Teachers are finding it more of a challenge than ever to keep their classrooms healthy and clean for students, according to a recent survey of teachers.
The survey found that 90 percent of teachers think it is “common for students to come to school sick.” Only about 30 percent said their schools’ custodial staff disinfects the classrooms regularly.
“Germs are frequently spread through surface contact yet many teachers do not have the time or the tools to combat these germs,” said Dr. Paul S. Horowitz, medical director of the Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital pediatric and adolescent clinics in Portland, Ore. “This discrepancy can directly impact the health and wellness of both students and teachers.”
More than 70 percent of teachers said they have missed school because of an illness they believe they caught from one of their students. The survey was conducted by the children’s publisher Scholastic and released during an American Medical Association and National PTA media briefing on children’s health.
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