Truancy

[mickeylove2]

I had court yesterday, fighting a ticket that I got when I wrecked my car, and there was this woman who was there because her teenaged daughter refuses to go to school! I felt so bad for this woman, she works a full time job as a single mother to 3 kids and is at work when her daughter should be heading off to school, instead the girl just skips, either staying home or going elsewhere with her friends. This lady is facing 10 days in jail for EVERY DAY that her daughter is absent from school! The judge was definitely going by the book, can't say anything negative about her or the states attorney, but jeez, cut the woman a little break and come down on the kid why don't ya!

The girl was right there in the court room and not once did the judge say anything directed at the daughter, I was sitting right in front of her and wanted to turn around and smack the fear of God into her. Her aunt, I assume, was speaking to her the whole time her mom was up front saying things like, see what you're putting your mom through just because you don't feel like going to school? The girl just giggled the whole time! I was appalled!

So, what do you think? What would you do if you were this mother? Do you think the judge should have said anything to the kid? I'm really just curious.

 

[glitterkittyy]

I had court yesterday, fighting a ticket that I got when I wrecked my car, and there was this woman who was there because her teenaged daughter refuses to go to school! I felt so bad for this woman, she works a full time job as a single mother to 3 kids and is at work when her daughter should be heading off to school, instead the girl just skips, either staying home or going elsewhere with her friends. This lady is facing 10 days in jail for EVERY DAY that her daughter is absent from school! The judge was definitely going by the book, can't say anything negative about her or the states attorney, but jeez, cut the woman a little break and come down on the kid why don't ya!

The girl was right there in the court room and not once did the judge say anything directed at the daughter, I was sitting right in front of her and wanted to turn around and smack the fear of God into her. Her aunt, I assume, was speaking to her the whole time her mom was up front saying things like, see what you're putting your mom through just because you don't feel like going to school? The girl just giggled the whole time! I was appalled!

So, what do you think? What would you do if you were this mother? Do you think the judge should have said anything to the kid? I'm really just curious.

Time to hire someone to dress like a clown with full clown makeup to escort my daughter to school everyday and pick her up at the end of the day. My dad did this to my sister, and it took exactly ONE DAY for her to decide going to school on her own was a lot less embarassing than having a clown escort. Walked her right up to the door of her class (that was back in the day before you had to check in at the office but heck, that'd be good too!).

 

[momof1princess]

if the aunt were available to chastize the girl in court, perhaps she would be available to make sure the girl gets to school. if i were the mother, i would speak to the school about the situation and have someone, the aunt for example, accompany the child through a few school days, for the ENTIRE day, until she realized this is going to be an every day thing until she can do it on her own. if there isn't a relative available, mom will have to take some time off (unfair, i know, because it penalizes the entire family) and accompany the daughter through her school days until the light dawns. i'd much rather do this than go to jail. the clown escort is an awesome idea, i LOVE it, lol.

 

[MosMom]

I will store the clown nugget in my head for future use, if needed.

 

[mom2d&b]

the mom is in a difficult spot I am disapointed to hear the judge did not speak directly to the teenager. As a mom with a DD10, it is challenging to follow up on everything and work. I do like the clown idea. I will have to remember that.

 

[tomthebarncat]

As a senior I decided to move in with my Dad, he had no real rules or regulations and I got twenty bucks a week allowance, this was 1979. One day I decide I am going to stay home sick and my Dad tells me to get ready to go to school, we argue and he ends up dragging me to the car and drives me to school. He then walks me into my first period class, holding my hand and loudly states "she is here for her lesson". Laughter erupts and I just want to die!! why you ask, because my Dad was wearing his BATHROBE AND SLIPPERS! I was already the suburban kid in an city school and now this! I heard about that one for weeks!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I don't know what I would do in her situation.

 

[Darsa]

I definitely do think that the judge should have addressed the child. I would hope that a teenager, even in today's entitlement society, has an instinctual OR learned respect (if not fear) for such an authority figure, and that it would make an impression on the kid.

I remember being 17-almost-18, I had dropped out of school and was working and babysitting my little brother, and was stopped by a cop (long story, cop's fault not mine). I contested it and had to go in front of a judge, who told me that he wanted me to try to get back into school, and if I could promise to do that, he would drop the charge. Never discussed the charge (cop didn't show up) but I told him I would try; he dropped the charges, and I *did* try, because it made such an impression on me. And I've never forgotten it.

 

[mom2boys77]

Awesome Dad!!! My brother used to pull that on my mom..she would drop him off and watch him go into school and the school would end up calling my mom at work to let her know he wasn't there. She got a letter saying she would be put in jail for HIS truancy..she ended up signing him out of school in 9th grade. He put my parents through hell. I think that judge should definitely said something to the girl.

As a senior I decided to move in with my Dad, he had no real rules or regulations and I got twenty bucks a week allowance, this was 1979. One day I decide I am going to stay home sick and my Dad tells me to get ready to go to school, we argue and he ends up dragging me to the car and drives me to school. He then walks me into my first period class, holding my hand and loudly states "she is here for her lesson". Laughter erupts and I just want to die!! why you ask, because my Dad was wearing his BATHROBE AND SLIPPERS! I was already the suburban kid in an city school and now this! I heard about that one for weeks!

 

[tinkntraining]

I'm disappointed the judge didn't address the teenager directly and made her at least equally responsible for her truancy. May have left an impression on her, maybe not. But IMO, the judge lost the opportunity to hold her responsible for her actions.

I feel for the mom. I understand the law, but somehow, in situations like this, it seems so unfair.

I will say that so far, I haven't had any problems with either of my teens attending school. But....in the event they decide to try it, I'll be on the look out for a clown outfit! (LOVE THAT IDEA!!)

 

[luvmy3]

I don't understand how the judge punishing the mother is going to teach this girl to be responsible. If she herself doesn't have to face the consequences of skipping school, WTH is her incentive to then make sure she goes, especially since it doesn't seem she has an ounce of respect for her mother or care that she will be sitting in jail. Of course the girl got to this point because she was allowed to, that mom needs to get much tougher with her, one way or another.

 

[AristocatFan]

I work in the local school system so my kids know that I would be in class right beside them if they tried to pull anything like that! My boys were embarrassed enough having me in the same building during middle school, the last thing they want is me at the high school!

Our school district is cracking down on parents as well. But we have so many parents that just withdraw their kid and say they are home schooling just so they can be done it.

 

[dislaney]

I will store the clown nugget in my head for future use, if needed.

Such a great idea and I'm storing it away myself.

 

[bumbershoot]

Time to hire someone to dress like a clown with full clown makeup to escort my daughter to school everyday and pick her up at the end of the day. My dad did this to my sister, and it took exactly ONE DAY for her to decide going to school on her own was a lot less embarassing than having a clown escort. Walked her right up to the door of her class (that was back in the day before you had to check in at the office but heck, that'd be good too!).

This lady is facing 10 days in jail for EVERY DAY that her daughter is absent from school!

And who the heck will be watching her kids, and getting the teen to school, during that time???? Weird judge!

 

[Kae]

But it is the responsiblity of the parent. I know it sounds wrong but it is. I agree that the judge should have talked to both. Bottom line though is the parent is responsible.



Kae

 

[mickeylove2]

And who the heck will be watching her kids, and getting the teen to school, during that time???? Weird judge!

It's not the judge, it's standard- 10 in jail for every 1 day that they skip school! Crazy I know!

My friend was in a similar situation, she had 4 teens at 1 time, she was single, dad died years ago, mom is disabled- back problems. Anyway, the teens started rebelling- I'm talking hitting their mom, drinking, sex, drugs, skipping school, she tried everything to get them out of that stage. Finally, after going before the judge and hearing 10 days for each day, and I mean between the 4 of them she was looking at almost 100 truant days, that's basically 3 years in jail! She pretty much said I'm not going to jail over your stupidity, and did something drastic, a lot of people have given her a really hard time about it.

She finally went to the state and had them remove her kids from her. She was really at her wits end and NO ONE would help her, she took them to conseling, she took them to church and tried to get them involved, she punished by taking things away, she even called the cops on her own kids because they were doing drugs and drinking in her garage and the oldest son started hitting her, the cops threatened to take her away in cuffs because she was the responsible adult in the home letting them do this (she was actually at the store and came home to find all of this) and the son said that she slapped him, even though he admitted to hitting her 1st. Now the kids are split up between some of her relatives, and they are miserable, but at least they are going to school and their mom isn't depressed and suicidal praying that she doesn't get thrown in jail!

 

[mickeylove2]

But it is the responsiblity of the parent. I know it sounds wrong but it is. I agree that the judge should have talked to both. Bottom line though is the parent is responsible.



Kae

That's bs, when a teen is determined to do something, they will do it, no matter what the parent says! You can't beat your kids anymore, what do the kids have to lose?!?!? When I was in school, it wasn't my mom's fault that I was late, I overslept because I stayed out too late. It wasn't my mom's fault that I skipped school, she was at work, would you rather she live on welfare just so she can stay home and make sure I get to school??? Ok, then I go to school and just sneak out the side doors after 1st bell, that's my mom's fault too? IDTS

Kids have to be held accountable!

 

[PlainJane]

And who the heck will be watching her kids, and getting the teen to school, during that time???? Weird judge!

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe the girl thinks it'll be a great way to get rid of her mother. In her mind it's probably a win-win situation.

Reading this thread makes we want to home school.

 

[DisTeach1]

Unfortunately, when kids get like this, there is very little you CAN do to some of them to hold them accountable. Some of them just don't care. What are you going to do? They already are failing for the most part, they don't care about an education (at this point in their lives, anyway), they almost always have difficult home lives. What CAN you do?

The only thing I've seen work on some of these kids is to put an ankle bracelet on them, and they have to go to school, otherwise they get thrown in juvenile hall. But, you can lead a horse to water but can't make them drink, so many of them come to school, but refuse to learn, then just cause more problems for others.

I don't know what holding kids like this "accountable" means anymore. Sometimes it's the parents fault, but not every time. If it were my son, it's easy to say that I would take off work and escort him to school, but if you are the sole provider, and barely making ends meet, sometimes hiring a clown isn't even an option.

 

[dakcp2001]

my city ahs a truant officer that "arrests" you and takes you to school. Parents call him when they have little angels like this girl.