David Laughlin
The Duncan Banner
DUNCAN —
It’s a forgone conclusion that school is a place for learning. One lesson that shouldn’t have to be taught to teachers is one of thrift when it comes to the medical needs of children. The Stephens County Home and Community Educators have teamed up to purchase medical supplies for 193 classrooms, which will affect more than 5,000 residents of Stephens County.
Scraped knees and splinters are almost a certainty on every elementary campus in Stephens County. In years past, a quick visit to the school nurse would remedy almost every medical need of a student. Fast forward to today. School nurses are a rarity courtesy of budget cuts. The problem is children haven’t stopped getting hurt just because there isn’t an on-site nurse.
Teachers have been forced to fill the gap. Vicki Zimmerman, Family Committee Chairman for the Stephens County HCE, has spent seven years as a substitute teacher for Duncan Public Schools. She has seen first hand the affect a reduced budget has affected teacher’s response to minor medical emergencies.
“With all the budget cuts, some schools don’t even have a nurse anymore,” she said. “If a child got hurt, we had to see if we could doctor them, or sent them to the office.”
Zimmerman said the problem isn’t that teachers don’t want to personally help their students. The problem is, many times the teachers subsidized their classroom expenses budget, which often includes needed medical supplies, with their own contributions. “How many of us have heard of someone who was involved with education who had to spend their own money to provide what is necessary for their students,” she implored.
Zimmerman enlisted the help of Stephens County HCE to try to remedy the situation. What they came up with benefits the teachers, students, and a few local suppliers. Stehpens County HCE supplied first aid packages to almost 200 classrooms. The supplies that filled the bags were all purchased from R&S #1 in downtown Duncan. The contents will go into a canvas bag from Powershop.
Supplying the medical necessities for nearly 200 classrooms isn’t an inexpensive endeavor. Zimmerman said each group of Stephens County HCE has contributed funds from their fair funds. When Zimmerman pitched the idea to her fellow HCEers, she said it was a unanimous decision to offer their support.
“I was just flabbergasted that this group decided whole heartily to do something like this,” she said. “It is county fair time, this is a very busy time for the ladies.” We thought with the new school year beginning, what better time to do this.”
The bags will be put together today and delivered by Friday. Zimmerman doesn’t just envision teachers helping the students with their medical needs. She hopes that children will gain a sense of independence. Included in every bag will be a guide for the children mend themselves and the proper way to do so. “We want it to be a self help thing,” she said.
“I can remember for years spending money to provide for kids in the classroom just for their supplies. It’s time someone steps forward to do something,” she said. “This is just the start. Who knows what can happen after this. These ladies are movers and shakers.”
— David Laughlin is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 144, or via e-mail at david.laughlin@duncanbanner.com.
