Today I took my daughter to school late, because of a doctor’s appointment. When we arrived the secretary asked the reason for her tardiness and I told her about the appointment. She requested my doctor’s note. I don’t know. For some reason it really irks me that after dad says it was a doctor’s appointment the school wants proof. I could understand this in the nanny states of California or Washington, but this was in the “Come and Take it!” state of Texas. Perhaps I was unfair and didn’t see the value of the school system checking up on me.

I told the secretary that there would be no note, because I was my daughter’s dad and “dad says she was at the doctor, so that is all you need.” The nurse accused me of not supporting the school because without a doctor’s note she would not be counted present and the school would not get paid. How far am I supposed to support the school? What about the taxes paid? Isn’t that support enough. Of course, being the sweet and understanding kind I informed her that I didn’t give a flip about the school, but was supporting parental rights. To which she retorted that this was my opinion.

When did the government—federal, state, local, or school board—get the idea that we owe them anything or that they are to take care of us? They work for us! Perhaps I am taking this too personally but it has always been a pet peeve of mine. We as parents need to start telling the school districts that rules that help kids to learn are fine, but rules that are meant to manage what goes on outside of the school are not going to be tolerated.

There, I said my piece; I feel better.