With the US presidential election just around the corner, one school has caused a stir on social media for allowing "distressed" students to take the day off amid the fallout.
In a rather unconventional move, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City has decided that students can skip classes the day after the presidential election if they're feeling too "emotionally distressed" by the results, per NBC15.
This decision was revealed through an email sent to families, as reported by The New York Times.
The school recognizes that the election period may be a highly charged emotional time, allowing students from pre-K through twelfth grade who feel unable to "fully engage" in classwork to take the day off without penalty.
To further support its students, the school will not assign homework on Election Day and plans to have psychologists available for counseling.
Addressing the mental health of students around such a contentious event, the school aims to provide a supportive environment, regardless of the election's outcome, as stated by principal Stacey Bobo.
The initiative also includes educational resources on discussing the election with children and managing election-related anxiety.
This sentiment is echoed in a recent poll by the American Psychological Association, which found that nearly 70% of adults consider the election a significant source of stress.
Meanwhile, a fourth harshly wrote: "Enabling students to melt down and cry when they don’t get their way makes weak gutless adults."
As the debate over the best way to handle election stress in schools continues, Fieldston's policy stands as a testament to the growing recognition of mental health needs in educational settings.
But what are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comments.