ETA: That kid is going to remember that his mother watched and did nothing. That's heartbreaking.
I agree. That poor kid. It appears she was over a barrel. She either allowed him to be paddled or he would be suspended and she would go to jail for his truancy. Now, I will admit that she is responsible for his excessive absences. Even if they were medical related, it appears that the only allowed absences are the following (from the school handbook) ...
1) When personally ill and when attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others;
2) When in the immediate family there is a serious illness or death which would reasonably necessitate absence from school;
3) On special and recognized religious holidays observed by their faith;
4) When mandated by government agencies (i.e. pre-induction physical or subpoena);
5) When prevented from attendance due to weather conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous;
6) When a student serves as a page of the General Assembly (counted present, not excused absence)
7) When registering to vote (one day);
8) When visiting with a military parent on leave from or being deployed to a combat zone (5 days); and
9) When a student in foster care attends court proceedings related to his or her foster care (counted present, not as an excused absence).
... and none of them include doctor's appointments.
Oh, and way to go! Let's punish violence (the boy started a fight) with more violence!
