Timewasters: The answering machine message

Every around this time every year, this answering message begins appearing in inboxes and on Facebook, allegedly a real message placed on the answering machine of a school in Australia. Judging by my e-mail in the last two days, it’s making its appointed rounds, again.

1. Audio not found

Funny but not really true.

According to Snopes.com, it actually originated at the Pacific Palisades School District in California, where officials adopted a policy that 10 unexcused absentees in a semester would result in failing grades. This was a spoof that was created during the subsequent parental reaction.

That, of course, is not to say there are plenty of teachers and school officials going back to work soon that wouldn’t like to add a few items to the list.