School district won't excuse absences for illness

Schools: "Let's close for 2 years over COVID."

Also schools: "Let's not excuse students for illness."

Ridiculousness is on the march in Lawrence County, Tennessee, as the local school district has announced that it will no longer excuse absences if a student is ill - even if they provide a doctor's note.

According to WSMV-TV, if a student misses 8 days in a school year due to illness, they will automatically be referred to juvenile court for truancy. The school district's director bellowed, "You can bring all the doctor's notes you want, but it is still unexcused." The district even sent a letter to doctors discouraging them from writing notes.

If a student shows up to school and is sent home by the nurse for being ill, they will be marked as tardy.

You can't make this up. They really said that.