Punishing Parents if Junior Skips School - schools and local governments attempt to enforce truancy laws

0 Comments | Current Events, Jan 14, 2000

BACKGROUND

Mark Twain romanticized the notion of truancy in his famous novel, Huckleberry Finn. In that book, Huck learns more about the world from life experiences with friends Jim and Tom than from the time he spent in a classroom.

Modern school officials, though, say truancy is a real problem and not a subject to be treated lightly. Tony Harris, a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Education, says truancy violations are important, not just because kids need an education, but also because state funding for schools is based on average daily attendance.

Here's how some places around the United States have dealt with truancy:

In Alabama, 10 parents were indicted on misdemeanor charges and faced jail time for allowing their children to skip school. One parent served 60 days in jail. The rest promised to help their children's attendance improve.

63,000 students of 180,000 public students in Detroit missed more than a months worth of classes last year. The parents of the 67 worst offenders were called to a meeting and warned of possible jail time if the situation doesn't improve.

In Twin Falls, Idaho, a juvenile court judge expanded a program called "attendance court." Parents who neglect to make sure their children attend school can face jail time.

In Benton, Tennessee, the mothers of two teenagers who repeatedly missed class were orderd to spend two days in jail.

George Ward, a Wayne County prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, stresses the importance of getting kids to school. "We have to somehow wake people up. Kids belong in school."

LAST YEAR, ALFONSO ORLANDO, age 14, missed 58 days of school in Detroit, Mich. This year, Alfonso has already missed 32 days of school. If Alfonso doesn't change, his mother, Cynthia Orlando, may have to go to jail. A Michigan law says parents whose children habitually miss school can be sent to jail.

Michigan is not the only place holding parents responsible for their kids' truancy, the act of missing school without permission. In Alabama, one parent has already gone to jail for 60 days. Illinois, Ohio, Florida, and several other states have similar laws.

A Major Problem

In the past, school officials and lawmakers across the United States tried many tactics in order to crack down on kids who were truant--from taking away students' driver's licenses to sending police to round up kids from local shopping malls. Nothing seemed to work, however, because truancy rates across the country have not declined. School officials hope that getting tough on parents of kids who skip school will help cut the truancy rate.

A Good Idea

Detroit school board members say the crackdown is meant to get parents involved in their kids' lives. Cynthia Orlando said, "We've got to take this step because they [her sons] could end up in a life of crime and have no future."

Nelinda Delgado, a 17-year-old student, agrees. Delgado said, "I think [the laws are] good because there are certain kids who don't go to school, and they need to get educated."

Kathy Christie, of the Education Commission of the States, said, "I think [holding parents responsible] puts importance [and] value on how important education is in this country."

Unfair for Parents

Other people, however, do not think sending parents to jail is a good idea. Nadine Strossen of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said, "How is the kid going to get to school if the parent is in jail?"

Angela M. Hesse of Illinois has been sent to jail twice on truancy charges because her two teenage kids consistently missed school. Hesse said the truancy policy only made family matters worse. Hesse said, "It has torn our family completely apart.... Punishing parents [does] not ... accomplish anything."

Lucretia Crawford, 15, also disapproves of the truancy policy. Crawford said, "Kids ... have minds of their own. You can put Mom, Dad, and even Grandma in jail, but that won't solve all the problems."

Should parents be punished if their kids chronically skip school?

RELATED ARTICLE:

The American Civil Liberties Union is a private organization that defends Americans' rights as guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Representing both individuals and groups, the ACLU advocates civil rights and freedoms such as freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and protection from unreasonable searches. The 275,000 member organization has argued or supported every major U.S. civil liberties case since it was founded in 1920. It has offices in all 50 states.

* Minimum Wage. The smallest amount of money that an employer may legally pay a worker. The U.S. minimum wage came into being in 1938 under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rate started at 25 cents per hour and has gradually increased until reaching its current rate of $5.15 per hour. President Bill Clinton recently urged Congress to increase the minimum wage, by they defeated the bill.