Vaccinations and private school

[NYCVeg]

I'm curious if anyone on this board has been successful at enrolling an unvaxed (or, just to get a broader picture, partially vaxed) child in a private school. If so, how did you go about it?

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by NYCVeg

I'm curious if anyone on this board has been successful at enrolling an unvaxed (or, just to get a broader picture, partially vaxed) child in a private school. If so, how did you go about it?

I am about to embark on this journey (or fight) as well. Good luck to you and hopefully someone will post their successful experience.

DC

[marilynmama]

I would like to learn more about this as well. Right now we are homeschooling but in 2 years most likely both my children will attend either a public or private school and I want to be prepared. Public school I'm not worried about dealing with, but the private schools I am worried about.

[Ruthla]

Good question. I do know that religious schools don't have to accept religious exemptions.

[LongIsland]

There's an ongoing thread here about school exemption experiences, but the search function is not working for me right now.

From what I've read here, most mama's here have had no problems with private school exemptions. The few potential private schools I have lined up for my son in another year or so have no problem with exemptions. I ask up front b/c I don't want to waste my time.

As far as how you go about it - you submit an exemption letter in lieu of an immunization record . . . same as public school. If you need help with your letter, please let me know.

[NYCVeg]

Originally Posted by LongIsland

As far as how you go about it - you submit an exemption letter in lieu of an immunization record . . . same as public school. If you need help with your letter, please let me know.

Oh...Many thanks, but I'm far away from having to deal with that (bun is still not-quite-cooked...but any day now!). But I do think it's important to think about in advance. I haven't personally heard any stories yet of people who have successfully gotten their unvaxed kids into private schools, which is why I'm curious.

[maria423]

We recently registered our 3-year-old for a preschool program at our parish's Catholic school. One of the "stations" at registration was the district nurse's table, and I was sure we'd have a problem there. She started showing us the forms we'd need the doc to fill out, especially the immunization record form.

I simply said, "So if we don't vaccinate, we can just submit our religious exemption instead, right?"

Without batting an eye she said, "Yes."

Later, she told us that she's not pro-vaccine at all, and that she feels the current AAP/CDC vax schedule is too aggressive. I was stunned and SO happy to get such a reaction.

Of course, school hasn't started yet, we haven't actually submitted our exemption or physical form yet (we have the whole summer to do this), so there's still time for a problem to crop up.

But the nurse said there wouldn't be a problem, and I'm crossing my fingers that there isn't.

[maria423]

Oh, I wanted to add that although we had dd fully vaxed through her 6-month doctor visit, we are choosing to treat the situation as though she's never had any vaxes. It seems simpler that way. I actually made that decision based on great advice I got here on this forum! (Thanks, everyone!!)

ETA: Here's a link to the discussion on claiming partial vax vs. no vax: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=445871

[~member~]

Originally Posted by NYCVeg

I'm curious if anyone on this board has been successful at enrolling an unvaxed (or, just to get a broader picture, partially vaxed) child in a private school. If so, how did you go about it?

I was never vax'd and attended Blake School. No problems, at all.

I have sent my own unvax'd children to all sorts of different schools and never had a problem. Catholic, Lutheran, Waldorf, Breck, Blake, and two different public schools.

[Deborah]

My daughter (California and Toronto) and my granddaughter (Vermont) have both attended private waldorf schools sans vax. The Chicago Waldorf School, where I worked for 3 years, had a large number of of unvaxed kids attending with either religious or medical exemptions.

Deborah

[NYCVeg]

Originally Posted by Deborah

My daughter (California and Toronto) and my granddaughter (Vermont) have both attended private waldorf schools sans vax. The Chicago Waldorf School, where I worked for 3 years, had a large number of of unvaxed kids attending with either religious or medical exemptions.

Deborah

My understanding is that the Waldorf philosophy is pretty anti-vax, no?

MamaIntheBoonies...are all the schools you mentioned religiously affiliated in some way (I don't know what Blake and Breck are, for instance)?

Anyone have experience with non-religious private schools (I include Waldorf under that heading, even though I understand it's based not on a religion, but a philosophy)?

[Deborah]

Originally Posted by NYCVeg

My understanding is that the Waldorf philosophy is pretty anti-vax, no?

MamaIntheBoonies...are all the schools you mentioned religiously affiliated in some way (I don't know what Blake and Breck are, for instance)?

Anyone have experience with non-religious private schools (I include Waldorf under that heading, even though I understand it's based on a religion, but a philosophy)?

Well, anthroposophically extended medicine is somewhat anti-vax. Partly because the docs are pro-fever. Partly because they are anti weird toxins. On the other hand, I have come across anthro docs recommending some vaxes. It depends on the doctor.

Waldorf schools, in my experience, leave it up to the parent. I've never known a school to recommend that parents either vax or skip vaxing.

And yeah, anthroposophy is much more of a philosophy than it is a religion, in my experience. But there are people who disagree.

I haven't had any experience with non-religious private schools and the vaxing issue. It probably is completely individual depending on the school staff, administrators and major donors plus the school history.

Good luck.

Oh, maybe someone should do a survey of private schools on this issue. Could be interesting.

Deborah

[sporty]

Originally Posted by NYCVeg

My understanding is that the Waldorf philosophy is pretty anti-vax, no?

MamaIntheBoonies...are all the schools you mentioned religiously affiliated in some way (I don't know what Blake and Breck are, for instance)?

Anyone have experience with non-religious private schools (I include Waldorf under that heading, even though I understand it's based not on a religion, but a philosophy)?

Blake is a private non-religious school.

Here in CA (public schools) I have never been asked for official proof that my child is or is not vaxed.