Using Religious exeption for School Physicals and Vaccinations - Page 2

[Katana]

Maybe the best thing to do is to keep it simple.

In the state law, it says this:

D. Such physical examination shall not be required of any child whose parents or guardian shall object on religious grounds and who shows no visual evidence of sickness, provided that such parent or guardian shall state in writing that, to the best of his knowledge, such child is in good health and free from any communicable or contagious disease.

Do you have a religious exemption written up for not vaxing? Can you use one or two of the same reasons for not wanting to vax for not wanting the physical? Or, even something as general as, 'a physical examination is against our religious beliefs' and then state that he's in good health as far as you can tell, and then let them come to you if it's not enough.

You may be surprised, they might take it without too much fuss.

Don't worry about physicals for sports. There is no reason at all to draw blood for them, and you or your child has the right to refuse such things. The practitioner or the school might not like it, but you can always refuse. I know, I've done it.

As far as the urine tests, they check for diabetes and other blood sugar issues, as far as I know. But again, you can refuse that too.

[Electra375]

I'm here upping my thread to the front. I am still debating the appt I have with the docs on Mon. I really do not want to take my ds.

I think I've made my decision not to go to the appt but my heart beats a little faster thinking about canceling it and then the school telling me he can't go or something 2 days before school starts.

Support please or just a hug from all the wonderful woman on MDC.

[Katana]

Did you already turn in the exemption for not vaxing, or do you have to turn that in on Monday? If you haven't turned it in yet, and you decide not to do the physical exam, turn in your objection to the physical with the vax exemption and let the school take it from there. If you have already turned in the vaxing stuff, go ahead and turn in the exemption for the physical on it's own, and again, just wait.

My guess is, they will let your son start, and any issues they have, you'll be the one contacted about them.

I would try not to worry about it, too much. I know, easier said than done.

Just remember, you are within your rights to refuse both the vaxes and the physical exam, it's in the state law. If they give you a hard time, just keep passing out copies of the state law where it says you have the right to refuse these things.

Good luck, and I'm crossing my fingers and toes that things go okay.

[Katana]

About the testing.

I come from a family where just about everyone either taught or is teaching in the public school system.

It's the common thought among educators that a lot of parents are in denial or negligent about their children. They believe it is the school's job to make sure that all vision, hearing, dental, behavior and developmental problems are caught, as early as possible.

FWIW, not every child is tested. There's certain flags that have to be raised before they test. For example, a child that barely ever talks. Then there's some concern about hearing or speech. Or a child who constantly walks into things or trips. There's developmental or vision issues there.

According to what I hear, and I realize I'm just one state, so I know I'm not the expert, teachers are just trying to teach, and pulling a kid out for testing is a disruption, so they try to pick out the ones that they feel really need the help, and not just do a random type of thing.

[kimmysue2]

Well I do not like the idea of them taking blood or unine from my child. I too would have to really think about the religious exemtion.

Good luck

[Electra375]

It's 7:30am on Monday

I'll be sure to let the board know how this all went.

[applejuice]

Good Luck.

I am in CA, and I exempted all of my four children from all of that nonsense when they went to public or private school. I always came to enroll them, fully armed with the state law since most school secretaries are not hired for their knowledge of the state education code.

My son, now 12, started school last year in the religious school I teach in. I had homeschooled him until last year. I exempted him from vaxes and the physical for philosophical reasons. I teach science there, so it was an interesting exchange.

I did not post earlier because I am not in VA, so I did not think I could help you.

I am looking forward to the results of your encounter. Hope it is decided in your favor.

And remember, this is only one of many battles you will be fighting. Stand your ground!

[applejuice]

P.S., I consider myself a conservative hippie also - religious, also.

[Electra375]

..

[applejuice]

I would tell the school board that you have complied to the letter of the law; tell the members of the school board also that you are concerned about what this teaches your son about working with people in society to get the things that you need.

Do you know anyone else in the community who has done this before? Are you the first one or are they just giving you a hard time?

[Electra375]

The school board called me back and said he can go to school tomorrow. BUT...
I have to go in a use the local school boards forms! Okay, I can deal w/ that.

[Katana]

I'm glad they're letting him go.

I wouldn't offer any extra information, but would try to be ready with some responses if asked. Does that makes sense? Like, to the average on looker, you're just a mother there to fill out some forms, but if they start with the questions, you at least have thought of some responses.

If they ask (which hopefully they won't), I'd try to deflect any probing questions about really specific religious leanings with something like, when I talked to the school board yesterday, they said all I had to do was fill out their forms. They didn't mention I had to provide additional religious objections.

Here's a wish that they hand you the forms, quietly, you take the exemption you're entitled to, and you get to leave.

Good luck.

[Electra375]

Vent

:
I went to the school board this morning, after ds got on the bus and I got the other kiddos ready for the day. The secretary showed me the paper I needed to sign in their presence and it was the EXACT SAME as the form I got off the internet at the Dept of Ed for VA!!!! I appeased them by signing it too, it was identical, so what's the harm.
The school nurse convienently forgot to fax that page over to the school board office!!!
So, what gives, they want to get a looks and see at the people exempting??? It's not as if they could challenge you if they didn't like the way you looked. Do they think they can tell whether you are serious or not by looking at you? I thought it was funny yesterday when the nurse asked who notarized it for me, I said my bank. The www.vafvic.org gives banks as a place to have it notarized free of charge. I honestly think the school board just wants to feel like they have control.
Funny, the school board secretary took a copy (that I had with me) of what I gave the school nurse and I showed her a copy of the law, which she also copied. (like she doesn't have a copy of the Code of VA in her office somewhere!)
So, I wasted an hour of my time and my younger children's time by dragging us all out to the school board office. And to think all b/c the school nurse didn't fax over all the papers I gave her (and she probably didn't b/c I did have the right stuff, she just wanted to make a big deal out of it)!
Okay, I'm done venting. Nothing I could say or do at this point about the situation would make any difference . But I will know for the next child that the VA form from the website is sufficient and I can tell them so over the phone!

Just to add the whole issue was the vax form, not the letter I wrote addressing the physical exam. The nurse didn't fax over the CRE (Certificate of Religious Exemption) which pertains to vaxes! Live and learn and now I know that it's all the same.

[CerridwenLorelei]

electra that stinks..

and I just don't get it-when did schools become allowed to do things like blood draws and UA's? Now I don't have a chiro or nd ( wish I did ) but have a ped -if I was in your state what makes them think they are better qualified than my ped to do this?? Or than your nds and chiros who have been treating your child forever and a day?
and who trained them??

Our school district has a doc that works with them and he diagnoses ADD based on just weight and measurement ( umm helloo don't think so that isn't how you do it) and prescribes ritalin after telling you your child is too fat/skinny/short/tall..


I just don't understand VA's new stuff...it almost seems more Orwellian than helpful ...but maybe that is because I don't live there??

[Electra375]

I didn't mean to make the impression that the school preforms the blood draw or urine screening. The state requires it on the health form for school entrance. This form can only be filled out and signed by a doctor of medicine licensed in VA.

So, my chiro couldn't sign the form b/c she is not a doctor of medicine and since she couldn't draw blood or urine it would be pointless to even try.

I've learned alot over the last few months and it seems to me that the state is trying to make up for parents who aren't adequately caring for their children. They get you in for the well-baby appts and then they don't see you until your 5, so they've got to get you again. (they meaning gov/ docs) OT: And WIC is a joke as far as nutrition counceling (we were on WIC when dh lost his joke a few years ago). WIC has got to be funded by the dairy councel! We don't even eat dairy, so what good is WIC to me???

[CerridwenLorelei]

you weren't the only person/place

I got the impression that the school was doing it

[isabella-aiyana]

just a note on philosophical vs. religous

In our state NJ we do not have a philosophical exemption. However, we do have religous. I kept my son home until he was six. I went into registration PREPARED. It was four years ago so I can't remember where I got this info, but... According to the US supreme court, (don't know ruling number off the top of my head) any conscious decision will be considered a religous decision. Supreme court found the conscience to belong to God. Therefore, if a decision is a conscious one... it is a religous one. May be hard to argue without exact ruling. But it quieted my school district down when they started asking me questions about my religous affiliation. Which we don't have any. I also know that they are not really allowed to ask me what "organized religion " we belong to.So it sured helped to state the exact statute and number in my letter of exemption. At the time, I listed all kinds of rulings. I think when you make it sound like you are a complete expert on the law, even ifyour not, they shy away from any kind of confrontation. Of course at the time I was ready to go to battle with them . Almost too easy. He is now in fourth grade in a different county. ANd not one question came up when I went in with copies of all my legal rights. I can't say about physicals though. I think it actually may have helped for them to see we had a form filled out by our "supportive, nonsupportive, look the other way doc".

[Katana]

They sure know how to get the blood pressure up, don't they.

for you, for getting your exemptions.