Take your children to work day.

It's all about money. They get money for every student in school each day. So anyone who misses school, they don't get money from the Gov't. That'd be why they look down on it.

Yah but I went to a private school, so that argument wouldn't explain my former school's anal-ness. I think the headmaster was just nuts.

Or maybe he actually cared about his kids getting a good education.

Because one day is going to determine if you go to Harvard or a community college, right?

One day leads to more.

Now, perhaps they should allow anyone who hasn't missed a day yet skip that day. That would make more sense.