Parents decry truancy fines

A group of disgruntled parents brought its complaints about the Lebanon School District's truancy policy to the school board Monday night.

[I want to help]

I also recieved fines and would like it if you use my info if needed to help your case. I don't want anything in return. I need someone to write on here how to get in touch with someone to hear my story. I just want it that people aren't used for money like I was.

[Get a clue]

Here's a crazy idea. Why don't you get an alarm clock and get out of bed and get your kids to school on time? Why does the SCHOOL have to work on a solution with the parents? Yes, let's spend MORE money on deadbeats!

[Rev Wright]

Barack went to school. All my sheep should attend school for free lunches.

[A shame]

It is a shame and WRONG that parents get fined and/or imprisonment for their child not going to school. I am not saying that some don't deserve it because some do, but there are a lot of parents out there that really do try but there are A LOT of kids that are just out of hand and do what they want. I know first hand - but when you have a job that you have to be at before school even starts - your hands are just a bit tied. Maybe if they paid my wages and put food on my table and a roof over our heads - I would definately stay home and MAKE SURE that the child is going to school. What the state needs to do is make kids pay for their own consequences of their own actions. Certainly doesn't teach them a damn thing when their parents are paying their fines and having to go to prison for their doing. A lot are probably sitting there laughing about it. Another great example of why we have so many communities with bad things happening - because we don't hold children responsible anymore for anything. So in essence they are having to grow up without any responsibilty what-so-ever. And why do they do it - because THEY KNOW they can. Us parents need to stand together and fight to get this law changed. Anything is possible, if you have enough people to fight for it. Example: you now can ride motorcycles without a helmet. But it took many people, fighting together. Get petitions out there to have parents sign that it IS UNFAIR that we have to pay for someone elses doing - Yes - even though it is our own chid. They need to be taught a lesson for their own doing, NOT US PARENTS.

[A shame]

Get a clue wrote:

Here's a crazy idea. Why don't you get an alarm clock and get out of bed and get your kids to school on time? Why does the SCHOOL have to work on a solution with the parents? Yes, let's spend MORE money on deadbeats!

Your probably one that sits on your a$$ on welfare and can actually do that. As for myself, my job starts at 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Gee - gone to work before school starts and getting home after school lets out. No reason why the school can't do a little more on their part to work with parents, because there are many parents out there that have to be at work before school starts. My tax dollars are probably paying for the roof over your head and food on your table AND YOUR ALARM CLOCK TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL!!!

[Get a clue]

A shame wrote:

It is a shame and WRONG that parents get fined and/or imprisonment for their child not going to school. I am not saying that some don't deserve it because some do, but there are a lot of parents out there that really do try but there are A LOT of kids that are just out of hand and do what they want. I know first hand - but when you have a job that you have to be at before school even starts - your hands are just a bit tied. Maybe if they paid my wages and put food on my table and a roof over our heads - I would definately stay home and MAKE SURE that the child is going to school. What the state needs to do is make kids pay for their own consequences of their own actions. Certainly doesn't teach them a damn thing when their parents are paying their fines and having to go to prison for their doing. A lot are probably sitting there laughing about it. Another great example of why we have so many communities with bad things happening - because we don't hold children responsible anymore for anything. So in essence they are having to grow up without any responsibilty what-so-ever. And why do they do it - because THEY KNOW they can. Us parents need to stand together and fight to get this law changed. Anything is possible, if you have enough people to fight for it. Example: you now can ride motorcycles without a helmet. But it took many people, fighting together. Get petitions out there to have parents sign that it IS UNFAIR that we have to pay for someone elses doing - Yes - even though it is our own chid. They need to be taught a lesson for their own doing, NOT US PARENTS.

OMG

[ELCO MOM]

Education starts in the home. If children are not trained to do what is right or what they are expected to do, they will not do it. It is the parents responsibility to see that children get to school on time. Period. Grow up parents!!

[Admit the problem]

I agree that some kids get out of hand and because of working conditions and other laws which prohibit putting "the good old fashioned fear of God" into children that discipline is a problem. However, I don't think this should turn into a race issue because it isn't. If you want proof of the majority of "latino" people receiving welfare just walk into the welfare office. I'm not saying all latino's are bad BECAUSE THE ARE NOT. I do think that there are a majority of latino's that give them all a bad reputation and yes I do know decent latino's that agree with me and get just as upset as I do. I would love to see proof of employment from these dozen or so people who showed up to complain. Prove me wrong, but I would guess most of them receive welfare. I would also love to see a study done on the people of different races who receive public assistance and welfare. I'm not the only one sick of busting my ass at a job and being in line behind either a latino or a white woman with children of darker skin who pays for a HUGE cart of groceries with an Access Card. After that, they always pull out a wad of 20's an 50's to pay for cigarettes. Then they get into their NICE cars and drive off. They also seem to always have an "F-You" attitude. You can always tell the ones who really do deserve welfare because they are poorly dressed, white, and end up having to put a few items back before they leave to get into their barely running older model car. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY WHEN THIS IS GOING ON!!! Race IS NOT the issue and it should not be a what stops welfare and other fraud from happening!!

[Do the right thing]

I don't care what color you are or how much money you have have. It's the PARENTS responsibility to teach their children about consequences, not the school districts. Teach them that they have to go to school and be on time, even if you're not there in the morning.
Sorry that's called life. Imagine standing strong to your child. You're the parent who pays the bills, not them. Your rules, Your house. That's how I was raised and that's how i'm going to raise my children.

[Light]

I have to agree with 'Admit the problem'. It's funny that they talked about statistics with only minorities and this group 'United We Stand of Lebanon' has been accused before of only propagating to minorities for their causes. It is not a racial issue, it is an issue of disrespect and insufficient morals. The kids need to be taught right from wrong and need to be punished someway or somehow that it makes them understand these ideals. I feel the parents should be fined, but they should not be sent to jail for not paying the fines. The kids should be forced to provide community service after the fines exceed a set limit. This way both the parents and the children are being punished for BOTH OF THEIR wrong doings.

As for 'A shame', you are completely ridiculous... Why would you assume someone is "on welfare and sits on their a$$" just because they suggested that you wake up and make sure your kid gets to school? There are many families still who have a single income coming in therefore the extra parent can wake up and take the kids to school and be sure they are on time. If this is not the case, then could it not be possible to ask another family member, not necessarily living with the kids, to provide them transportation or make sure they get to school? If you don't want to be fined then find a mode or method of getting your (and by your I don't mean you, I am talking general) kids to school and teaching them responsibility. Life is not that difficult if people would use their brains for good rather than themselves.

[sam]

Parents, it is YOUR responsibility to see that your kids attend school and arrive on time, isn't it the cowardly way to displace blame and go after those enforcing the law. What fine citizens you're producing and if you can't see the kids you have now get to school then don't reproduce any more!

[Angry Local Resident]

Like it or not, the parent must bare the responsibility for raising their children. The children are breaking the law when they do not attend school and the responsible party will be held accountable. Instead of making excuses or looking for somebody else to fix the problem. The parents could easily alleviate the problem of these fines by making certain that their children are in school. If they have jobs, other family members or friends can be asked. How many of these people actually went into the school and talked with the administration before they grabbed some attorney and started making racial accusations against people who are doing their job? How many of the parents actually disciplined their truant children? If a parent can accumalte the amount of fines stated in the article, then the child has a serious discipline problem and that's not the school's fault, that's the fault of the parents. Maybe it's time the rest of us got an attorney and started suing everybody who threatens these types of actions which result in higher taxes all because they believe it's the responsibility of everyone else to raise their children.

[1 more getting milked]

my daughter gets up on her own and goes however the school does not attempt to stop her or others from leaving. the "security guard" even says bye to them and see you tomorrow when they leave then they send the fines. i am not notified sometimes til close to the end of the school day by then its too late u got the fine. why cant the school stop them when they try to leave and make them stay instead of just letting them leave? because they want the money thats why!

[1 more getting milked]

A shame wrote:

It is a shame and WRONG that parents get fined and/or imprisonment for their child not going to school. I am not saying that some don't deserve it because some do, but there are a lot of parents out there that really do try but there are A LOT of kids that are just out of hand and do what they want. I know first hand - but when you have a job that you have to be at before school even starts - your hands are just a bit tied. Maybe if they paid my wages and put food on my table and a roof over our heads - I would definately stay home and MAKE SURE that the child is going to school. What the state needs to do is make kids pay for their own consequences of their own actions. Certainly doesn't teach them a damn thing when their parents are paying their fines and having to go to prison for their doing. A lot are probably sitting there laughing about it. Another great example of why we have so many communities with bad things happening - because we don't hold children responsible anymore for anything. So in essence they are having to grow up without any responsibilty what-so-ever. And why do they do it - because THEY KNOW they can. Us parents need to stand together and fight to get this law changed. Anything is possible, if you have enough people to fight for it. Example: you now can ride motorcycles without a helmet. But it took many people, fighting together. Get petitions out there to have parents sign that it IS UNFAIR that we have to pay for someone elses doing - Yes - even though it is our own chid. They need to be taught a lesson for their own doing, NOT US PARENTS.

AMEN!!!!! I agree high school students are old enough to be held responsible for their actions

[get a clue]

My daughter went to Leb. and before that she lived with her dad and was raped. She then moved back with me. She goes to SARCC and she was struggling with issues from the rape. Everyday I would call the school and see what homework she had and talked to the counclor and they would say no teacher gave work for her. I explained the situation and and then school was out. I recieved no papers or anything they would just say just let her get better take all the time she needs. Then it was summer and still nothing the following school year I get a letter to be in court in Oct. 2 months after school started that I have a fine of nearly 4,000. I was aware of my daughter not being there her counslors even wrote the school that my daughter was on meds. for alot of things, depression and anxiety and other feelings she was in very bad shape. Did I deserve a fine when I was in contact with the school atleast 2x a week but I had to pay it. Was it my daughters fault the she was raped NO it wasn't. so before you make it a race thing maybe you should look at the situation for each thing.

[Here is the deal]

This is a Cash cow. The Lebanon School district hands over a quater of a million dollar in fines. Once you exceed the limit and you hit $300.00 every fine that follows after that is 300-350 range. regardless of how long you go before been absent again. So if you do decide to get your S&^% together and behave and 5 months later you get sick you are still going to get penalized at $300-$350. All though this group was made up of minorities (Great reporting by Lebanon Daily News-RACIST LEBANON BIGOTRY) it would have been the same story without mentioning race since Lebanon City is alltogether a socioeconomically disdvantaged city.

BY pointing out that it was minorities, they just feed into the mentality of the Few outspoken bigots left in this town. I know for a fact that they fine anyone regardless of race including many WHITES, It's not racial thing, it's a money thing.

The school district is contributing to maintaing these parents on Welfare. I know that they have had parents arrested for fines > $1000. So you get off welfare and get a job, then the school district has you pulled out of work by the Sheriff and you lose that job and go back on welfare...and so forth BUT

I am glad for the parents who went to the school, many for the first time, and said enough is enough. Now that they now where it is they can get involved and even walk there kids to make sure they get there.

My Objection:

Bill Dumas

This is What Al Sharpton leaves behind when he goes to the bathroom. This Guy is bad news, claims that he himself speaks in behalf of all minorities, has a series of resisting arrest and DUI, and last time he was on the news it was speaking out on behalf of that thug that got shot at 8th street and blamming the city.

I wish the best to the parents since the District does have a abuse of Power, but stay away from that Dumas Individual. You will not be taken seriously.

As hopefully you can tell by my post I am neither pro-minority or white, I am against abuse of Power and The crappy LDN reporting that instigates Racism.

[LSD]

1 more getting milked wrote:

<quoted text>AMEN!!!!! I agree high school students are old enough to be held responsible for their actions

Thay are, but you have to go to the District Justice, have a hearing and then they are put on the childs name.

[Time to wake up]

I agree parents should be fined when there children are not in school. How does someone let their fines get to over $4,000 and not do something about it or start asking their child questions. Too many parents depend on the goverment to take care of their children. If parents took more of an intrest in their childrens lives we would not have these problems among the many others that I see around town. How many young women do I see walking their babies around town. Where are the parents??? Its not about money or the color of your skin, its about being a parent and knowing what is going on in your childs life. As far as people being at work during the school hours, what about family, friends helping each other out?

[Bright Idea]

The school District is charging you for an education they are failling to provide as they just got put on second level corrective action after failing for Seven years.

Under No Child Left Behind due to the failure of the schools parents have a choice, send thm out of the city, home school or charter with the city footing the BIll. Let them pay for a change, afterall they would be paying for their failure to provide the least of the reuired education.

People might nit-pick and say or we only failed for this or that, trust me last place is still last place.

Hold the District accountable, Don't ask them they will not tell you the truth. Call the deprtment of Education and get your kids out of there see how many fines they can collect from empty desk.

[Bright Idea]

As you can tell by my spelling I to am a product of Three Ring Circus