kids aren't going to school and the school does nothing. What to do?
By TriciaW
@TriciaW (2441)
United States
April 12, 2007 11:39am CST
I am really bothered because my SO works at a school that children don't attend school and parents don't care. My children do not go to this school because it is a rough school with a bad reputation. One of my daughter's friends is going there now and she told my daughter she isn't going to school because they are too mean. She is 12 years old. We started talking about this and my SO told me they have kids that are going to be of drinking age before they graduate because they fail since they don't come to school. I know our state can not do a lot because this is on a reservation and they are thought to have no rights in this area but who can put a stop to this? I almost got into legal trouble years back because my daughter had a concussion and was too sick to attend school so missed over 10 days. Why can't someone do this to these parents? I don't know what to do about it but it really bothers me because I feel strongly that these kids need education. Most of them drop out of school and it is not thought to be a big deal but that means we will have adults that have only passed the 7th grade. What is really sad too is that this school is given so much because of the percentage of natives, they get new uniforms for all teams every year, they get new band equipment that sits there and is never used, they just built on to the school two years ago so it is a nice school and they give free lunches. It just breaks my heart that these children are not made to go to school if they don't want to. What would you do if you knew of this situation?
3 responses
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
12 Apr 07
This is a really tough question for me because I'm on the other side of it being part of a family where the "child" refuses to go to school. While in general I think the school should step in, I'm also worried about what will happen when they do. It isn't that we aren't trying and I worry that the school is going to come down heavy thinking that we're "allowing" him to miss. So far he's missed 25 whole days and several half days, plus he's been late quite a few times. Here's the situation. He'll be 17 this spring. He has to get on the bus at 7am. It's over an hour bus ride so most mornings he refuses to go out and asks for a ride instead. The problem is, there isn't always someone available to give him a ride or at the very least no one to get him there on time. Other mornings he claims to be sick and won't get out of bed no matter what gets said/yelled to him. We feel everything is being done at home to get him to go short of dragging him out and forcing him on the bus (obviously not practical at his age). If the school will hear our side before they step in, maybe they can be helpful. If they act first, I don't see how "legal action" against his dad will do any good.
My point is that schools do need to work with parents to keep kids in school but it should be done on a case by case basis. Not all parents of children who aren't going to school are irresponsible. Not all parents are "failing" children are irresponsible either. At the rate this one is going, he will turn 20 right after graduation IF he passes the next 3 years (not likely unless he turns things completely around).
1 person likes this
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I understand the issue you are going through and am sorry. I am not sure in your state at what age they can drop out. Ours was changed to 18 recently. If your state is over age 17 then you can actually get the police involved and the court which would take you as the parent out of harms way for being charged with anything. It may also teach him a lesson that he is not the adult in the household and as the adult you will not stand for his behavior. What does he do when he is at home all these days? I have to say my kids wouldn't want to skip school because they would be working the entire time they were at home. Maybe if you make him do chores and such when he is at home the ones he hates he might want to go to school instead. I don't know the situation but it does sound that you are trying which is more then the kid's parents do at this school. You know they don't care when there are only 2 kids in a classroom.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I think the law here is 16. I suspect he's just waiting until he gets his driver's license this summer to say he's quitting. If that's the case maybe he's beyond the age when the school can do anything about his attendance. Getting him to do his regular chores is about the same as getting him on the bus, adding to his list would probably cause more uproar than the house can handle right now. All he does while he's home is lay around in his bedroom.
Thanks for mentioning the laws, I hadn't even thought to look up the specifics for our state. I'll have to do that and see where we stand.
@jessigirl116 (848)
• United States
12 Apr 07
I know what you mean. I live in a very small town and during school hours I see alot of kids that are out on the streets. I know alot of kids in my community are 'home schooled' but I see too many kids NOT at home getting schooled. Where are their parents??? If my kids aren't in class, I get a phone call to find out why. I am not sure 'home schooling' is a good idea the way it is. I am sure there are plenty of parents that do it the right way, but I know of too many parents who don't care what their kids are doing. No wonder our education system is out of whack.
