Mom Arrested Because She Couldn't Get Doctor's Notes for Her Son's Three Absences


If your kid is under the weather, think twice before skipping the doctor, as one Georgia mother learned the hard way.

The day before Mother's Day, Julie Giles received the shock of her life; she was being arrested because her son Sam, 10, missed school too many times. Sam goes to school in the Screven County school district, which allows six absences without a doctor's note. Sam had 12 of them, but Julie claims that three of those additional six days were under doctor's orders. That means Julie is being arrested for just three days of her son missing school.

Julie, who also happens to be a substitute teacher at her son's school, documented her experience on Facebook. "I am home. I was actually placed in ankle shackles!! I was told that doing so is procedure. I was respectful and followed directions." She also explained that she cannot always afford to take her son to the doctor.

As all of you know, my boys being sick often is nothing new. Their NP jokes that the practice should be cutting me a paycheck, but the truth is l cannot afford a co-pay every single time they are sick, but I never want to send them to school when they feel bad or could possibly get others sick.

Despite his absences, Sam is on the honor roll, and was recently selected as "Student of the Month." Even though Sam keeps up with his classes, the district's superintendent William Bland stands by his decision to get Julie arrested.

Julie is getting pro bono legal assistance from the National Association of Parents, and has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the cost of other expenses. "We are going to fight this issue head on and are by no means running from our problems, but we also have a lot of decisions to make such as homeschooling, relocating to another school district or even private school."

If convicted, Giles can get a hefty $1,000 fine or spend up to a year behind bars.

[via DailyMail

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