Go To Jail If Your Kid Skips School Too Much (Oak Ridge: attorney, work)

[LauraC]

Now that I have your attention...

Apparently, there is too much school absenteeism in Anderson County's 3 school districts. For those with kids, I have no idea how you will take this story but as a person without kids, I know that vandalism and petty burglaries are more pronounced in places where too many kids are hanging out and the parents don't know it or don't care. As a future resident, I like this proposal because it puts the burden on the parents through penalties to supervise their kids. I never understood how giving kids who don't want to be in school, more time off from school (suspension or expulsion), would be an effective remedy to the kid or the community.

There are 3 school districts in Anderson County (Oak Ridge, Clinton and Anderson County) where too many student unexcused absences could put the parents in the pokey (that's jail for those that don't watch old Jimmy Cagney movies). The new policy has been approved by all 3 on first reading. If it's approved on second reading, the penalties will go into effect in January.

Each kid gets 5 unexcused absences but on the sixth, it's off to juvenile court with the District Attorney involved.

The penalty can be anything from nothing to the kid being placed in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services with the parents paying child support to the state. The proposed attendance policy also states that the parents can be fined ($50 per day), given community service, or have to serve time in the county jail.

If you want to read the whole newspaper article and/or find out what the excused absences are, here's the link:

http://www.oakridger.com/stories/111006/new_119151528.shtml (broken link)

[mbmouse]

That is already in place in many of the East TN school districts and has been for years. and it WORKS. They also have "alternative" schools for those that get suspended, they don't just stay home, they go to a bland, block building and do there class work there. (At least here in Washington County) I have heard other counties have similar programs.

[GrannyLois]

Yep, in place in Sullivan County.

Many times, the parents subtly encourage students to skip school and neglect their education. Hence, the rule.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by GrannyLois

Yep, in place in Sullivan County.

Many times, the parents subtly encourage students to skip school and neglect their education. Hence, the rule.

I like it. Of course, when your prison bunk mate brags that he's in the joint for armed robbery, you are going to sound like a weenie when you tell him you're there because your kid cut 5th period.

[GrannyLois]

Part of the problem of undesirable high school graduation rates (too low) is parent/family attitudes toward education. Maybe that's what they were thinking about when they made that rule/law.

I work in a high school and sure don't know the solution ....

[mbmouse]

Folks, this thread is about TN school systems initiatives to keep kids in school and parents accountable, not about prisons. It's not that City-Data doesn't appreciate your post, we do! But please keep threads on topic of original posts, or start a new one. That way your point won't get lost.