Doctor's note no longer excuse for absences at TN school district

https://www.wsmv.com/2025/07/22/doctors-note-no-longer-excuse-absences-tn-school-district/

by josephcsible • 12 months ago

7 6 12 months ago

josephcsible3• 12 months ago

You are not going to [...] get your driver’s license or permit.

This stuck out the most to me. How did we end up in a situation where this is something school districts have any authority over?

Someone• 12 months ago

The state requires school attendance to get a permit. In Tennessee, you can get a driver’s permit if you’re 15 years old but you have to “Show proof of school attendance from a current Tennessee school or a letter from the school in your previous state that confirms your attendance during enrollment in that school” (https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/teengdl.html)

josephcsible3• 12 months ago

The part of this I don't like is that the school district has effectively changed the state law's definition of "attendance". Such a change shouldn't be possible without being passed by the legislature and signed by the governor.

tom89999• 12 months ago

We experience the same here, over the great pond in germany. Summer holidays start soon and some children are already en route to the holiday destination, missing school. Its unlawful and fined, parents risk it every vacation season. Parents want to hop on the cheaper flight or want to have extra days. Usually, if kids do not attend school for at least a minimum, they will be held back and have to start over in their grade again. This is no warning to the parents that will have much more fun with them... If i dont show up to work unexcused, i wont get paid. If i am getting caught attending to a party while called in sick, its a felony, insurance fraud. This is to teach young people, you are responsible for your actions.

josephcsible3• 12 months ago

If i dont show up to work unexcused, i wont get paid. If i am getting caught attending to a party while called in sick, its a felony

But you're talking about not having a real excuse and faking being sick. The reason this is a story is that even if you have a legitimate excuse and really are sick, they'll still punish you now.

bediger4000• 12 months ago

How are they going to deal with highly communicable diseases like norovirus? One kid barfs, another 10 take it home.

Doctor's note no longer excuse for absences at TN school district

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