Mum's post on turning down son's perfect attendance award at school goes viral

JJ's mum Rachel Wright doesn't think schools should reward children for perfect attendance. Photo / Facebook/Born at the Right Time

UK mum Rachel Wright's Facebook post explaining her reasons for turning down her son's "Perfect Attendance" award at school has gone viral.

Wright says her 10-year-old son JJ's perfect attendance is a matter of luck and should not be rewarded (if anything, she adds, she should be the one getting the reward as she is the one who takes him to school).

"In this family you are not shamed for ill health, vulnerability or weakness," the mum explained. "In this house you are not encouraged to spread germs when you are not well. In this house we look after ourselves and the weakest amongst us."

Wright believes this type of award has a lot to do with privilege.

"Can you imagine a workplace that at the end of each week marked out all the people who hadn't been sick? Where all the departments with the least number of people off were rewarded - in front of everyone else? It happens in schools all the time," she writes.

"Can you imagine what kind of atmosphere that would create with people who had days off because of bereavement, mental health problem or chronic conditions? What on earth are we teaching our kids about value and worth? What are we teaching them about looking out for each other and looking after the sick or disabled in our community?"

Wright believes the award "rewards luck" and demonises the weakest.

She also adds that she will take her son out of school for five days later in the year as, as much as she values education, her family also values "creating memories". "So our son will finish his school year one week early and go to Italy instead of class parties, watching films and playing end of year games (with permission from school)."

The post has gone viral with parents all over the globe both applauding and criticising Wright for her views.

Wright told The Huffington Post that most commenters have been respectful and she is glad her post sparked a discussion on the topic.

"It obviously resonated with people and is something that needs reconsidering," she said.

Wright has an older son with severe disabilities and believes this type of reward outcasts the weaker, more vulnerable members of society, such as her eldest boy.

"As the parent of a severely disabled child, I have a strong aversion to rewarding children for not being sick," she told the Huffington Post.