Are there more things to 'catch' at school these days?

[TinyGang]

We're always getting letters home about headlice, threadworms and today foot and mouth disease. Last year it was winter vomiting knocking out whole schools.

You can also take your choice currently at ours from the 'ghastly stomach upset' or the 'terrible throat virus' doing the rounds just now.

I was never off sick from school (mind you, I had to be dead before my mum would keep me home) and I don't remember a single letter about any ailments.

Yep nearly3 - my class is too but I'm not allowed to open windows because of gas bills! Good eh!!

DD's secondary school does the 100% attendance certificate thing as well (Don't agree with it)

DD's name was read out in assembley but she was away representing the school in atheletics. Her friend said it was hilarious, they were calling her name but it looked like she was absent!

When she had a day off sick last week, she said at least i won't have to get a certificate this year! Not really cool in secondary school.

I'm not sure there are (more things to catch)

I can remember having all the childhood illnesses that ours are immunised against. Can vividly remember developing German Measles at school and being sent home.

One thing that I think differs - when we used to get sick at school, we were kept in a sick room until our parents came to pick us up (quite often, only at the end of the school day) - anyone in the sick room was monitored by the school nurse.

Now there is an assumption that when your child is ill, you will pick them up immediately and I imagine most schools don't have a school nurse or even a proper sick room where you could lie down.