Districts targeting intentional coughing
caught intentionally coughing on other students could face disciplinary action, according to new protocols in some North Texas school districts.
Kids who “intentionally cough, sneeze or spit” in a manner that appears like they’re attempting to spread COVID-19 to others will face discipline at Fort Worth and Dallas ISD schools, WFAA-TV in Dallas reported.
Fort Worth ISD released new protocols for the return to school, saying such an intentional act would be considered a form of assault according to the Texas Penal Code.
The definition of assault in Texas code is action that “intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.”
The Student Code of Conduct for Fort Worth ISD, for example, states that “if the alleged behavior is determined to be intentional, the punishment can begin with the minimum disciplinary action and may progress to more serious disciplinary consequences.”
Dallas ISD is still in the process of completing its disciplinStudents ary guide for the school year, but its current draft calls for the following:
• If a student intentionally coughs, sneezes or spits on another student, a campus administrator will be notified. • The students will be removed and taken to a school nurse to be evaluated. Parents of each student involved in the incident will be notified.
• A campus administrator will investigate the incident to determine intent. If the behavior is determined to be intentional, a Dallas ISD officer will be contacted.
Social media users had strong opinions on the new protocols.
“So I assume kids with seasonal allergies will be punished too because you can’t control a sniffle or sneeze when you have allergies,” Facebook user Willianette Henderson commented. “No matter how much allergy meds we take it’s not 100 percent effective. Even a dry cough from being lethargic.”
Facebook user Robles Mar had another idea.
“Kids shouldn’t be going in person. Or make it optional,” Mar wrote. “For parents to choose in person or virtual. At the end of the day, these kids are our kids, and if they come out positive, FWISD will not be there for the family.”
And Trina Unger-Mattson noted on Facebook: “It will be interesting as to who determines whether it was intentional cough or sneeze by a child.”