is fine.
The comments here have not been personal other than our referring to the poster as “Raving”. We stand by that. All CAPS and no paragraphs is not the best way to make a point. Some of the comments question the judgment of the original poster. That is fair like it or not.
There were some very good comments here. Suggestions for better communication were at the top of the list. We hope that the School District implements them. And we hope that parents call their insurance providers to make sure their children are covered in school. Most mainstream health care insurers do.
Our Opinion: The School District did nothing wrong with regard to this playground incident. Although they could have communicated the insurance issue in a better way that is the way school insurance works and has worked since before most of the people posting here were born.
Superintendent Daigle is not only capable; he is the most capable person to hold that position in a generation. He works in an industry that is run by the government and as such is fundamentally flawed but he plays by the rules and excels at the job.
The lesson here is that after the horizontal exercise of creating the child we are responsible for the welfare of that child, not the schools we send them to. Bad things happen, that’s fate. It hurts when there is no one to blame or when you have to blame yourself.
It would appear from the tenor of the posts here that a jury of your peers would not find in your favor. Good Luck.
HG
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