Hello Lorrae,

Thank you for commenting with an in-depth response. I would disagree with that rationale in two-part. First, assuming the worst in the students will never breed positive results. There are students that abuse days off now. The same meetings and consequences to remedy the situation would take place.

Secondly, bullying of any kind should not be tolerated in any situation, especially from a teacher. Again, a student not wanting to go to school because of a teacher is a separate issue entirely. The same goes for bulling kids for taking off.

All of the issues you presented currently exist in schools with plans to address them. Mental health days send a message to all students and parents alike that the school takes mental health seriously. Worrying about the few that abuse the system leads to constant inaction and only hurts the majority.

As I mentioned in the last paragraph of the article, allowing for excused mental health days is not an end-all-be-all approach. It is a first step on a much larger journey. When suicide is the second leading cause of death for young adults in America, a first step needs to be taken.

Thank you again for commenting and I appreciate the discourse.