An Australian mother has warned handing out 'perfect attendance' awards at schools could do more harm than good.
Rachel Wright said her 10-year-old son JJ had been invited to a "100 percent attendance party" after turning up to school for every day.
But she argues it's not promoting the right ideals and won't let him accept the award.
"In this family you are not shamed for ill health, vulnerability or weakness," she wrote in a blog post which went viral.
"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 among us."
Instead, Ms Wright pointed out it was just luck he hadn't fallen sick.
She compared it to the workforce, questioning what sort of company would parade the departments with the fewest number off sick in front of other employees.
"Can you imagine what kind of atmosphere that would create with people who had days off for bereavement, mental health problem or chronic conditions?" she asked.
"The messages we are sending to our kids when we reward attendance is wrong for so many reasons."
Ms Wright's post has sparked much debate online, with some arguing she didn't need to create a "big fuss" over the issue.
But she's rejected that accusation.
"What made this personal decision seem like a 'big fuss' was the fact that because it resonated with so many people," she told ABC News.
Ms Wright has two other sons, including 11-year-old Sam, who has cerebral palsy. After her post about perfect attendance, she shared another of her experience filling out a disability living allowance form.
"Just completing this lovely form and named 23 professionals who have seen my son in the past 12 months," she said.
"Meanwhile my other son got 100 percent attendance and hasn't even seen his GP."
Newshub.
