By bearcasey

September 18, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Teens (they are NOT “students”) who are truant should be put to work at hard manual labor for a minimum wage.

By jim d

September 18, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Is truancy the responsibility of parents or schools?

BOTH, and leave us not forget whose ultimately responsible for ones actions.

Will punishing parents or schools make these kids show up?

Yes and no. Personally I don’t really give a damn. If they don’t want to be in school leave them alone. This will enhance the learning expierence for those that are there for an education.

By jim d

September 18, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

bear,

Why? odds are they will be working for M-W for the rest of their lifes.

This is a choice just like any other in life that carries a consequence. Let them pay it!

By flipper

September 18, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

This has already been blogged to death on AJC.com… boring topic. Try again Laura.

By teach1

September 18, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

I side with jim. Let the teens suffer the consequences.

Don’t hold the school accountable for this either. I hate calling parents to check on their children after 2 absences. How is that my job other than my boss said I had to do it because the NCLB qualifies attendance as part of AYP?

By Tony

September 18, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Truancy is the result of poor attitudes about the importance of education and this begins in the home. Parents convey to children their own values through their actions. Letting children lay out from school demonstrates to the child that the parent does not care about their future.

If the only consequences the truant person faced were his/her own, then I could agree with most of what is being said. Unfortunately, these truants will be on the public payroll that I have to pay and I do not care to. Perhaps judges who hear these cases should be allowed to revoke a persons right to come later in life to claim welfare or other government assistance.

The truants should be kicked out of the regular schools and free that school of the burden they cause. The school would then be free to concentrate on the ones who desire to be there and want to earn a good education. Truants might be offered a chance to enroll in an alternative program, but it should be at their own expense. These kids and their families are already soaking up huge amounts of tax-based resources in school, court, and social services.

By momtoAlex&Max

September 18, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

You know what I don’t understand? How it gets to that point. I mean the point where a kid has been absent 40 or 50 times.

With my parents, not going to school was just not an option. At all. You went to school. Or else.It never would have occured to me to skip school. I sure hope my children have the same attitude. If one of mine is not in school, he better be dead. That’s the only excuse I am accepting.

By JJ

September 18, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

I was listening to Steve & Vikki this a.m and they were discussing the arrests.

This one woman called in. She was saying, that she had to be at work at 6:00 and it was her kids responsibility to get themselves on the bus. She said, “if they don’t go to school, what am I supposed to do?”

I wished I had been able to crawl through that telephone and grab that stupid woman by the shoulders and shake the crap out of her!!!

I understand parents have to be at work, and sometimes the kids are on their own to get to school. How about a neighbor? There are so many options…….When my daughter was in elementary school, alot of the parents had to be at work before the bus came. Me and a couple of other moms would walk all the kids down to the bus stop. I can’t tell you how many times we had to bang on a door to get a kid out of bed, but we did it. We took the responsibility to get our neighborhood kids to the bus stop.

Now I don’t think the parents should go to jail. The jails are overcrowded, and there is no need for jail time. BUT there needs to be some sort of ramifications put on the parents to get their kids to school.

My daughter’s school calls parents if their child is not at school.

By Duh

September 18, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Why in the world should parents EVER be held responsible for what their precious kids do?

By dorae

September 18, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

I agree with jj. It’s about being a parent. After you have been notified that your child has missed school a couple of times than as a parent you need to make sure that child is in school. If he/she continues to miss school than your child stands the chance of getting so behind it will be very diffifult to catch up with their class. What happened to consequences for choices? If your teenage child wants to drop out and you can’t get them to attend. They need to go to work. If they want to skip school and “act like an adult” then they need to learn that those who don’t work don’t eat.

By amy

September 18, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

Send the Parents to Jail??? How bout sending the Kids to jail? Not an adult jail, but Juvenile detention center. That’s the ONLY way they will learn is if they see the consequences themselves.
Putting the Parent in jail would cause major problems-mainly monetary, if that parent has to miss work and could risk getting fired because they had to be in jail. Well, you all complain about supporting people on welfare, and people who take handouts…this could drive these people to it, and add another person to the list I and YOU are supporting.

By jim d

September 18, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

Tony,

Actually there are progarms in place already the largest being a GED.

I suggest letting them drop out, live in the real world for a couple of years without an education or welfare and then let them go after a GED if they wish.

I’ve seen the numbers that would indicate the large majority of drop outs actually do this. Which to me indicates it works.

And as we’ve both stated in agreement. “let’s teach the ones that want to learn.” I believe the gains in doing so far out weigh the cost of attempting to educate those that don’t want an education (at a particular point in their life). Particularlly since they seem to come around later in life.

By jim d

September 18, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

Amy,

“Back in the day” locking up the kids is what would have happened. We actually had Schools for them. “reform schools” I had a couple of friends that got their diplomas from such institutions. BTW, they are pretty successful today.

By ESR

September 18, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Parent? Liberal use of the word. In most of theses cases the person that bred them would be more applicable than parent. No, why go after the people who spawn these little criminals and toss them out on the pavement for my neighbors and myself to have to deal with. What do you think these wayward teens are doing during the day’s they’re suppose to be in school. They’re robbing our homes, training to be adult criminals, many like their ‘parents’ are. Let’s back up one step and sterilze these people so they can’t spawn more trouble and vomit them out into society. Are we are sparsley populated planet who needs these types? Hell no. They just caught a robbing crew near my neighborhood, they were 13 to 17 years old and skipping school. Too bad someone didn’t have the pleasure or opportunity to ready, aim…fire.

By sharon

September 18, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

I 100 percent agree with Tony. JJ we are living in times where neighbors aren’t like they used to be. These aren’t Leave it To Beaver or Mayberry times. So, asking a neighbor to make sure your child gets to school is not an option in most cases. I’m at work at 5am and my daughter knows I better not get a phone call saying she is not at school. Truancy will not be tolerated. Parents should defintely be held responsible. We make the rules and they d-mn well better abide.

By Jason

September 18, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

“Let’s back up one step and sterilze these people so they can’t spawn more trouble and vomit them out into society.”

This actually sounds like a good idea. If you father a child before you’re 18 or while you’re making less than $30K a year, you should be sterilized.

By black coffee

September 18, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Do you all not get that the majority of these children aren’t teens? These are elementary aged children who are missing upward of 40 days in a freaking 180 day school year. This is mostly due to parents who are idiots and should be sterilized. Dope fiends, drunks and plain trash are the ones who don’t get up in the morning after partying to send their children to school. Yes, they should be in jail!!!

By Lullline

September 18, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

Tony, I agree 100% with your first paragraph statement. The importance of education should start at home and very early on to ensure a child’s interest in learning. It’s a tough situation for parents and add a single parent to the mix makes a recipe for disaster. Kids are very crafty these days and will walk out the door with their own adjenda in mind and the parents are complety clueless. Checking a child’s homework and daily communication with teachers will eliminate any “surprises” for the most part because we all know, kids are not going to volunteer any information regarding truancy. True, some of us are not destioned for college but graduating with a high school diploma (not GED) should be a goal for every student. Even with that it’s not going to get you that far in life anyway! If parents allow their kids to stay home for trivial things or pull them out of school to take vacations then yes, you are sending the wrong message. Growing up,the only time we’d ever miss school is if we were real sick - 1 step from our deathbed. Oversleeping or missing the school bus is irresponsible and those are the same transferable habits that follow the student into the adult working life. Everyone at some time comes across the co-worker who calls out sick for any and everything, or they show up for work when they feel like it. Look around you, the criminals are almost always high school drop outs or barely hanger ons. There’s so much you can do with wayward student and putting parents in jail is not the answer!!!!

By white coffee

September 18, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

By: PC September 18, 2008 I agree with black coffee to a degree, the parents are at fault, but to say that the parents have dope friends, drunks, and that they are plain trash doesn’t have anything to do with this. Now black coffee sounds like an idiot. There are plenty of dope users, drunks, and plain trash parents, but even their kids get an education. Hell you have kids using different drugs and go to school every day and get an education. By putting the parents in jail is not going to help the situation. Go back to the reform school and let those kids learn there, but everyone will suffer from the kids not in school because they will eventually turn to crime and doing things that will affect not only their lives, but the lives of others in that area. Im sure that black coffee is not in those neighborhoods.

By SaveOurRepublic

September 18, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

While this talk of sterilization is humourous & seems in line for “obliviots”, it’s all too close to reality (ie - the Globalist Elite’s Malthusian eugenics agenda…population reduction, etc.).

Regarding truancy for younger kids, it does fall on the parents shoulders (& partially on the school system). For teens, they should bear the repsonsibility for their truancy. Irregardless of age, jail time is over the top. That whole idea smacks of “1984” police-state…and no, I’m not a bleeding heart pinko.

By tom

September 18, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

If we are talking about K-8 students (under age 16, maybe), then parents should be held accountable somehow, but probably not sending them to a jail. For students 16 or older, it’s their choice. On the other hand, I also think if kids come to schools to take tests and pass them, they should receive whatever the grades they get. Too many schools and teachers think that the only ways students learn is by coming to school, and they are clearly mistaken. There are so many teachers whose lessons aren’t probably worth a dime. So, if students can skip classes yet pass the tests, then they should be getting credit. Schools should not be using homework as a part of grades, either, as it is an indirect way of forcing students to attend classes. Grades should be based on quizzes and tests - all announced.

By Belinda

September 18, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

Parents, should not be put in Jail!!! Have any one thought that the biggest problem the STATE made. Was taken PRAYER out of the schools and parents right to beat that a..; has caused the problem we have in USA today.

Children today do not respect their elders as we did in our day. Therefore, there’s little respect for the teachers which is why there is so much interuption in the schools of America. And don’t forget how teachers where unfair in our day. Children today is just not having it. I’m 54 and in my day the mothers of my community where our acting mothers as well. It sometimes takes a whole community to get involved in the raising of children.

School is important! I believe most parents instill higher education in their children.

Yes, maybe making them work for little money would wake them up. But, bigger than that PRAYER needs to be put back in the school. Because the word of God teachers respect, obedience, advancement, wisdom, knowledge, restoration, hope, dreams & love.

By online reader

September 18, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

Children are the responsibility of their parents! If the parents don’t get it then punish them! Otherwise create state orphanages and put the kids in there. At least that will keep them off the streets and from going around stealing from peoples homes while they are hard at work.

By catlady

September 18, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

I agree that parents should be held accountable, even if we are talking about teens. The first job a parent has is to teach the child to recognize those who have authority over them. It starts with the parent saying “No” and enforcing it, rather than saying, “I said no. Now NEXT TIME you won’t be getting that.” You hear parents every day pleading and bargaining with their children to do as the parent says, giving second, third, and fourth chances. We teachers see the end result of that.

And the excuse-making! “I can’t get him to school because I have to go to work” “I can’t get him out of bed” “I can’t get him to go to bed at night.” etc, etc. Parents have to establish their authority from the beginning!

With older students, they also should be put into “educational” situations to catch up with their peers on learning responsibility and the value of an education. I say, let them drop out if they want, but they immediately go into a rigorous, bootcamplike training facility that will help them develop an appreciation of their former opportunities.

In our area we have an alternative school for those who are not willing to submit to regular school authority. It operates during the day and the students are given the regular bus transportation, etc. The successes are few and far between, and it is a huge waste of money, IMHO. In addition, due to where it is located, it endangers much younger students nearby, and at least one police officer is always having to be there at all times. What a load of hooey! Give them the option: stay in school and conform your behavior or go to boot camp until you are old enough to drop out (or until you can earn your way back to your regular school).

By Belinda

September 18, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

I can’t speak about ATL’s school system as I live in NY.

But, I can say this Homework should be base on what was learnt in class. Tests should be base on what was taught in class. These state test that children have to take has very little to do with what was taught during the year. Which is why state scores are so low.

The state needs to know instead of making the children smarter they are losing interest and acting out. Why? There is no fun in failing. Restoration can begin with:

Classes that actually empowered them for a position in the work force.

When people are doing what the enjoy they have a tendency to do better.

We are not all created the same. Everyone doesn’t want to go to college. But everyone needs a High School diploma. We need people in the school system that actually care about our youth’s future.

By catlady

September 18, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

One other thing: it is crazy to expect teachers to spend time calling parents to encourage them to get little Johnny back in school. Teachers need to teach the ones that are here. The court system should be notified and let them take it from there! If a police officer shows up at your place to check on little Johnny, it means a lot more than if a teacher calls you.

Parents whose children are repeatedly tardy should also be taken to court.

By Tony

September 18, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

jim d - excellent point on the fact that many people come back later to finish their education. The realities of life set in and many realize they can complete the GED, go to technical school, or even go on to college. This is one of the characteristics that sets our nation apart from all others. Where there’s a will to accomplish something, there is a way to do it.

By catlady

September 18, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

Tony, people can come back later to finish their education. But they should not be allowed to dither around (truant, disruptive) for years on the taxpayer dime, while other students’ needs are not met. Let them have their epiphany after they experience the cause and effect of the real world.

By tom

September 18, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

These state test that children have to take has very little to do with what was taught during the year. Which is why state scores are so low.

If this is the case, the teacher should be held accountable - the state tests are supposed to follow the state curriculum standards, and if teachers aren’t teaching according to the state standards, then they are engaged in an educational malpractice. They should bear all the blame for low test scores.

Homework can serve many different purposes in teaching/learning, but it should not be a (significant) part of grades.

By Blue Devil

September 18, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this

The world will still need burger flippers for the next generation. We can’t count on Mexico to provide us with cheap labor.

By Sarah

September 18, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this

Well, whose fault is it then, if not the parents? I say yes, punish them. They are responsible for the kids until they turn 18. If we make them take some responsibility for the children then maybe teachers will be able to teach again instead of being mom, nurse, shrink, truant officer. It has to start somewhere.

By TheBlogger

September 18, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this

Duh! Heck yeah it is the responsibiliity of the parents!!! What a stupid question to ask!

Schools are there for the students. Parents need to ensure that their children are at the very least in attendance. Schools provide transportation, lunches, breakfest, etc. What else should schools do? Wipe their a$$?

By Lee

September 18, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this

So, now that absenteeism can affect the school AYP rating, we’re putting parents in jail.

Did anybody else read the leading article and note this gem:

“Parents can be charged with educational neglect when a child has more than five unexcused absences in a school year.”

Read that again and let it sink in…..

It’s just a matter of time before some overzealous prick principal with an internet Phd tries to get a parent in trouble because their child didn’t get a doctor’s excuse everytime they were out.

But Lee, nobody would do that. A parent can write an excuse and say their child was sick and that would be an excused absence.

Yeah, right. And nobody could have foreseen that a Tweety Bird keychain was a deadly weapon either.

By Lee

September 18, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this

So, now that absenteeism can affect the school AYP rating, we’re putting parents in jail.

Did anybody else read the leading article and note this gem:

“Parents can be charged with educational neglect when a child has more than five unexcused absences in a school year.”

Read that again and let it sink in…..

It’s just a matter of time before some overzealous prick principal with an internet Phd tries to get a parent in trouble because their child didn’t get a doctor’s excuse everytime they were out.

But Lee, nobody would do that. A parent can write an excuse and say their child was sick and that would be an excused absence.

Yeah, right. And nobody could have foreseen that a Tweety Bird keychain was a deadly weapon either.

By Martin

September 18, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this

For some reason, you people seem to think this is about teenagers. Nowhere does it say that parents are getting arrested for what their teenagers did. The article mentions middle school and elementary school students.

If your child is in middle school or elementary school, it is your responsibility to make sure they get an education.

The problem is that a lot of these parents are on drugs or too busy having a good old time and thinking about themselves. They don’t really care about their own children enough to put them on the bus.

By Peter

September 18, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this

Can’t we open state run orphanages again. We can take these kids from their useless parents and put them in orphanages that will operate with 3 squares a day and mandatory school. On top of that I would make ROTC a requirement so the kids could repay their debts to society by joining the millitary for 4 or more years.

By NoChoice

September 18, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this

Too late!! This is a no-win situation. Pre-event planning and prevention would have suggested these “parents” (probably not an appropriate use of the term “parents” in these situations) not be allowed to have any offspring. In general, these are the shallow end of the gene pool non-contributors to society and should not be allowed to reproduce….

By live and let live

September 18, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this

We let are kids determine if they want to go to school or not when they turn 12. We believe that at that points kids are old enough to make their own decisions. Two of our kids continued on like normal, but one decided that everyday school wasn’t for him. We are encouraging him to pursue his dreams, creating comic books.

To all the people that will not like this - I have an MBA, and have hated every job I’ve ever had. My wife has a masters in teaching and also supports this line of thinking.

By Ha

September 18, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this

NoChoice at 10:29. A viable option…but where were future democrat voters come from???

By DB

September 18, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this

Yes, it’s the parent’s fault. Too many excuses for not doing their job properly — the first being instilling a respect for authority and the value of an education.

But frankly, arresting the parents is a bit silly. Why not just flunk the kid and s/he doesn’t graduate? That way, s/he’s not taking up resources, s/he’s not wasting everyone’s time — oh, and s/he shouldn’t be able to get a driver’s license, either, and aren’t able to qualify for welfare or food stamps.

There are consequences to behavior. Flunking out and dealing with the gritty, ugly consequences of being a loser on the bottom rung of society should be punishment enough.

By MOT

September 19, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this

There are parents are who don’t care. The courts out west awarded the lying scum bag of an ex husband the custody of my sister’s kids. He moved to Florida and to get back at my sister for divorcing him he allows them to not go to school and he holds drug/alcohol/sex parties for them and their friends. My sister has tried to get him arrested but somehow the scum wiggles or charms his way out. When the school finally sent the principle and a social worker to the house to see why the kids were gone so much and make him accountable, he told them they could not make him send his kids. They said we will put you in jail. He said, well then I am homeschooling my kids, and they left him alone, though the kids still sporadically come. Why isn’t someone following up there? I sure wish he lived up here and had his old butt thrown in jail.

If welfare assistance is tied to kids being in school and then when those kids apply as adults and they can’t access assistance without a diploma or certificate then I bet we would see a whole lot of kids all of a sudden interested in school. But I agree with the others, if the kids don’t want to be there that badly, they should not be forced so as not to drag down the quality the rest could have. Instead send them all to the alternative schools. In fact, another leverage is once they miss X amount of days they can NOT register in a regular public school, ONLY in an alternative. And it does not start over in a new year, if the number of times missed unexcused were set at 70, then it is 70 period and no starting it over the next school year.

There are ways to stop it, but as a society we are all bowing down to the PC folks who don’t want to step on toes and offend anyone so it will be allowed to continue.

By jim d

September 19, 2008 3:33 AM | Link to this

Arresting the parents for a truant student makes about as much sense as arresting a teacher because a student is disruptive.

By Belinda

September 19, 2008 3:55 AM | Link to this

Tom, you appear to be interested.

Teachers do have a curriculum they have to follow. Which means they are sticking to the curriculum and are not aloud to teach their classes according to the childrens progress or lack of progress.

Children who are slower get lost and children who find the school work easy can’t progress. Which causes children to act up and be label as bad children. They are simply bored.

It’s the Board of Educations fault. Teachers should have a curriculum. However, they should be in control as to how fast lessons are taught. Why should they have to teach 9x’s tables when the class doesn’t know their 3x’s table. 90% of the students are playing catch up within 2 months of the opening of school. When children are behind they lose interest. It’s no fun failing. By the time they are in middle school the children are already out of control. Not to mention H.S.

I believe whom ever sets the standards have designed school to be exacting what it is… absentees, then drop outs, then criminals.

There goals is to keep our poor & middle class children & parents ignorant. Which why children are overloaded with homework. There so time for children or parents who care to further teach/learn anything in greater detail. They are angry because so many Blacks have made it. And, now they want to put parents in jail. For what so they can lose their jobs and get on welfare. It’s a form of control/salvery.

But, now they realize the children absentees, and drop out means less funds for the school. (AYP)

By Mike In Woodstock

September 19, 2008 4:03 AM | Link to this

Can someone please tell me why Cherokee County bothers to hire School Police?

I called them 2 years ago to report some neighborhood kids for being truant and their response was, “we don’t handle those cases”.

A total weak spined vague response if I ever heard one.

By Belinda

September 19, 2008 4:38 AM | Link to this

They do not care about our children. The system only cares about money. And, I mean money in their pockets. That’s the only reason it’s a issue. Their solution is put parents in jail.

By tom

September 19, 2008 5:31 AM | Link to this

Belinda,

No state standards say anything about pacing. It’s teachers’ judgment. No group of kids will ever progress at the same rate, and teachers are supposed to deal with that fact. That’s the challenge of teaching and that’s the reason teachers are professionals. If they can’t handle it, then they should not be in classroom. It is convenient to blame someone else, but it is really teachers’ fault.

I’m very cynical person, but not anywhere near you. I think you seem to be one of those conspiracy nuts.

By TheBlogger

September 19, 2008 5:57 AM | Link to this

I am simply shocked at the posts here that are blaming schools or prinicpals. WTF?

Parents have children. It is the parent’s responsbility by LAW to ensure that these children get an education. Society provides this place to get the education - called public schools.

Public schools even provide transportation. All these pitiful parents must do is ensure that their child attends school. There is no excuse. None. Zero. Zip.

And, it isn’t just elementary and middle grades. It is all grades. Yep, even high school. A 16 year old is still a minor and still must have an adult to answer to in our society (parent, guardian, whatever). And, that adult is responsible for that 16 year old child.

Schools cannot send out an officer to round up these children. Costs are already through the roof and doing anything like this would cost even more. Do you really want to pay more taxes for this?

Schools should do exactly what they are supposed to do - report absences. When it becomes excessive (5 or more unexcused absences by law), all schools need to do is report this to the law and let the legal system fix the problem (arrest the parent/guardian). Schools do not need to become police officers. They should simply report what they must according to the law.

Principals/schools cannot “become over zealous” as someone posted. They are simply doing as the law requires. If you don’t like the law, work to change it.

Don’t blame the schools or principals.

By robo

September 19, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this

Should these egg and sperm donors be sent to jail???? Clearly, it’s about time that they are sent to jail. The sad part is that they weren’t in jail when the procreation took place that spawned these miscreants. Take their spawn, and give these aspiring criminals one chance, under intense supervision, to straighten up, get an education, and see their egg/sperm donors for what they are, miserable failures not worthy of the title: “Parent”.

By Laura

September 19, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this

There are many different causes of truancy. Punishing the parents is dumb. But maybe forcing the whole family into some kind of check in system, and maybe providing support, where necessary. Hold schools accountable,get them engaged, too. The jail legal thing is extremely expensive for tax payers—there are cheaper, smarter interventions..

By Jennifer F

September 19, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this

I am pretty sure parents have an obligation, until the child is 16 ( compulsory attendance) to get their kids to the “school house door”. If they are not getting the kids to the door, then yes, they should be arrested because they are denying their student his/her right to an education which will benefit not only the student, but the community as well.

This does though and should obligate the school to inform parents if their child is not attending. My guess is that if the school does not do that in good faith, many parents would not even know that their child is not attending, so they can’t really be blamed in those instances.

Now, I think a diversion program once a parent has been arrested - a family support program is a better way to deal with the problem rather than throwing a parent in jail. So if the justice system can be flexible, then that seems like the more prudent approach.

By bulwinkle

September 19, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

And while we’re at it, the drop-out rate is a parent problem, too. I can imagine me, forty years ago, telling my parents that I was dropping out of school. The murder rate would have gone up instead of the drop-out rate.

By catlady

September 19, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

You want to allow your kid to drop out or be truant? Can’t do anything about it? Then you give up any taxpayer assistance you get, and your child forfeits their claim to support from the taxpayers from then on. Perhaps a little court-enforced reversible sterility as well. I know it sounds extreme, but we have gone too far the other way in accepting sorry behavior. In the old days society was a stern taskmaster. Now there are few natural consequences to poor actions.

We need to reemphasize that the opportunity for an education is a right, but it is up to the student and parent to take the opportunity offered. Then we need to enforce reasonable rules such as behavior, attendance, and preparation.

By Lee

September 19, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this

“We need to reemphasize that the opportunity for an education is a right…”

Maybe that’s the problem.

Years ago, being able to attend school was considered a privilege. We then moved straight through it being a ‘right’ to it being a compulsory obligation.

By kdavies

September 21, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Several comments here seems to contradict themselves. For example: “Unfortunately, these truants will be on the public payroll that I have to pay and I do not care to.” and yet “The truants should be kicked out of the regular schools and free that school of the burden they cause.”

If the kids are kicked out of school they are more likely to be adults who require government assistance later in life. This is what I don’t want to pay for.

But I think the bigger issue is about parental attitude towards education. Most schools call or send letters home to parents when their child has missed a certain number of school days. They receive another call or letter after a few more days. At some point a social worker is called in and that family will receive a visit. The first call or letter a parent receives should be a time for the parent to evaluate the reasons for the absences. If they were unaware of the child missing those days and yet do nothing to change the behavior, the child gets the impression (and so do I) that the parent doesn’t really care about their education. The more the child feels this way, the less the child will care, too.

Punishing the parent, while it shouldn’t be necessary, is more likely to give the parent a reason to make sure their child gets to school every day, even if it means enlisting a family member or friend to help the with this in the morning hours. I believe this because I have seen many examples of parents who were gone before their children had to leave (mine, for example) and yet somehow found a way, through valuing education, getting assistance or simple threat of loss of privileges to get their children to school every day. Will it work for everyone? No. But it will work for many and I believe that makes it worth it.

As for students dropping out of school, it is true that, in the past, dropping out of school early did not mean fewer job possibilities; there were plenty of factories around that needed workers and that was a respected job for an adult to have. This is not the case anymore and will probably never be the case again in America. It is unfortunate, but it is reality. In order to make a living wage, a wage that can support a family, a person needs a better education, a high school diploma at the very least.

The whole ‘should every child go to college’ issue I will leave for another post.

By Hmm

September 23, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Truancy is the fault of parents, students, and schools. It’s really a community issue, both in cause and resolution.

Putting parents in jail isn’t going to fix the issue. It will cause further problems though for the family. Shame on Dekalb for destroying families under the guise of truancy enforcement.

Ideally, there should be a special task force to handle this delicate issue. If daily AM knocks on the door are required, then so be it. There are ways to reach the parents and students involved. Alternative programs, homeschool recommendations, and a mixed homeschool/public program would be better options. Homeschooling 3-4 days a week with 1-2 days of public schooling (monitoring, ensuring progress) would be nice.

By jim d

September 23, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

I suppose shooting them is out of the question.