to think children shouldn't be punished for being poorly?

[mumnosbest]

Only children with 100% attendence are allowed to the school Halloween party. DS has a recurrent illness (every 3 months or so). He had 1 day off this term, after his teacher said he was struggling and needed a day to rest up, then he was up all that night and I agreed with her. DS wanted to go to school but was in no fit state and now blames me that he can't go to the party :(

I knowthere is an issue with poor attendence at the school and you can't have 1 rule for 1 and another for others but... Maybe 99% would be fairer as surely a lot of DCs miss 1 day through genuine illness. If this rewarding attendence is going to be a half-termly event DS will probably miss out on half of them as he will be ill again in about 3 months! (FingersX it's on a weekend).

AIBU (I am feeling very U and ranty this morning)?

Disability Discrimination Act is a good idea. I'd go with thebestisyettocome's idea

that should say 'can only'

There will be kids with 100% attendance, unfortunately.

There will be children who are very lucky and don't get sick which imo should be a reward in itself - those fortunate ones don't need an extra "reward" for it.

There will also be children whose parents are totally irresponsible and send them in with d&v and other illnesses to spread bugs around.

And sadly this type of school policy encourages the latter.

YANBU
But do check that if you keep him off for the halloween party he won't then be punished and not allowed to go to the Christmas party

Cakes is a nice idea if he does have to go to school.

And definitely complain!

The school is being totally unreasonable. My son was off over Easter for just over a week as he had appendicitus. I should have wheeled him into school in his hospitial bed still attached to his morphine drip. They wouldnt have got much work out of him as he was asleep for nearly 36 hours when he came out of surgery!

If enough parents took their DCs out of school in the afternoon while the party was on, the HT would have to pay attention to the message s/he is being given.

Yes, I think I'd be tempted to organise a boycott.

I'd love to arrange a boycott but it's tomorrow and I'd probably get sacked

Words fail me- what a hideous thing for them to do. Don't give up on getting this changed for this party op - there is still time for them to have their minds changed.

Botcott shold ideally be led by a parent not employed by school, obviously....

Boycott, not botcott, obviously......

A boycott sounds a bit too much like hard work and most people won't want to upset the head. If you REALLY feel strongly about it though you should email the head. I would but then I'm a fully paid up member of the awkward squad

Could Say to the head how worried you are that it may appear discriminatory to an outside observer / local press who may inadvertently learn of this policy/ get tipped off about it.

Fucking ridiculous to reward anyone who happens to have been lucky enough not to be ill, and how stupid to reward children whose parents send them in ill, infecting other children who then miss a day and get excluded for it. How does this idea make sense to ANY school?

100% agree with everybody who has said it is utterly stupid. ALso agree that this kind of policy only encourages partenst to fill the child up with calpol send them in and let them infect all the other children.
All genuine illnesses should be exempt---- Surely the teachers have an idea of who is pulling a fast one and who is not . Imagine the children who have to have ongoing treatment and have to be exempt for a morning or a day ?DAft Daft daft...

Sadly, the boycott should be led by the parent of one of the children who are going.

I caused a big row at school once about something I felt was unfair, when my child wasn't one of the ones punished. The head said that it was nothing to do with me as my child wasn't involved, but it was obviously impossible for one of the parents involved to cause a fuss without looking like a whinger.

I got the policy changed too [smug].

ok, letter written including most of the above. Also disclaimer at the bottom along the lines of: As a teacher understand the attendance issue but need to voice my concerns as a parent blah blah blah...

Keep us posted OP

Fingers crossed Op. Hope they see sense.

Yanbu. I would be incandescent. My DC has a chronic condition which means he gets ill more often than most.

That is truly horrid and mean.

It is bad enough giving out 100% attendance awards but having a party and excluding the sick is petty and mean spirited.

yanbu I am always shocked that schools reward kids like this.
it discriminates against disabled children with medical problems.