I Have Had It 1

I have been filling out forms for my kids’ schools for 20 years. They are without a doubt the worst forms in the world.

They have improved the medical form. They’ve made it 8 1/2 by 11, rather than 8 1/2 by 5 1/2, so at last there is room to fill it out.

But, oh my goodness, tonight I lost it. One page one, they asked for the name of the family doctor and dentist. I supplied them.

On page two, they asked for the name of the family doctor and dentist. I supplied them, but, after the dentist’s name, I wrote, “It hasn’t changed since the other side of this form.” After the doctor’s name, I wrote, “It hasn’t changed between page one and page two, either.”

Nothing else changed, either, not the addresses, not the phone numbers, not the insurance.

They asked, “Allergies.” Answer: “Penicillin.”

They asked, “What happens.” Answer: “He dies.”

Duh!

Now, my son has attended this same school district since first grade. Somewhere, they have all this information lost in a computer. Why can’t they send home a printout saying, “This is the information we have. Please indicate what has changed”?

I know the answer to that. Their forms are for the convenience of the staff. They don’t take into account the convenience of the parents who are filling them out.

Well, no, that’s not the answer. The answer is that the administration is not creative enough to think of that.

I’m glad this is my last year of school forms.

They are worse than income tax forms. At least, on the US IRS Form 1040, you only have to enter a particular item once.