What Can Be Done About School Phobia?

QUESTION: My neighbor's boy is already making noises like he won't go back to
school without a fight. Could this be something like a school phobia, if
there is such a thing? How should the child be treated?
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ANSWER: If this child is one of thousands of children refusing--for any
reason--to go to school, he could be classified as having school phobia
(better called "School Refusers"). Depending on the severity of each case,
the family, school officials, physicians, including psychiatrists, may have to
become involved.
Some school refusers simply suffer from separation anxiety, usually from
the mothers. Other causes involve threats to the child, bomb scares at their
schools, peer group pressures, as well as recent losses and/or changes in
their families. Children experiencing physical complaints must be examined by
a physician. When no physical problem is uncovered, evaluation by teachers
and other school officials is required. Evaluators work to understand what is
happening to the child and his/her familial and peer relationships. They also
determine if there is an undetected learning disability as well as any hobbies
and interests the child enjoys. School refusers' abilities to play are
carefully examined to determine if normal childhood activities are being
experienced.
School refusers frequently complain of vague physical symptoms like
stomach or head aches, dizziness, sleep problems and even vomiting.
Histories of past illnesses always are studied to see if hospital stays
created separation anxieties and if other family members have experienced such
problems.
Effective treatment depends on many test and evaluation results, severity
and how long the child has had the problem. At times, treatment may be only
discussing separation difficulties with the child, parents and other family
members. In other cases, individual and family psychotherapy might be needed.
Home tutoring may be suggested until the child is capable of agreeably
returning to school. Fortunately, with a little concern, care and treatment,
between 66 and 99 percent of school refusers willingly return to their
classes.