Nov 15, 2005
 

Schools are coming under increasing pressure from parents to send home children infested with headlice.

The Principals' Federation says parents are losing tolerance in some cases over what they see as the failure of other families to treat their children.

In a recent case a Northland school refused a mother's demand to have some children sent home after her own daughter was continually reinfected.

The Principals' Federation says the Education Act allows for children with lice to be precluded or sent home.

But it says Education Ministry guidelines warn that prolonged preclusion would be an unusual and drastic action and could breach a child's rights.