A lesson i'll never forget...

February 13, 2007 at 4:06 AM

So today I taught a group violin class comprised of about 20 4th and 5th graders. The room the class is held in is by no means large especially with an upright piano so needless to say things are a little cramped. So today’s turn of events made class very...interesting.

I've only had these kids about two weeks and we're just starting to get through twinkle variation A. Well half way through the lesson I heard the students shriek "Ewww!" I peeked over the upright piano and saw a kid in the center covered with vomit. I had noticed earlier during the class that this kid seemed pretty tired and kept yawning when he was normally enthusiastic about playing. I just figured it was lack of sleep causing this.

Well didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out this poor student had just thrown up. I'm guessing he ate something bad in the school cafeteria so I asked the student "are you okay? Would you like to get me the trash can?" He just stood there and looked dazed so I walked up to him and said "Let's get you to the nurse." Not a minute later he proceeded to throw up a second time." It didn't take me long to get the trash can and escort the student to the nurse. Meanwhile I asked the other violin students to stay in rest position and I would be back in a minute. On the way to the nurse’s office the kid couldn't go 3-4 steps without having to throw up in the trash can.

After returning I felt bad for the remaining students. I saw vomit all over the carpet, a few violin cases, three backpacks, and all over a jacket belonging to a little girl standing right next to the boy. Luckily her jacket was covering her own back pack. I simply put all the back packs and jack next to the doorway and proceeded class like it was no big deal.

I feel sympathy for the little boy as I’m sure it was very embarrassing for him. However my question to you fellow music educators is:

"How would you have handled this situation if you were in my spot? Would you have done anything differently?"

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on February 13, 2007 at 5:04 AM

Greetings,
sound slike you did okay to me. But these kids are what age? Sorry, I`m not sur ewhat system is here. If they are a syoung as I think then you nee dot be prepared for this kind of stuff every lesson. 5 and six year olds puke, poo and nose bleed all the time. Bog role and handy wipes are de rigeur
Cheer,s
Buri

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on February 13, 2007 at 5:55 AM

Ah, the challenges of being a violin teacher. I think you handled the situation very well.

From Patricia Baser
Posted on February 13, 2007 at 10:31 AM

There is really nothing else you can do. At my elementary school, whenever the custodian is called into a classroom, you know it is because someone has just tossed their cookies. Unfortunately, kids don't often recognize that "sick" feeling until it is too late. I've also had bloody noses on violins. You will deal with it from time to time because of the numbers of students you see and how quickly viruses go through a school (we just had a round of Noro virus here-not pretty!).

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A lesson i'll never forget...

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