So my son’s school is taking me to court for dependency because of his absences. The absences were mostly medical—he had strep, the flu, and a concussion from a bus accident. The school doesn’t seem to care about the medical side of things, though. They keep saying he’s misbehaving and acting out. Now they’re pushing for him to be taken away, and I have no idea what’s going to happen at the hearing. Anyone been through something like this before? Any advice?
This is so frustrating! I had something similar happen with my kid. The school didn’t take the medical stuff seriously either. Have you spoken to a lawyer about it?
Archer said:
This is so frustrating! I had something similar happen with my kid. The school didn’t take the medical stuff seriously either. Have you spoken to a lawyer about it?
I did talk to a lawyer, but they said they weren’t a good fit for my case. I’m trying to find someone else now. It’s just so overwhelming.
@Vega
That’s tough. Hopefully, you find someone who can help. The lawyer I had helped a lot with my case, but it took a while to find the right person.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Have you been documenting all your communication with the school? That might help you at the court hearing.
Bevan said:
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Have you been documenting all your communication with the school? That might help you at the court hearing.
Yes, I have some documentation, but not everything. The school was pretty unhelpful, and I wasn’t able to keep track of all the emails and meetings.
That’s really rough. I’d recommend gathering as much proof as you can. Doctors’ notes, emails, anything that shows he was really sick. It might help you show the school’s been in the wrong.
Bao said:
That’s really rough. I’d recommend gathering as much proof as you can. Doctors’ notes, emails, anything that shows he was really sick. It might help you show the school’s been in the wrong.
I’ve got a few doctor’s notes, but not as many as I’d like. I’m trying to gather more before the court date.
Sorry you’re going through this. It’s crazy how schools can be so dismissive about health issues. Have you been in touch with any other parents who’ve dealt with similar situations?
Rowan said:
Sorry you’re going through this. It’s crazy how schools can be so dismissive about health issues. Have you been in touch with any other parents who’ve dealt with similar situations?
I haven’t really talked to any other parents about it. I think I might try to reach out to others who might have faced similar things, though.
I had a similar issue years ago. The school didn’t want to acknowledge the medical problems either. It’s tough, but don’t give up. Have you talked to your child’s doctor about testifying or writing a statement for you?
@Noor
I haven’t asked the doctor yet, but that’s a good idea. I’ll see if I can get a statement or something to help.