Long whine – Our schools have a ridiculous absence, late and early checkout policy that has parents calling the pede and begging for notes even when the pede won’t see your child. Three times without a note and the parents get summoned before a local judge who awards the parents with detention. The biggest problem with this policy is that frequently your child is just too sick to go to school but not sick enough to bother the pede. The pede office has countered this assault on their time by putting in a screening process which means you must FIRST explain to the front office why your child must be seen before they will grant you the honor of an appointment. Skip ahead to today. I called the pede and told them what lab work I needed before they would give me an appointment. I checked Tommy out early and took him to the pede, mentally flogging myself not to forget the doctor’s note for school. After waiting 30 minutes past my appointment time, the doctor looked at the chart and said “I can’t do this. You’ll have to take him to Children’s Hospital (they won’t do bloodwork for any other doctor even if it’s a psychiatrist who CAN’T do bloodwork). Get your co-pay back from the front desk.” I waited at the front desk while the staff ate cookies given to them by a drug rep until they glanced my way and said “You need something else?” I handed them the note from the doctor saying that I needed my co-pay refunded and as they did so I asked for a school note. “We don’t give school notes if you don’t pay your co-pay.” What?!? I had barely started my lecture about why they were wrong when someone else in the office walked over and gave me a school note along with a scowl. Argh!
Child: “My parents are latch key parents. They can’t get out!”
Geez…I would be locked up by now if I were you. My older son has probably been out about a dozen times during the current Aussie school year (which ends in five weeks). I’ve heard of this happening in Texas too.
Oh.My.God. That is simply unbelievable. Like you don’t have enough going on. Good Blog btw!
So, when the parents are in jail, how do the kids get to school?
That is ridiculous. I would think that a note from YOU would be more than enough. Taken before a judge for gods sakes – aren’t there REAL criminals in Knoxville?
wow…sounds like a “calgon” day
WOW…when I was in school, all you had to have was a note from your parents. I can’t believe you have to take your kid to the doctor everytime they are sick. Are the schools getting kickbacks from the doctors???