I Want My Kids To Get A Better Education. Would You Break The Law?

darn it! this laptop always misses keys..anyway i meant to say I dont consider her to be a felon at all.

Hi there, I agree with you that felony and two of them by the way was way too much. I can kind of understand that it is against the school district's policy and rules but to have gone through extremes that they did was a bit more then I feel they do against real commone criminals. Kind of a really messed up system. I could understand them asking the children to be transferred in fairness of the school rules to the neighboring parents but what they did sounded like they were going after a hard core crimminal. Thanks for responding and no problem with the missed keys. Currently I am reformatting my laptop and am stuck with my netbook and it is so irritating because I am trying to watch my errors and it is nearly impossible. lol

oh wow for real? i just reformated the laptop as well.I used to have vista but i changed back to xp. i hate vista with a passion!! what were your reasons for reformatting?im just nosy.

Hi commonground to make matters worse she received two felonies so not just one. Just shows sometimes that lying and crimes are just not worth it. I understand what her intentions were, however how many people today work so hard and are such caring people and never have an opportunity to send their children to a better school. I suppose the issue here is that they should apply more efforts in the school districts so that the children get better education, because it might avoid more attempting to do this. I feel sorry for her girls because this has to be very hard on them as they are being made fun of in the neighborhood.

Also, as the parent she could have applied more effort in helping her children be the best they could be in whatever school they have to attend. You hear stories all the time of young people who, in spite of all odds, have come up through bad homes, bad neighborhoods and bad schools who have really applied themselves and made the most of their education despite all odds. And going to a better school does not ensure they will make the most of it. Look what they had for an example... a mother who lies to get what she wants. I know that all things are not just cut and dried and not everyone has the same drive and ambition. But the oppurtunity is there. You don't have to lie and cheat to get by. And you're right, again, the girls are made the laughing stock of the neighborhood and everyone knows what the mother has done. But, you know what? People do this every day. I've known people who have lied about where they live to keep their kids in a particular school. And it's not always just for a better school. Some do it because they have moved but the kids want to keep going to the same school where all their friends are or they want o stay and finish the year in the old school because they want to graduate with their friends. You don't think of these people as breaking the law but I guess they are. It's a lot to think about.

Thanks for BR

I think also that federal police has better to do than to track moms lying to get a better school for their children. But maybe have they totally elucidated violent crimes, kidnapping, bank robberies, etc. and have no spy or terrorist to track in Ohio ? I do not know when the FBI records will be totally opened for this case but it could be interesting to know how they began to investigate. In another point of view, this woman has made so much lies that she is not morally defensible, even if the sentence is disproportionate for the "crime" and she is an obvious scapegoat.

Good point Topffer, this case of of high interest to me, because I know several parents who do this and they will be hearing it from me. Hopefully they do not feel like they are invincibly and make some changes because the Government appears to be unfolding many new areas with the law.

I think you have a great point about them improving the schools so that parents would not feel that they have to bring their kids to another district. Alot of times this happens when the parents move to a new district and the kids don't want to give up their friends from their other school. Actually, I've heard that story more than a parent lying to get their child into a better school. Anyway, I also agree this is very harsh for what she did but if they are going to use anyone as an example then I'm glad it was a mom who had the money anyway and has a dad that is willing to help out.

sid you are so right! Imagine this occurring to a person with no means to defend themselves. I am sure it will be a high profiled case and maybe fortunately for her she will earn from all of it. Which is sad because no one will be afraid to break the law again.

arorastorm how are you? She actually did go to jail for ten days and now has two felonies, 80 hours community service and two years probation. This is quite a lesson for having lied. Unfortunate that the government and the community as a whole cannot put forth more effort into making sure the education system gets better. Instead they go full throttle in proving a point. Sad for all of them but hopefully more will reconsider before doing this also.

I can agree about the lying and or stealing, but some communities do not allow options for allowing the children to go to better schools, but then I paid mega bucks, worked simultaneous jobs and did move into a good community. This all done as a single mom.

that is the answer, move to a nicer community.It is sad that in these country the choice of sending to other school is restricted, in my country you can send your kids to any school as long as you have the right documents like birth certificate, transcript or record etc. Being a single mom is hard for I have seen it with my mom, raising us is difficult. That is why I am so proud of single moms who are taking care of their kids well.

There are some that simply can't do it, however there are ways to get the priorities straight and lying is certainly not a good example to the girls. One is 16 and well aware of what is going on. So not a good example at all for the kids.

I agree with you. Severely punish the people who mean to do right to help other and let the criminals walk free. It's sad the criminal have more rights then the average person. Welcome to america!! LOL

LOL coffeebreak, I sat here listening to the news and telling myself what FBI agents were following her to school, home and the grocery store to have proof that she was lying. I was like so unbelievable. To make matters worse let's drag the court system down with all the additional expenses to prosecute and fight her appeal, while we have hungry, homeless and Al-Aquada issues going on in the world. So crazy how our judicial system works, so bizarre!

Hi Miss Hatley, Oh gosh it seems so nice again to interact with you again! I agree the system is a failure, because I would say why not employ all that effort and energy into improving the school and the system as a whole. Why waste tax dollars to look good and try to prove a point that many will continue to do any ways. Because they will. I would never and have never considered this route instead I worked 2 jobs and moved into a descent neighborhood and sent both of my kids to Private school. Although many perhaps could not achieve this they should at least live their lives setting good examples.

She also received two felonies so she is marked for life as they cannot be expunged. My thinking still remains does the punishment suit the crime, though. It sure is twisted; I grew up in the worst imaginable neighborhood, I was a single parent of two and I worked two jobs to earn my great neighborhood. I understand many do not have the choice and options. I don't believe I could lie, because then I had to train my kids to lie to about where they lived, so quite a dilemma and pickle she is in.

I have to agree because there are far more criminals roaming the streets and unfortunately for her she has to pay the price for what ever restructuring they feel compelled to undergo. There are many who still do this today and are not aware of the fact that it apparently is against the law!

Although I have never done so I did not know it was against Federal Laws. I always understood it as against the school rules but by no means to be this harsh of a law. I am still wowing!! I can't get over how they hired FBI agents to follow her to school, home and grocery stores to prove that she did not live at said address. So do they put forth this much effort with high crimes, gee if they only did perhaps this would not be such a corrupted world. Unbelievable to say the least.

My friend I completely agree with you and although I have never had the need to out smart any system, because I worked really hard and paid for private schools for my children. I so agree that all children should be equally benefited from the education system but unfortunately the Government is not willing to budge with this. They say stay in school, but do nothing to assure the children actually do. Which is sad because they are our future.

NOpe I did but I was 42 when I got it also did trade school for welding so I am a welder love it

Some of the rules these schools have is so unfair. If only they understood that good education is important. I am glad that you received your GED, and did not fully give up.

Congrats! Lakota really some people never complete their education. My hats to you and enjoy your hard earned job.

Our kids are an investment in our future really. When people complain about paying taxes on the schools when they don't have kids in school it's ridiculous. In a few short years, these kids will be the ones working in the hospitals, stores, nursing homes, fixing your autos, running the cities and towns, etc etc.

Absolutely and I could not have said it better. There are so many what if's in life and this one was a very costly one for her. She herself stated they could have actually moved in with her father, and unfortunately that was one what if she will regret long term. So what it truly boils down to is that the intention was there, but no willing to sacrifice for the intention. This is really the bottom line. When I think about the 2 full time jobs I had and being a Supermom all in one, granted I was always very tired but can't say once that I was willing to cheat the law/system. I do hope that the school systems improve and that instead of putting forth all this effort and energy to catching people, that they actually put forth energy to improve the system, so less parents are less likely to attempt this form of cheating.

It would be a wonderful direction if they applied this type of effort towards bettering all schools so the children of our future get a good start in life. Somehow the government truly does not have their priorities in order.

And every kid in the bad school district are loosing out too. When my parents bought our home in Southern California, the picked one with the best school district. I was lucky, but not everyone can afford to pick their home according to the local public schools.

Absolutely I have to agree with you one hundred percent. That was my concern that the children miss out. Her two daughters were removed from the school and now back to the terrible district school. It is bad enough for the abrupt change in the middle of the school year but the change for the worse. I have to also say that instead of spending all the hard earn tax dollars in convicting this woman and or any others in the future, why not apply that money into bettering schools and education. Sadly our laws are so horrible prioritized. Thanks so much for your positive response.

Thankfully I have never had to do this myself. But I do know many people who have. I did not realize it was against the law until I heard about this situation. I just assumed it was against school rules and they just could not attend if they did not actually live in the district. I can understand as a parent wanting my kids to get the best education possible, and believe me I have worked 2 -3 jobs at once to make sure mine we private schools. But knowing now how extringent the law is I don't think it is a good idea for anyone to take the risk. I am sure many will continue taking the risk but that risk means you must train the kids to lying too because if they even as much as let anyone know the truth it could mean this kind of trouble. She was a newly graduated school teacher and has wrecked her chances of teaching. With Two felonies, which I think is way too harsh will now haunt her for life. *Sad*

Hi remo See we have laws and laws are suppose to be abide. I understand that supporting the mother is right, but see look at it this way. As a single mother myself I did the impossible. I worked two jobs, ran a wonderful home and was a Super mom and not once did I break the law to make sure my kids were cared for. See here when you live in a neighborhood the children have to go to the neighborhood school. If the parent does not like the system or school then the parent has two choices, pay for a private school or move into a better area so that the schools attend a better school. Which is what I did, I moved into a really good area and still I payed top dollar for a good school for my kids. It was not easy at all, took a very big toll on me because I had to work really hard. This parent decided she did not want to do the extra, so she lied that she lived with her father in his neighborhood so the kids could have a better school to attend. Although her intentions were warranted by her, remo it is not correct and fair to do this. How about the many like me who earned and worked so hard to do the right thing. Actually I did not even know it was against the law to do what she did. I somehow in my mind just thought it went against the school rules. Well apparently she must have thought the same thing and it got her in trouble. Bad trouble actually. Now she is labeled as a criminal. She has to convictions as a felon. Has to do community service, and is on probation. Community service means she has to do free work for certain number of hours and usually it is very hard labor. Probation means she now for two years has to be monitored and supervised by a probation officer monthly to make sure she is not breaking the law. I do agree that the punishment is a bit too severe for what she thinks was good intentions. But I also believe it is not fair for honest people as myself to follow the law and they don't and be allowed to get away with it. Apparently she was punished severely because now they want to stop all unfair parents from continuing to do this. If all parents did this many schools would be empty while the good ones would be over populated and eventually turn bad because they will not be able to handle so many. The bottom line is that the mother had options. Her father says she could have moved in with him and she would not be having this problem and she did not. Instead she did not want to work hard but still do the wrong thing. So the bottom line is that as a parent we must do the right thing from the beginning, not try to cheat the system and work hard like the rest of the honest people. If we do not want to do such then we should not have children that we cannot honestly raise the honest way. So very sad for her punishment because I do feel it is too harsh but on the other hand, honest is always the best policy, friend. There is no victory out of lying. She wanted to get ahead by being dishonest and in reality, although I never broke the law, ran out of money am very poor, my victory is that I have full respect form my kids and my country because I worked really hard and have never had to lie to get here. LOL... See now what it all means.

Good job Hardworkin! When my oldest daughter was really little, I lived in a community with no Kindergarden and I wanted her to go so I ended up paying the tuition in a Catholic school. It was pretty steep but well, I get caught anytime I've done anything wrong and the way I looked at it was....I was setting an example for my daughter. I was really young then and had no idea at all how severe the punishment was. I agree...pretty harsh but she should have checked all that out before making the choice to cheat the system.

@sid you are so right! I have followed the story and she had many options, she actually did. Although I am sorry for her girls this was a very selfish decision. While being grilled about why she did what she did, I have learned that she had many options. She could have moved in with her father, she could have paid the tuition because she could have afforded it, she could have actually done several things that would have avoided this for her. So she is no exception. Many of us go without because we decide to work hard, be honest and set great examples for the children. So unfortunately for her she is being made an example and will pay for this bad comfort decision for the rest of her life. Because what it boils down to, yes her current school district was bad, but she wanted to have her cake and eat it too. Does work fair that way for the many honest hardworking ones like us. (*sad*)

I raised my children in the Catholic school system and although they never went to a public school, I paid taxes which contributed to the public school systems. I do understand now that doing what she did is against the law, I would have never thought that as I figured it just went against the schools regulations. I personally would have not done that and as a single parent of two worked really hard and have always abide by the law. At any rate I find that the punishment is way too severe for the occurrence, and also feel that not only the government but the school officials should employ more effort into better the system and not prosecuting this woman. But as we know crime, because it is now labeled crime, they feel they need to make her an example, an example that now has cost her a great deal because she is not going to be allowed to utilize her upcoming teaching license either. I do wish her well and hope she can somehow move past this for the sake of the children. Welcome aboard to you to myLot!