Sephoni missed her first day of school this year, and spent the day home on the couch.  I’m not 100% sure what she has.  Originally it seemed like something she ate Saturday night (while out with a friend and her family) didn’t agree with her.  Sunday seemed to point more to a food-borne illness.  Today found her able to eat a bit, but unfortunately still found her vomiting and since the school guidelines are to keep a child home for 24 hours past the last episode of vomiting she’ll be out of school again tomorrow.

Of course this means we’re not even out of September and have already kissed perfect attendance goodbye. But then, this isn’t a big deal because neither of my girls have ever earned that particular accolade.

I have a niece who has had perfect attendance every year and she’s a Freshman in high school this year.  And while I am, of course, proud of her (she’s determined to reach that goal every year until she graduates), I also wonder how many other kids wound up missing school because my niece went to school even when maybe she really should have stayed home sick.

And even assuming that the child/teen in question truly never needs a sick day all year long (or during their entire school career) what exactly are we rewarding with the award. Good luck? Better genetics? Stubbornness?

But, this practice is not limited to the school system. There are companies as well who reward those employees that never take a sick day.

Are we insane?

While I applaud the impulse to try to motivate kids to make school a priority, and while I understand the impulse for a business owner to discourage employee absenteeism, having a policy in place that results (intentionally or not) in the further transmission of disease is just irresponsible.

Just my 2 cents.

Jia

Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Related posts:

1. Heart-Sick Exhausted Scared I’ve been quiet in part to still being sad and tired. But, mainly due to...
2. Private: I’m Going Vegetarian It was Thursday evening and my stomach was rumbling, so I decided to eat something....
3. Private: Frugal Life – Keep Kids Busy During Summer Vacation June is one of my favorite months. It is my birthday month. I met my...