I think my children are cursed. They both get sick at least once a month and my oldest (who goes to public school) was sick w/ no less than 3 viruses in the month of January alone. Actually, since school started in August, he's gotten every virus that has gone around despite any precautions I have attempted to take. He is now being instructed not to touch his friends in any way, especially their hands, and also to keep his hands off their desks. I've also sent notes to his school that he please be allowed to wash his hands as many times a day as he wishes. A little too extreme? Am I teaching my kid to be Melvin Udall? Who knows? But I am at the end of my rope and at a loss as to what else to do.
Anyway, enter the school 'attendance policy'. According to the Smith County Truancy Board, each child is allowed five 'parent notes' a year without penalty. In other words, your kid can miss school for no good reason as long as the parent sends a note along w/ them to the school on their first day back. However, after that, a doctor's note is required in order for your child's absence to be 'excused'. Unexcused absences mean that the child cannot make up their work for the missed days and therefore received zeros for any assignments from those days. After five unexcused absences, the truancy board comes into the picture and the parent must attend a 'hearing' to explain the excessive absences. After that, if one more unexcused day is reported to the truancy board by the school, the county requires that the parent present themselves before a judge, pay extensive court fees, and possibly have their child turned over to 'Childrens Services' where 'whatever means necessary' will be used to get the child to school.(??)
Needless to say, Johnson used up his five 'parent notes' very quickly w/ viruses and an ear infection back in the summer. Since then he's missed eight days of 'unexcused absences' due to sickness. I do not take my kids to the doctor for viruses because, as we all know, unless there are dangerous symptoms that need treatment, there is little a doctor can do. Actually, doctors appreciate when parents don't bring their kids to them for viruses for this very reason. During flu season, there is also the needless risk of the sick child contracting something more serious simply from sitting in the waiting room. Plus, there is the expense involved in a needless doctor's visit. Due to the unexcused absences, Johnson dropped from a straight 'a' student to a b and c student because he had to take zeros for the missed days.
Yesterday I went to the smith county courthouse for my scheduled 'hearing'. I found myself faced w/ five women. Three of them were pleasant, smiling ladies from the Smith County BOE and two of them were frowning, evil looking women spilling over the edge of their bent plastic chairs and dressed all in black. These were the 'larkies' from 'Childrens Services' and their pockmarks and pale skin immediately put me on edge. The mild tempered ladies from the BOE started off by going over Johnson's absences and asking me to explain them to the best of my ability. I told them the situation, explained my reluctance to take him to the doctor when the doctor himself suggests that I not, and how the principle of paying 40.00 for a note just doesnt sit well w/ me. I noticed that the two women from CS were writing down my every word and this also got my 'back up'. The nice women from BOE proceeded to explain to me that the policy is not their idea and that unfortunately there is nothing they can do to change it. They told me that Johnson could not miss one more day or there would be consequences. I asked what would happen and one of the 'devil-women' bellowed, 'You could go to jail and your child could be taken from you!'. While I sat in stunned silence at this outburst (that seemed like an answer to a challenge instead of a simple question and which immediately made me wish I could indeed start blindly kicking the beast), one of the BOE ladies smoothed it out a little by stating, 'That is only under extreme circumstances and usually happens w/ older children. I'm sure this will not happen to you.' The meeting ended w/ them informing me that his attendance would also be monitored next year and if he had one unexcused absence, I would immediately be required to appear before a judge instead of being allowed another 'hearing'.
So that is the story. I guess I'll be taking my kid to the doctor every time he's sick now, which I feel is ludicrous, but is infinitely more appealing than the prospect of going through that mess again!
Home School is looking better and better.
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9 comments:
That is truly horrifying. I am so sorry you had to go through that. I would be looking into home schooling too.
Five 'parent notes' regardless of reason is ridiculous! Kids get sick, especially when they are in a "new" class/getting exposed to new germs, etc.
I have a big problem with the amount of homework they give to kindergarten and first grade students. Liam has homework every school night except Friday. I don't remember ever having homework until I was in the 4th or 5th grade, and I was in gifted/accelerated classes.
Liam has missed school for family trips, including a trip to Washington DC with Shane, and the week we went to FL and snorkled, explored and spotted crabs and sting rays and played with his "fish friends" at the beach. A year before he wouldn't step off the steps of my parents pool. He learned/experienced much more on those trips than he would in months of school. I'd hate to think what the Smith County Truancy board would say about that.
That's awful!
Whwn I was a kid, I almost always had a two-week straight absence due to strep throat, or ear infections, and even the chicken pox, so I don't know how that backwards policy addresses major illness. No wonder so many kids are sent to school sick!
I guess I better start thinking these things through before Ava goes to school in a couple years.
Yeah, I remember when I was a kid my parents took me out of school every year for vacations. That is really a 'no-no' under this policy. So irritating!
This is horrible. I feel so bad for you, and in your condition! Which I've been meaning to write and see how you have been feeling.
I really dread Colton going to school now. I wonder if it is like that everywhere. My parents used to take me out for vacation too. I just assumed that we would probably do the same with our kids. Looks like that's out.
How utterly stupid. These should certainly be judged on a case by case basis. My Lou has missed 9 or 10 days of school this year already (just missed one today - scratchy sore throat, hoarse, just feeling a little icky) and nothing has been said - I just need to bring in a note saying she wasn't feeling well. I've only been known to haul my children off to a doctor for ear infections in most cases. I'm with you, we don't go skipping to the doctor every time the girls get sick. And when we *have* to, Jeff will leave work early so that either he or I can take just the one sick child so the other kids won't be exposed to who knows what.
I hate, hate, hate it when parents send their children to school sick because first of all, poor things- they aren't feeling well and their bodies need to rest! And the second reason is obvious - why spread the germs around to every other child and all their siblings and family?
They should take into account, too, that Johnson was an A student and perfectly capable of making up any late work and wasn't affected by missing school due to being sick.
What happens to folks who can't afford to go to the doctor every time? Again, just stupid. Hope everything works out. I grew up in Smith County, as you know, and either those laws didn't exist then or I didn't know about them. As the system goes on, everything just gets so complicated - this is just another example of man's attempt to "fix" something. Ugh.
Sorry I haven't commented in ages.
That is the stupidest thinf I've ever heard. I missed loads of school in my day as well. Vacations, chicken pox, strep throat (once a year!). I cannot believe the stupidity of that situation. And that one of those idiot women would even suggest you could lose your children. WOW! That would make tons of sense.
Dang! I just now read this entry! I am ticked! What tha heck????? That is by far the stupidest thing I've heard lately! I would have had to have said some harsh words to that one woman, something along the lines of, "Excuse me, but do you have children??" And then either way she answered taken it from there. What a hag. Freaking ridiculous! This stupid system punishes the honest hardworking people and rewards the crooked worthless ones. The only thing that keeps me from my own head popping sometimes is to remember that it's Satan's system and therefore all under his control. And there is a mighty fine reason Jehovah is going to destroy it! And it's completely unfair that Johnson's grades have to suffer because the poor little guy keeps getting sick! I was sick ALL THE TIME when I was in school! Who wasn't???? And my mom and dad never took me to the doctor for everything either because who in the world has the time & money? And why go if it won't do any good any way??? I am SO sorry you had to go through that! Rarrghh! >:(
Wow Brooke, thanks so much for all the caps and punctuation marks...makes a gal feel like she's got some big guns on her side! LOL
DANG STRAIGHT! ;)
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