Comments on: Germ-X Generation.

By: Erika Naugle

Erika Naugle — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:40:03 +0000

Hello Michael,
Thanks for your post, It is thought provoking and as a teacher something I have given much though to. I see it in my classroom daily we are raising a generation of “germ-o-phobe’ kids. Immune systems are weaker, and children in general are. I remember taking some tumbles, scrapping elbows and knees, and my mom telling me to brush it off (with dirty hands) and to keep going. I see kids falling and parents running to their side with a anti-bacteria wipes, some ointment and a band aide. I am concerned that we are raising a generation of softies, who will fall apart when life gets tough.

By: Megan V

Megan V — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:46:47 +0000

Hey Michael, I totally agree with you about germs in today’s society. People freak themselves out for the fear of germs affecting their bodies. But the truth is that some germs are good for our bodies. I think it helps our body’s immune system to have germs in our body to help fight other germs. I think the fact that we are so scared of these germs — makes children more sick these days. I do think it is important to make sure your hands are washed and clean, but I think it is wrong to obsess about the cleanliness of the world around us. Children are meant to explore and be dirty and eat things off the floor. I say why can’t kids be kids. Let them do things and learn for themselves. Our society needs to break out of the ‘box’ we are containing our children in and let them be open to the world around them.

By: Courtney Kats

Courtney Kats — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:57:47 +0000

Michael,
I couldn’t agree more with your posting, today’s world is obsessed with germs and getting rid of them. I like to be clean dont get me wrong, but we take things to an extreme. My parents and grandparents have told me so many stories about the past, and they never worried about sanitizing with Lysol and Clorox wipes, and carrying around hand sanitizer bottles. They would wash the tables with a wash cloth or sponge, and wash their hands when convenient like Michael said. They were fine, they were not suffering anymore from the flu anymore than we do today. The news, media, and word of mouth tends to scare us more than necessary. These are the times I hate the internet and fast spreading news, it turns things into epidemics quickly. Like now we are all freaking out over H1N1, when I know more than a handful of people who have gotten it and said it was not any different than the normal flu. We have to live life and let be, we can take precautions but we do not need to set up a germ-x force field of protection and tell kids to not touch others because of fear of what sickness they might get. If the world survived things in the past with less worry, I think we should be more than capable of doing that now.

By: Kaitlyn Knudtson

Kaitlyn Knudtson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:33:35 +0000

I definitely agree with you on this topic. I enjoyed reading this article and I do have a few things to say about this.
First off, I personally do not and will not use Germ X hand sanitizer. I just feel that washing your hands does alot more good for you.
The school that I am teacher aiding at is constantly using hand sanitizer. We have seriously like a bottle at each desk. The teacher and kids put it on so many times. I can see why, but I don’t think it is necessary. If you need to go wash your hands. For all we know, putting on hand sanitizer could be germing up your hands instead of cleaning them. I know that research has been done to prove it good, but I have a hard time with that. I have a hard time doing something just because it is supposed to be good for you. If I can get away with just washing my hands with soap and water without getting sick, I would rather do it. I am thinking that some people are just overly cautious when it comes to getting sick, especially now. If you wash hands enough, drink alot of water, cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing, take a vitamin then you will be fine. I have never used Germ X and I rarely ever get sick. You just need to know how to not get sick. Germ X won’t save you!

By: Kathy Urbanowicz

Kathy Urbanowicz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:54:44 +0000

After reading your article I agree that child these days tend to be overly protected by their parents. As a child, I rarely washed my hands….I don’t even think hand sanitizer existed at that time…I didn’t end up in the hosiptal or anything in that sort…it seems as if parents are not letting their children build a proper immune system and that is why children tend to get sick more often. I understand that parents want the best for their children but keeping them away from germs is only going to hurt them in the long run.

By: Jori Dotson

Jori Dotson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:41:29 +0000

You make some very good points in this article. Every since the out break of swine flu, keeping away germs and staying sanitized has become the top priority of everyone. Hand sanitizer has become a necessity in almost every classroom. Teachers are requiring their students to sanitize or wash their hands after they touch almost anything. Germs are definitely a bigger concern than they were in the past. Teachers are worried about themselves or the students getting sick. I definitely agree with the points that you have made in this article that people are stressing germs too much. However, I think that washing your hands and staying sanitized really isn’t a bad thing. Keeping the students healthy should be a main priority of any teacher.

By: Jori Dotson

Jori Dotson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:34:21 +0000

I definitely agree that lately germs have become a big issue. Ever since the out break of swine flue, keeping away germs has been everyone’s number one priority. Hand Sanitizer is now a must in almost every classroom. Teachers are having their students use hand sanitizer after they touch almost anything. Although I agree that people have gone way overboard in trying to keep away germs, staying clean is never a bad thing. Washing your hands and keeping yourself sanitized are important, especially in a school. Germs are spreading like wild fire inside of a school and trying to prevent the studnets from getting sick is never a bad idea. There are definitely some good points made in this article and it really isn’t necessary to stress germs as much as we do today. However, keeping the students healthy should be very important to every teacher.

By: Margaret Miller

Margaret Miller — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:12:47 +0000

Hi Mr. Smith,
I also agree with everything you said and definitely found myself laughing out loud at certain parts because it is so true! When I was younger I was playing outside with my neighbors any chance I had and we were always getting dirty in some way. The young neighbors I have now do not seem to be out as much as my neighbors and I were when we were younger, and their playing outside does not include digging in the dirt for worms and rollie pollies like it was for us. When I would get sick with a fever I remember my mom giving me 7-Up and then just telling me to rest and “sweat it out.” Today when kids are sick their parents give them medicine or take them to the doctor and do not let their bodies naturally fight off the sickness. I think this is bad for kids today because when they go away to college and live in a dorm with 50 plus others and share a bathroom with many people they will be the first to get really sick!

By: Rachel VandeKamp

Rachel VandeKamp — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:32:34 +0000

I totally agree with this! All the things you said brought me back to my own childhood. Not to mention my mom was a nurse so we pretty much had to be dead to be able to stay home, or let alone go to the doctors I think we are relying too much on germ-x and other substances like that to keep our kids healthy rather than the amazing immune system God gave each one of us. By constantly killing off germs, we’re not allowing our bodies to do what it does naturally and best- fight off diseases! I understand to some extent trying to keep your kids healthy by giving them orange juice to assist in the vitamin c intake during a cold or insisting that they eat some sort of fruits and veggietables, but we can’t keep them safe forever. Inevitibly, children WILL get sick and when they do, because they will, how their body is able to respond is everything,

By: Luke S.

Luke S. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:12:13 +0000

You makes some very interesting and funny points in your blog, most of which I laughed at and agree with. I feel that we are going over board protecting out kids from everything now a days but it could just be the result of all parents trying to make life better for their children, than what they had growing up. Its natural for a parent to want the best life for their children, and logically that would include never letting our children get sick or hurt. But this also reminds me of the chick trying to hatch from the egg. If you assist the chick in breaking out, the chick will be not receive the muscle growth needed to survive once out of the egg and will quickly perish. How as parents are we suppose to know when to help our children and when too much help will be detrimental? That is the debate I guess, none will really know in this life time.