Due to the H1N1 outbreak, I kept my child home from school for 5 days after receiving a letter from the school asking the parents to keep any sick child home which included a fever. They could return to school after they were without a fever for 24 hours. My son came down with a fever on a Sunday night, so I kept him home from school the next morning. By Wednesday, the fever was still high, so I called the school and let them know that he was sick and may not be in the rest of the week. I got his teachers to gather his school work for the week, and picked it up. By the next Monday, my son was able to go back to school. I sent in a letter (even though I had already contacted the school the prior week) and he turned in his school work. I then received a letter in the mail that same week stating that because there was no doctor's excuse his absences were unexcused. I then called the school again and explained to them again why he was out. That the doctor's office was very busy taking care of sick children and they didn't need a child with only a fever that they couldn't help to take up their time. To make a long story short, to no avail, I haven't gotten any help, the principal still hasn't returned my calls, and the deputy superintendent is saying that he will "try" to get the principal to call me. Meanwhile report cards come out on MONDAY!!!! Please, help me; the public schools have taken away all of the parents' rights.... why do I not have the right to doctor my child how I see fit. He didn't need to go to the doctors for a fever, and I felt it wasn't safe to send him to school with the scare of H1N1 everywhere. Now MY SON is getting punished for being SICK!!!!! and me taking caution! Please, we have to stop this. I beg you, help me. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Nikki Barden